Page 33 of Love in the Details

As she parked the car in her usual spot in the driveway, Dustin pulled up right behind her, turning off the lights and stepping out of the car. His hair was still mussed, and as he came closer, she wondered what it would be like to kiss him. They’d been so close a few days before, but there hadn’t really been a chance again.

“You made it,” her mom said, standing on the porch wiping her hands off on a dishtowel. “We weren’t sure whether you were going to be done with work. Oh, Dustin. We’re so happy to have you here.”

“I’m happy to be here, Mrs. McBride.”

“Tonya, please.”

Kassidy smiled. Her family was getting more familiar with him. Would this end up being like her crush on Steve Johnson during her junior year of high school? A lot of hoping with nothing to show for it later?

Next stop: Heartbreak Canyon.

Chapter 19

The inside of the McBride home was simple but well-kept, the details of the ranch house looking like they’d been carefully selected. In the kitchen, Dustin’s mouth dropped open, surprised by the number of candy bowls on the counter. Small houses were already erected on the plates all around the large island. From the looks of it, the counter was bigger than the one at the mansion. With six children, it had probably been a necessity.

“Hey! It’s Dustin,” Easton said, shaking Dustin’s hand and pulling him in for a quick hug. He’d never been in a place where the people had welcomed him as easily as this. One part of him wondered if they were trying to work some kind of angle, and the other made him think that maybe this was just how they were.

“Back for more crazy?” Hunter asked, throwing a peanut into his mouth.

Tonya slapped his hand lightly as she passed around the side of the island. “Stop telling people we’re crazy. As far as they know, we’re a nice, normal family.” She grinned in Dustin’s direction, and he laughed.

Something about this made him feel more at home than he did even in LA.

Kassidy looked at him. “Crazy about sums us up,” she said, laughing.

Mr. McBride walked over to him, grinning as he snuck a piece of candy from one of the bowls. “Good to see you again, Dustin.” He held his hand out and Dustin reached over to shake it. “You’ve come to one of the best activities the McBride clan participates in every year.”

“Dad,” Kassidy said, her eyes growing wide. “That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”

“David, stop eating the candy,” Mrs. McBride said, swatting at her husband’s hand as he tried to grab a small handful.

A woman walked into the room, heavily pregnant. Easton strolled toward her and kissed her, rubbing her stomach. “How are my wife and my baby doing?”

“We’re good. Just surviving these last few weeks.” She turned and walked up to the counter. “Oh, hello. I’m Natalie McBride, Easton’s wife. I heard you took quite a spill with Kassidy the other day.”

Dustin nodded, glancing at Kassidy, who’d busied herself helping her mother spread out the candy bowls along the counter. “Yeah, but it was fun. I can’t believe I’ve never been down that hill until now.”

“We like to keep it a secret,” Hunter’s twin said, leaning over the counter and sneaking a couple of pretzels.

“Colter,” Tonya began, “did you not get enough to eat at dinner? I don’t know how we’ve survived in this house with you boys. You’ve all got hollow legs.”

Colter leaned in for a piece of the licorice, and she blocked him with a wooden spoon. “Go cook yourself some soup or something if you’re still hungry.”

Dustin laughed, but it waned quickly as he wondered what his life would’ve been like with siblings. There had been many advantages to being an only child, but having someone to play with and hang out with later in life would’ve been better than hiding out in the mansion by himself.

Kassidy leaned into Dustin a bit and whispered, “That’s my youngest sister, Molly. She’s a senior, and she’s had a crush on her best friend since, well, forever.”

“Is that the guy standing next to her?” Dustin asked, only glancing over for a few seconds before focusing on Kassidy again. She fit in so well with her family, and a little pang of jealousy hit him. So this was what Christmas with a big family felt like.

“Okay, Dad,” Tonya said in a loud voice, trying to get everyone’s attention over the talking voices and the noise of the television. “Let’s get this started.”

The group crowded around the counter, and Dustin couldn’t believe how many people were in that one room.

“Okay, since Molly and Kassidy broughtspecialfriends over tonight,” Mr. McBride began, his emphasis on special, causing laughter to bubble up from Dustin.

“Dad, really?” Molly and Kassidy both said together.

“We’re going to do this in pairs. Sorry, boys, maybe next year you’ll bring a girlfriend. We’ll accept a fiancée or a wife too. For now, you’ll have to partner up.” Their dad’s smile was devilish, and Dustin felt like he was in some kind of movie because families just didn’t interact like this. Then again, he’d basically been raised by his grandparents who’d grown up in a different era, mostly formality with a little fun.

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