Page 35 of Wildest Forever

Pushing my tongue into my cheek, I shake my head as I look towards the mountains and feel the annoyance flick against my skin.

I inhale heavily, puffing my cheeks before exhaling as I climb the new steps, smiling when they don't shift and step into the house, kicking off my boots.

I go to walk into the kitchen, but Morgan shakes her head before leading me towards a room at the back of the house, a four seater dining table sits in the middle of the room, all set for dinner.

“I'm just going to clean up,” my voice echoes around the room as I make my way back down the hallway and duck inside the small bathroom, washing my hands before splashing my face with cool water. Shaking them off, I look at myself in the mirror. I really did need a shave, but I was kind of digging the stubble and honestly, I might keep it... plus my upper lip would soon be housing a moustache.

Drying my hands on the small hand towel, I pull the cord light and slip from the now dark bathroom and pace down towards the dinner table.

I see Gerry is sitting head of the table, Morgan to his right so I take the seat to his left. Dragging the chair out, I sit and before I can even take my hat off, she is walking behind me, flipping it off my head and I give myself a minute before I react.

“No hats at the table,” she snipes as she returns to the room with a casserole dish and places it in the center of the table.

“I would have removed my hat, but my ass had just met the seat...”

“Then take it off before,” she glares at me as she walks out the room again and I ball my fist, my eyes following her and I see Gerry raise his brows before rolling his eyes.

Next the green beans go down before she is out of the room again.

“Is there an escape clause in this contract, like fourteen days to change your mind kind of thing,” and that gets Gerry laughing loudly as she bangs the dish of mashed potatoes down.

“Unfortunately, not,” he rubs his lips together.

“I was brought up in a family with strict manners.” I say in a levelled tone. “No hats at the table,cowboyhats hung on theback of your door when you were finished work, boots off and on the mat, wash up for dinner, table set, and glasses filled...” my eyes skate across the table to see the three glasses empty, “and then we say grace. Take this as a threat or a warning, don't ever treat me like that again.” My voice is sharp, and I watch as her face falls.

“Like I said earlier,” I drag the napkin from my plate and lay it over my lap, “neither of us want this clearly, but we made a promise... and I intend on keeping my end of that promise,” I drop my head for a moment before my hands are palm up on the table. “Grace?”

She doesn't mutter a word as her hand sits in mine, her other in Gerry's and I close my hand around the both of them.

“That was delicious,”I wipe my mouth with my napkin then place it on the plate. “Thank you, Morgan,” I softly bob my head in her direction, and she meets it with her own.

“Thank you for fixing the step,” Gerry says as he shuffles in his seat.

“Not a problem,” I smile at him and Morgan just sits there staring at me and I swear if looks could kill I would be laying flatlined on the table.

“Morgan,” Gerry snaps and her eyes drag to her granddad's.

“Yes?” her arms cross in front of her chest causing a small cleavage and my stomach knots.

I should not be looking at her like this.

“I think you owe Rivera a thank you,” he lets his chin fall as his brows furrow in his forehead and she swings her face back in my direction.

“Thank you,” and there is not an inch of sincerity in her tone.

“You're welcome,Sunflower.”I watch the way her eyes soften at the name I used a month ago at Randy's.

Silence falls over the table, so I take that as my cue to leave.

“Excuse me,” I mutter softly as I push back on my chair before standing and reaching for the empty dishes.

I can see she wants to say something, but she pouts her lips as I leave the room and place the dishes in the sink.

I return and grab the serving dishes and place them on the work top. Turning, I see her standing there, leant up against the door frame.

“I'll wash that up when I come back down, I need a shower,” I flash her a toothy grin, “then I’ve got to swing over my mom's if you want to come with?” I offer but she shakes her head before turning her back on me and disappearing.“Suit yourself,” I say to the empty room before I am climbing the stairs, peeling my tee from my body as I step into my room and grumble when I see the boxes still sitting there along with the new bits I brought.

Scrubbing my face with my left hand, the coolness of the metal band on my skin has me sighing.

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