Page 56 of A Magnolia Move-In
He glanced over at me and shrugged. “It was work.” Then he sighed and rubbed his thighs. “If I’d only known that you were here like this, I would have come back sooner.” He glanced around. “Now you’re stuck here.”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t say that I’m stuck here.” I knew what Walker was doing, but I couldn’t figure out why. He was trying to paint Magnolia, and in essence Jackson,as something terrible. I wasn’t sure why, but it irritated me.
While he was at work, the entire town of Magnolia had been helping to take care of me. Jackson had given me a place to live while the others had helped take me places and kept me company.
Sure, it wasn’t home, but they were actively trying to make me feel as welcome as they possibly could. Five minutes after getting here, Walker was making me feel like a loner.
I wasn’t sure I liked it.
I took in a deep breath. He was just crabby. After all, he’d been attacked as soon as he walked up to the house. If someone had talked to me like Jackson had talked to him, it would have bothered me as well.
Plus, he’d been traveling for hours and had no doubt been worrying about me. I could give him some slack. It was the least I could do.
“Let’s get you inside and get you some food. You’ll feel better with a full stomach and a shower.”
Walker kept his gaze focused just above my head, and for a moment, I wondered if he was going to reject me. Then he sighed and nodded. “That sounds great.”
I smiled as he stood. He grabbed the handles of my chair and pushed me across the deck. Everyone was sitting and talking, and when we approached, they quieted. Jackson looked like he had just swallowed a lemon. And Colten? Well, he turned his back to us as soon as we approached. I studied him for a moment, wondering whatwas wrong with him but then pushed it from my mind. If he was going to act like this, that was his problem.
“I’m going to take Walker inside to get some food.” I grabbed the rims of my wheels and started moving toward the front door.
“He’s not staying here.”
Jackson’s words stopped me in my tracks. I turned so I could face him. “What?” I could feel Walker’s presence next to me, giving me strength to face my brother.
Jackson didn’t seem swayed by either of us. “Walker isn’t staying here.” He was standing now. I knew this move. This was hiswhat I say goesstance.
“Yes, he is.” I hated that Jackson was acting like this. He was my older brother, not my parent. And even if he were my parent, I was a full-grown woman. I didn’t need him to set rules for me.
Jackson shook his head. “He was gone for the accident and suddenly shows up when you’re getting better.” He folded his arms. “He doesn’t deserve to be here.”
I reached out and wrapped my hand around Walker’s. “I want him to be here, so he’s going to be here.”
“Jackson, come on.” Fiona approached him, resting her hand on his arm. “He’s come such a long way, and like he said, he didn’t know that she’d been hurt. He came right away when he heard.” She gave him a soft smile, which seemed to melt Jackson’s icy demeanor.
He glowered at Walker but then slowly moved his gaze to me. “Couch only.”
I wanted to fight him. After all, I was engaged toWalker. But this was my brother’s house, and I cared about him. I could compromise on this. I didn’t want to create a rift between us. “Fine,” I said.
That seemed to appease Jackson, and he turned to reengage everyone in conversation. I motioned for Walker to push me into the house, and as soon as the door was shut, I let out my breath. Frustration boiled up inside of me, but I knew it was fruitless. Jackson didn’t care if he upset me.
Being angry at my brother was definitely a losing strategy for me.
“Wow,” Walker said once we were inside. “What’s got his panties in a bunch?”
I didn’t want to go through this again. We’d just had this conversation on the deck, and I knew no matter what Walker said about Jackson, I was going to feel defensive. I was too tired to continue this cycle.
“Let’s just eat and get to bed.” My entire body relaxed at the mention of sleep. I was exhausted.
Walker didn’t fight me. Instead, he moved into the kitchen and grabbed the fixings to make a sandwich. I stayed by the table, forcing my eyes to stay open. If I allowed them to fall shut, I was fairly certain I would pass out here in my chair.
The sound of a crinkling bag pulled my eyes open. Walker was opening a bag of chips, and the pace he was moving at irritated me. I was ready for him to be done. I shifted in my seat in hopes that I would wake up.
It didn’t help.
Thankfully, as soon as Walker was sitting, he moved much faster. His sandwich was gone in record time, and after he picked the last few broken chips off his plate and plopped them into his mouth, he leaned back, rubbing his stomach.
“Finished?” I asked, dispelling the urge to stand up and do a happy jig.
