And in time... (25 page)

“Yes. They sleep in a tent and they’re married.”

“So, we sleep in the tent and they can take your room.”

“Cory, stop it. You’re being childish. Let’s go find Riki and fix her a plate.”

“But I’ve been at your house for the past week.”

“My parents are not aware of that. Let’s keep it that way. I promise you’ll be fine for one night. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow night. With these.” She gave him her best ornery grin, tapping the heel of her boot.

“I’m holding you to that. How many boys are going to be down there?”

“Hmm, I would say at least ten. Grab Riki.”

Alexis and Cory waited in line surrounded by Sam, Travis, and Bernie, Cory laughed several times. He loved how close they all were and he loved being a part of it. Every one of them made him feel like he belonged, like they’d known him for years, and they treated Riki just the same—like a niece, a cousin, a granddaughter, and like she, too, belonged. That’s what it was about. This was exactly the kind of life he wanted for her, and the decision to uproot them to a small town was worth it all. Cory loved this family.

With full plates of everything imaginable, Alexis led her clique out to the picnic table, relishing the warm sun while she could. The table talk consisted of the Brady County Dragons, the alcohol they planned on consuming, and the new rifle Travis had just bought. Even coming from where he did, Cory never once felt out of place. He could watch Alexis interacting with her friends and family all day long.

“Oh my God. I am never eating again,” Cory decided in a moan, rubbing his stomach. Travis agreed.

“Didn’t you see all the desserts in there?” Alexis questioned.

“Desserts? Okay, maybe I have a little room left,” Cory decided. He was a sucker for sweets, and if they tasted anything like the rest of the food, he’d be a happy man. The women moved into the barn and cleaned up, but mostly probed. Everyone wanted to know about Cory—was it serious, was she in love, did she hear wedding bells. Alexis answered with
I don’t know
, more than anything. Geesh, they hadn’t even been together but a few weeks, barely over a month.

“Stop patronizing me. Ask Paige all this stuff. She’s been with Jordan for over a year.”

“Paige is going to college. She’s not allowed to think about marriage yet,” Lisa assured her.

“Mom, there’s something I have to tell you,” Paige said, seriously. Alexis instantly laughed.

“Shut up. That’s not even funny. That thing better stay in his pants.”

“I’m going to watch the guys,” Alexis said. Nope, she wasn’t going there. She took the opportunity to get the hell away from Paige’s meddling mother before something slipped, and the Cory questions.

Cory raised his arm for Alexis, but kept talking to Sam.

“She’s such a riot. I swear I laugh more at the two of them in one day than I ever did my own kids. Some of the things they come up with, I tell ya,” Sam said.

“I’m so happy you’re doing this, Sam. It means a lot to know that she is having so much fun while I work.”

“I love having her. She helps a lot. I don’t have to go dig worms with Emily anymore, Riki loves doing it.”

Cory had more firsts that day than he’d ever had in one day. After displaying how much he sucked at horseshoes, Cory declined the clay pigeon shooting. He was, however, impressed as hell at Alexis shooting skeet, never missing a shot. He found that as sexy as watching her shift gears in her Jeep. The cowboy boots helped, too. 

By seven in the evening, the less rowdy crowd—the ones who weren’t planning on sticking around for the drinking—had cleared out. Around a bigger fire, they sat around with the kids and made s’mores. Riki had a blast, fascinated by the marshmallow at the end of her stick. Cory had to tell her no more after two.

“Pwease, Daddy. Me wike it.”

Sam saved the day by showing her an empty pack of marshmallows. “Come on, let’s go wash your patties. You’re all sticky,” Alexis coaxed. She took her wrist rather than her hand to avoid the sticky fingers. They returned in warm pajamas. Thank God the s’mores were cleaned up and the kids were settled down. Once t is not. Sit out to the picnic table, relishing the warm sun while she could. The table talk consisted of the Brady County Dragons, the alcohol they planned on consuming, and the new rifle Travis had just bought. Even coming from where he did, Cory never once felt out of place. He could watch Alexis interacting with her friends and family all day long.

“Oh my God. I am never eating again,” Cory decided in a moan, rubbing his stomach. Travis agreed.

“Didn’t you see all the desserts in there?” Alexis questioned.

“Desserts? Okay, maybe I have a little room left,” Cory decided. He was a sucker for sweets, and if they tasted anything like the rest of the food, he’d be a happy man. The women moved into the barn and cleaned up, but mostly probed. Everyone wanted to know about Cory—was it serious, was she in love, did she hear wedding bells. Alexis answered with
I don’t know
, more than anything. Geesh, they hadn’t even been together but a few weeks, barely over a month.

“Stop patronizing me. Ask Paige all this stuff. She’s been with Jordan for over a year.”

“Paige is going to college. She’s not allowed to think about marriage yet,” Lisa assured her.

“Mom, there’s something I have to tell you,” Paige said, seriously. Alexis instantly laughed.

“Shut up. That’s not even funny. That thing better stay in his pants.”

“I’m going to watch the guys,” Alexis said. Nope, she wasn’t going there. She took the opportunity to get the hell away from Paige’s meddling mother before something slipped, and the Cory questions.

Cory raised his arm for Alexis, but kept talking to Sam.

“She’s such a riot. I swear I laugh more at the two of them in one day than I ever did my own kids. Some of the things they come up with, I tell ya,” Sam said.

“I’m so happy you’re doing this, Sam. It means a lot to know that she is having so much fun while I work.”

“I love having her. She helps a lot. I don’t have to go dig worms with Emily anymore, Riki loves doing it.”

Cory had more firsts that day than he’d ever had in one day. After displaying how much he sucked at horseshoes, Cory declined the clay pigeon shooting. He was, however, impressed as hell at Alexis shooting skeet, never missing a shot. He found that as sexy as watching her shift gears in her Jeep. The cowboy boots helped, too. 

By seven in the evening, the less rowdy crowd—the ones who weren’t planning on sticking around for the drinking—had cleared out. Around a bigger fire, they sat around with the kids and made s’mores. Riki had a blast, fascinated by the marshmallow at the end of her stick. Cory had to tell her no more after two.

“Pwease, Daddy. Me wike it.”

Sam saved the day by showing her an empty pack of marshmallows. “Come on, let’s go wash your patties. You’re all sticky,” Alexis coaxed. She took her wrist rather than her hand to avoid the sticky fingers. They returned in warm pajamas. Thank God the s’mores were cleaned up and the kids were settled down. Once t is not. Sit out to the picnic table, relishing the warm sun while she could. The table talk consisted of the Brady County Dragons, the alcohol they planned on consuming, and the new rifle Travis had just bought. Even coming from where he did, Cory never once felt out of place. He could watch Alexis interacting with her friends and family all day long.

“Oh my God. I am never eating again,” Cory decided in a moan, rubbing his stomach. Travis agreed.

“Didn’t you see all the desserts in there?” Alexis questioned.

“Desserts? Okay, maybe I have a little room left,” Cory decided. He was a sucker for sweets, and if they tasted anything like the rest of the food, he’d be a happy man. The women moved into the barn and cleaned up, but mostly probed. Everyone wanted to know about Cory—was it serious, was she in love, did she hear wedding bells. Alexis answered with
I don’t know
, more than anything. Geesh, they hadn’t even been together but a few weeks, barely over a month.

“Stop patronizing me. Ask Paige all this stuff. She’s been with Jordan for over a year.”

“Paige is going to college. She’s not allowed to think about marriage yet,” Lisa assured her.

“Mom, there’s something I have to tell you,” Paige said, seriously. Alexis instantly laughed.

“Shut up. That’s not even funny. That thing better stay in his pants.”

“I’m going to watch the guys,” Alexis said. Nope, she wasn’t going there. She took the opportunity to get the hell away from Paige’s meddling mother before something slipped, and the Cory questions.

Cory raised his arm for Alexis, but kept talking to Sam.

“She’s such a riot. I swear I laugh more at the two of them in one day than I ever did my own kids. Some of the things they come up with, I tell ya,” Sam said.

“I’m so happy you’re doing this, Sam. It means a lot to know that she is having so much fun while I work.”

“I love having her. She helps a lot. I don’t have to go dig worms with Emily anymore, Riki loves doing it.”

Cory had more firsts that day than he’d ever had in one day. After displaying how much he sucked at horseshoes, Cory declined the clay pigeon shooting. He was, however, impressed as hell at Alexis shooting skeet, never missing a shot. He found that as sexy as watching her shift gears in her Jeep. The cowboy boots helped, too. 

By seven in the evening, the less rowdy crowd—the ones who weren’t planning on sticking around for the drinking—had cleared out. Around a bigger fire, they sat around with the kids and made s’mores. Riki had a blast, fascinated by the marshmallow at the end of her stick. Cory had to tell her no more after two.

“Pwease, Daddy. Me wike it.”

Sam saved the day by showing her an empty pack of marshmallows. “Come on, let’s go wash your patties. You’re all sticky,” Alexis coaxed. She took her wrist rather than her hand to avoid the sticky fingers. They returned in warm pajamas. Thank God the s’mores were cleaned up and the kids were settled down. Once t is not. Sit out to the picnic table, relishing the warm sun while she could. The table talk consisted of the Brady County Dragons, the alcohol they planned on consuming, and the new rifle Travis had just bought. Even coming from where he did, Cory never once felt out of place. He could watch Alexis interacting with her friends and family all day long.

“Oh my God. I am never eating again,” Cory decided in a moan, rubbing his stomach. Travis agreed.

“Didn’t you see all the desserts in there?” Alexis questioned.

“Desserts? Okay, maybe I have a little room left,” Cory decided. He was a sucker for sweets, and if they tasted anything like the rest of the food, he’d be a happy man. The women moved into the barn and cleaned up, but mostly probed. Everyone wanted to know about Cory—was it serious, was she in love, did she hear wedding bells. Alexis answered with
I don’t know
, more than anything. Geesh, they hadn’t even been together but a few weeks, barely over a month.