Figured I could help them out.
I’d just started frying bacon when the coffee was finally done. I poured myself a mug and looked out the window that looks into the backyard. I stared at the snowmen we all built last night. Birdie came prepared with extra clothes specifically for making snowmen. They all had so much fun last night. Despite how sad mine and Waylen’s snowmen look, he was as happy as could be.
“Oh, thank god for little brothers,” Birdie breathed out as she walked into the kitchen, towards the coffee pot. Rosie was on her hip, wide awake and smiling at me. “Go sit down at the table and
Momma will bring you something to eat, okay?” She said as she set Rosie on her feet.
“Oh, you’re so sweet Jinx,” Mom said as she walked in the kitchen to see the bacon going.
All I managed was a nod as I stared at our sad snowmen. It bothers me. All of it. Waylen and I alone. And what he asked me last night.
“Why are you glaring at your son’s snowman?” Birdie asked as she started cutting up fruit for Rosie.
“I’m not glaring,” I argued, frowning at her.
“Oh, okay,” she replied with a snort.
“I’m not!” I said defensively. “It’s just… they look so sad. Just the two of them off to the side like that.”
“You act like you’re ten feet away,” Birdie said flatly.
“It just looks like more space because there’s only two of you,” Mom added, patting my arm.
I gave both of them a flat look.
“Not what I mean,” I grumbled before finishing off my coffee and pouring a new cup.
“This got something to do with what Waylen asked you last night?” Birdie asked as she set a plate down in front of Rosie, who could barely see over the table in the chair.
I rolled my eyes at my sister, not wanting to answer.
“No,” I lied, answering anyway.
Birdie looked at me in disbelief with her hand on her hip.
“He literally asked you if you guys could make a Deidra snowman to go with yours so that it looked like he had a mom,” she stated, and I felt heat rush to my cheeks.
“He just wanted it to look like a real family,” I replied. “So yeah, it bothered me. Because I can’t give him that. His mom was sh.it, and he’s better off without her. But I can’t just pick a mom out of thin- air for him.”
“He doesn’t want you to pick a mom for him, Brixton,” my sister stated, pi.ssing me off when she used my real name. “He’s already picked her. He just wants you to do something about it.”
My jaw ticked as I looked at my big sis.
“All of you are in-fu.cking-sane, and it’s rubbing off on my kid,” I said.
Birdie shook her head and rolled her eyes.
“Come on, Jinx,” Mom chimed in. “You need to stop lying to the two of us, or yourself. Everyone can see that the two of you clearly have something between you. She’s single now. This is your chance.”
“Seriously!” Birdie added as she threw her hands up in the air. “Take the chance! The universe is trying to tell you something.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “That my mom and sister have lost it.”
Birdie gave me a flat look.
“The universe isn’t saying sh.it,” I said. “Yeah, she’s single now. Yeah, we’re older now. Yeah, my kid loves her and she loves him. But we went on a two-week vacation right after she became single.
And she hates me in case you two forgot.”
“Hate isn’t the word I would use to describe her feelings,” Mom muttered under her breath.
“Who cares about the vacation?” Birdie said with irritation. “Are you afraid someone’s going to steal her before we get back?”
I noticed Mom perked up at that, but I decided to ignore it. It didn’t matter. And all this talk about Deidra was giving me a headache. As if it weren’t bad enough last night. Now it’s first thing in the morning. That woman is haunting my life.
“What if the universe gave you another sign?” Mom asked as she spun around to face me.
“Another sign?” I asked with a raised brow.
“Yeah, like… what if she’s not seeing anyone when we get back?” she asked. “Or, what if we got back early, or what if we ran into her on the way back? Or what if she calls the club while we’re gone to ask about Waylen? Or what if-“
“Okay, okay, geez,” I cut off her rambling. “You win, okay? If the universe… gives another sign of some sort, a clear one, then I’ll… What is it you guys want me to do again? Screw her or something?”
They both gave me flat, disapproving looks. Guess my joke didn’t hit.
“Take her on a date,” Birdie said. “That’s what we want.”
“What if she says no?” I asked. “Despite what you guys say about her hating me… she, at the very least, doesn’t like me. Every time I see her, she jumps right into defensive mode.”
“Can’t you try to be charming or something?” Birdie grumbled at me.
“Oh, sweet big sis, I’m always charming,” I teased her. “The ladies never complain.”
“Except Thorn,” Mom muttered, making Birdie burst out in laughter and me frown at her.
“Whatever, I’m going to see if Waylen’s up,” I grumbled as I walked out of the kitchen.
I have got to try to get everyone to stop talking about Deidra for this vacation. She’s completely taking over, and she’s not even here. God, if only that pain in my a.ss knew just how much my family adores her. She’d probably run for the fu.cking hills.
At least I got the next two weeks away from her pretty little face and those bright hazel eyes.
The day has been hectic. The boys wanted to be outside all day. Rosie wanted to be inside. Mom and Birdie wanted to go shopping around town. None of us guys wanted to do sh.it. Which meant that we decided to do what the kids wanted today and tomorrow we were all going into town. It’s been fun though. Seeing Waylen having the time of his life makes it all worth it.
“Jinx, honey, can you run to the office cabin and get some more towels?” Mom asked me. “I called up there and the lovely lady said she’d have them there waiting. They’re going to be closing up for the day soon though.”
“Yeah Ma, I’ll go right now,” I said.
I kissed her head, told Waylen to behave, and headed out. Our cabin sat far at the back of the road.
This place only had about 20 cabins in total. Which was great because it gave everyone plenty of space. Except for the tiny little thing that wasn’t too far away from us. It sits in the corner by some trees, practically hidden. I noticed earlier today that someone’s staying there right now, but I think it’s just one person.
It took me a little bit to walk to the office cabin since we were so far back, but I basked in the quiet.
Once I made it to the cabin, I walked in, the little bell on top of the door jingled to let them know someone was here. However, I didn’t see anyone behind the desk.
“Uh, hello?” I called out.
“Oh, you must be here for the towels!” someone called out from the back room. It was a female. I swear her voice sounded familiar too.
“Uhm, yeah that’s me,” I replied, trying to shake the funny feeling growing in my gut.
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