by Angel Lawson
“Yep, everything at the CrossRoads sports camp is set to go. I’ll have to drop in on opening and closing day, but I think it’ll run smoothly.”
“Thank you,” I say, kissing his chin. “I think this program is going to be really awesome.”
“I think so, too.”
When I graduated college, I got a job working with juveniles through the state. I hated it. I hate the system as much now as I did then, and after a year I wanted to pull my hair out, quit, and run away. But the boys and I came up with another plan. Use our experience and resources to help. We had four foster care success stories. And not because of the system, but because of Sierra and the hard work she put in. We decided to build our own group home down in June Lake and provide all the things we knew actually helped the boys through their troubles. Hard work, skill development, responsibilities, expectations. Through Jake’s contacts we started a sports camp that helped kids with talent get in front of coaches. Dexter has a cooking workshop that allows residents job opportunities either at one of his shops (he has five) or at Epic. George established an art program, not just for kids at CrossRoads but for any local wanting to develop their skills. Ms. Peterman teaches after school and during the summer. And Charlie? Well, the kids probably love him the most. His program is full of video game development, coding, applied computer sciences and a massive directive for security—with a focus on ethics.
And me? I’m here for the handholding. The court hearings. The parent visits. It’s heartbreaking and warming at the same time, but we’ve all agreed I need a little time off with this baby on the way. I have a way of carrying the stress of these kids on my shoulders and it’s hard not to get burned out.
“You look tired,” Jake says.
“I could use a nap,” I admit. “And a cheeseburger.”
“I’m game for both.”
He wraps his massive arms around me—god I’ve missed them—and
he smiles and kisses me again, and again, and again.
They’ve been in there for four days. Four, and it’s making me crazy. I’d even relented and slept next door during the final stages, but patience has never been my best virtue.
Surely, it’s safe to go in, right?
I’m about to find out.
As far as I know, everyone else is gone. Dexter, Jake, and Charlie headed down to Mammoth Lakes to check out some property. George is working covertly. I may not be able to get past Dexter and Jake, but George? He’s always been the weak link. It’s the impulsivity.
I open the front door and am struck instantly by the sound of music and the harsh scent of chemicals. From what I gather, he’s just doing touch-ups. And all I want is a peek. Just a peek.
I quietly walk down the hall past my new bedroom to my old one—my mother’s before mine—and pause in the doorway. Tears spring to my eyes. I mean, it’s not like I don’t cry all the damn time now, I’m an emotional wreck, but this? It’s too much.
The walls are a slate gray, the furniture a deep wooden brown. A crib in the corner and a bookshelf next to the closet. It’s all set up and arranged, framing the mural George is painting on the wall. It’s softer than most of his art, which can land like a punch in the face, this is an intricately detailed scene, on the slivers of wall beside and over the window. Tall aspens, tiny birds, rocks and hills.
George stands on a ladder, one paint brush between his teeth, another in his hand. He’s tall and lean and more handsome than he ever was before. How do my boys keep getting better looking? It’s not fair.
“Oh my god,” I say, covering my mouth. “It’s gorgeous.”
“What the—” he drops his paintbrush, turning in surprise. He leans back, like he’s going to fall, but manages to regain his balance. “You know not to sneak up on me when I’m working! And babe,” a crease line forms on his forehead, “you’re not supposed to be in here—the fumes are too much.”
He’s already crossing over to me.
“The window is open.”
“You can’t be too safe,” he says, pulling me down the hall.
“But I want to see.”
He links his paint-splattered fingers in mine and sighs. “Fine.”
I think he’s taking me back to the nursery but he goes the other direction. Out the front door. I follow him around the side of the house where he stops outside the bedroom window.
“You can look in that way.”
“But I can’t see the painting.”
He shrugs. “I know you think you can talk me into it, but there’s no way. The guys will kill me if I let anything happen to you or the baby.”
His hands cup my belly. They’re all fascinated with it. And my boobs. Oh my god, you’d think they’d died and gone to heaven.
“Well, from what I saw, I love it.”
“Good,” he bends and presses his forehead to mine. “I’m glad. I took a little risk with the colors and then Dexter told me I couldn’t use the gold leafing, so I was unsure.”
I laugh; it’s so good to have him home.
He takes a step back and studies the house behind me with a frown on his face.
“What?”
“You know, if it’s a girl, we’re going to have to do something about this window. Like put bars on it or something to keep the perverts from next door from crawling in and out of there all night.”
“And not a boy? We don’t need to keep them from harassing all the girls in Lee Vines?”
He thinks on it and nods. “Okay, bars either way.”
I lean against the house, his hands still on me. “I can’t believe all the stuff we used to do.”
“We were young and a little feral.”
“In love.”
He smiles. “Oh yeah. And lust. God, I’ve never been so horny all the time.” He shakes his head. “If you only knew how bad it was sometimes. It’s probably what drove Sierra away.”
We laugh because it’s all ancient history. Sierra’s doing better now and back in our lives, excited to be an aunt. I do have a confession. “I probably didn’t really get it back then. I mean, I loved and wanted you all but I was caught up in the emotions of everything, but I think I get it better now.”
His eyebrow raises. “Explain.”
I still feel the slight hint of a blush on my cheeks when talking about this to them. It’s just my nature. “You know the stories about pregnancy making a woman want sex? I definitely don’t think it’s an old wive's tale.”
“So, the tables are turned. You’re the one horny all the time.” His smile is adorable, his lips pink, and yeah, it makes me think lurid thoughts. “I moved down here to take care of you this summer. Everyone else is gone…I guess it’s up to me to fulfill those needs.”
“Are you going to be obnoxious about this?” I ask.
He pushes me gently against the house. “Oh yeah.”
I smile against his mouth, feeling his want, feeling my own. I let him lead me back to the house, not my house, but the Wayward Sun, and I let him take care of me, the way we always have and always will.
The Fourth of July is always probably my favorite celebration in Lee Vines. It’s warm, the energy is perfect, locals, tourists, guests and returnees all gather like one big family reunion.
A hectic, crazy family reunion, but that seems pretty typical too.
Dexter is happily mired in pies, his kitchen running like a machine at this point. Jake and George set up the stage. Charlie pulls out the old sound equipment, sorting through his boxes, updating the technology.
We call in the bands, the vendors, the fireworks people. Katie, with her own baby slung across her chest, manages the front desk, attending to each and every need of our guests.
On the actual day I stand on the lawn, overlooking the lake below, the water salty but clear. I take a deep breath and feel the buzz of energy around me.
“There you are,” Charlie says, handing me a bottle of water. “I just wanted to let you know I think I’ve got it all set up.”
I kiss
his cheek. “Thank you. One less thing to worry about.”
“You know you could have let someone else take over this year.”
I give him a look and he holds out his hands in surrender. As if. My grandmother would kill me.
A group of kids run by, dragging their bikes and wagons and scooters. There’s a meet up spot by Epic where they can decorate for the parade that starts in about an hour. I watch those kids, thinking about the one in my belly. Will he or she love Lee Vines, too? Or will they want to run away like my mother?
“You okay?” he asks, slipping an arm around my waist. I lean into him. He provides me quiet peace.
“Just thinking about this town and how much it means to me.”
“I never understood why you loved it so much until I left. Living here could be hard for me, as an introvert. There’s nowhere to hide. I felt a little relief in college and once I lived in a city. I could breathe. No one was watching. No one wanted to know about my brother, my foster family, my past.” He swallows. “Or my dad.”
I wrap my arms around him and rest my head on his chest. We’re both sticky from the heat but I don’t mind. We’re way beyond that.
“But now,” he says. “I get it. I get the people that live here. I understand."
Over the last four weeks, with my belly growing bigger, my boys back in town, us living openly together, I’ve come to realize why I love it here. Why I’ve always loved it here.
It’s my home.
These are my people.
“The original Starlee and her husband bought this little strip of land to build a life. And my family kept it going, expanding little by little.” I squeeze him and he touches my stomach, which is bigger and bigger every day. “And now I’ll keep it going and we’ll maintain this little part of the world so that this little one feels safe.” I turn to face him. “I almost wonder if she knew we’d need it one day. As a safe, non-judgmental place to heal and grow a family.”
“Maybe.”
“I think there’s a difference with how we live and my grandmother. We do have ties to the outside—your work. The galleries representing George. Jake’s reach. If they want out—there’s a way. We can straddle both worlds.”
“You’re smart—did you know that?”
I shrug, because yeah. I’d managed to snare four amazing men and keep them in my life. You have to be some kind of supernatural goddess to pull that off.
That night after the pies are gone and the bands are playing their hippie version of traditional American standards. The kids are spread across blankets, the adults swaying to the music. We’re not kids anymore. And it still feels like we’re not adults, but it doesn’t matter where we fit in. We have one another and like every year, just before the fireworks, we slip away from the crowd and head down to our rock. It takes a few minutes and the strong arms of my boys to get me up on the boulder this time.
“Got it?” Dex asks, pulling me close beside him.
“I’m not an invalid, you know.”
He kisses my temple. The twins settle next to me and Jake kisses my neck, then sprawls behind us. The sky above is dark and filled with stars, a sight I’ll never tire of, and the five of us are quiet, waiting like we do every year, everything the same but everything different.
As the first explosion fills the sky, I consider that I don’t know how we pull this off. One runaway and four wayward sons, but we did, and I have no doubt that we can keep it going.
Like we learned a long time ago. We’ll just have to carry on.
Afterword
Coming soon! Wayward Sister, a follow-up, standalone novel in the Wayward Sons Series.
To keep up with Angel for fun, entertainment and exclusive book updates please join, Angel’s Antics, on Facebook!
Acknowledgments
Readers!
*Sniff*
There’s something about finishing a series that is emotionally wringing. For some reason these boys, the Wayward Sons, struck a chord with me. The interesting thing is that when I wrote the first book I really wasn’t sure how I felt about it and definitely considered making it a standalone. I put it aside, came back to do edits and found that I actually really enjoyed it. Then I kind of fell in love with all of the guys and Starlee and wrapping this book was a little painful.
Thank you for going on this journey with me. I may have told you all before that I visited the little town of Lee Vining, CA this summer. I stayed for less than 24 hours and have thought about the sunrises, the clear flat lake, the little cottages and the epic café almost every day since. It struck a chord with me and I really can’t wait to go back again. If you ever get a chance to go to this little town on the west entrance of Yosemite, do it! You won’t regret it. Send me a picture!
Quick thanks to Angstyg for my covers, VCEdits, My Arc Team with Pep! Jennifer and her amazing help and all the readers at Angel’s Antics!
I’ve got a few things lined up for my reverse harem books. I am definitely writing Sierra’s story. It will most likely be a standalone. I just feel like there’s more for her story. It will definitely NOT be YA.
Keep an eye out for my upcoming books. Make sure you join my group, Angel’s Antics to keep updated on my work, for chats about Riverdale, and all kinds of other fun.
Laters,
Angel
Also by Angel Lawson
Angel Lawson Books
(Reverse Harem)
The Wayward Sons (Contemporary YA)
Starlee’s Heart
Starlee’s Turn
Starlee’s Home
Starlee’s Hope
The Allendale Four (Contemporary YA-Series Complete)
A Piece of Heaven: The Allendale Four
Holding on to Heaven: The Allendale Four Book 2
The Road to Heaven: The Allendale Four Book 3
Seventh Heaven: The Allendale Four Book 4 (November 2018)
Boys of Ocean Beach (Contemporary YA- Series Complete)
Summer’s Kiss (The Boys of Ocean Beach)
Summer’s Fun (The Boys of Ocean Beach 2)
Raven Queen’s Harem (Series Complete)
Raven’s Mark (Part 1)
Ebony Rising (Part 2)
Black Magic (Part 3)
Obsidian Fire (Part 4)
Onyx Eclipse (Part 5)
Midnight’s End (Part 6)
*Raven’s Gift (Holiday Novella)
Huntress: Trial of Gods
(Reverse Harem Alien Romance)
Taking Mercy: Planet Athion Book 1
Finding Mercy: Planet Athion Book 2
Saving Mercy: Planet Athion Book 3
(Reverse Harem Superheroes)
The Elites: Supers of Project 12
Sentinels: Supers of Project 12 (Book 2)
Rogues: Supers of Project 12 (Book 3)
Heroes: Supers of Project 12 (Book 4)
The Death Fields: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller
The Girl Who Shot First
The Girl Who Punched Back
The Girl Who Kicked Ass
The Girl Who Kissed the Sun
The Girl Who Broke Free
The Girl Who Saved the World
Creature of Habit Series (Paranormal Romance)
Creature of Habit (Book 1)
Creature of Habit (Book2)
Creature of Habit (Book 3)
A Vampire’s Seduction (Ryan’s Story Book 4)
A Vampire’s Fate (Sebastian’s Story Book 5)
The Wraith Series (YA Paranormal Romance)
Wraith
Shadow Bound
Grave Possession
Urban Fantasy
The Lost Queen
Vigilant
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