Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

Vaughn

I 'm standing on Boone's back porch, seasoning his new Blackstone. I got mine almost a year ago and it's basically the only thing I cook on. "Once you get this done, you can go right into cooking on it. It's a lot like cast iron, in my opinion. You just wanna take good care of it."

Abel comes out, along with Barrett and Jasper. I'm pretty sure Nolan will be arriving shortly. One of them hands me a beer, and they all have a seat, while I go have a seat with them.

"Thanks man, y'all ready for some dinner? Can't wait to break this thing in."

There are numerous answers of everyone starving. I sit against the outdoor couch with my arm slung around the back. "I'm starving, and since I got it ready for you, I can definitely say I want some dinner. Whatcha makin' babe?"

Boone rolls his eyes. "Sometimes I fucking hate you." He flips my hat off my head. "But to answer your question, I'm making smash burgers, and fried potatoes. If that doesn't sound good then y'all can go get something else."

My stomach growls. "Sounds good to me."

"I'm glad I have your seal of approval."

He turns and heads back in the house through the sliding door, and that's when the guys all start asking questions.

"What in the hell happened to you and Val the other night?"

"Nolan said you took it as a major fuck you when he said something to Val. What in the hell is happening?"

I hold my hands up. "One at a time, but I'm going to tell you right now, I don't know if I feel as if I have to explain to you the situation that Val and I have found ourselves in. We're exploring things."

"Looked like you were exploring her mouth out there on the back of your truck." Abel wrinkles his nose up and dips his chin down to deepen his voice in a teasing manner.

"Fuck you, like you haven't been known to do that with Kara back there. We just didn't want an audience. I didn't want one." I didn't want anyone to see what was going on with the two of us. Her first kiss was mine, and that will constantly be a point of pride for me. The fact that I was able to give her that? It'll always be one of the best things I've done in my life, and I don't feel as if most of what I've done has been anything to write home about.

"What are you planning with her?" Barrett asks. "You know Gabby is super protective and I'm just trying to figure out if I'm going to have to kick your ass or not."

"First of all, you aren't kicking my ass." I take a drink of my beer to settle my nerves. "Second of all, Val's an adult. She can handle her own battles. She doesn't need Gabby or you to be doing it for her. It's important that she be able to do that." Val might not have told me much about what happened to her, but I definitely get the feeling people infantilized her.

"You are so fuckin' touchy about all of this. You have a thing for her, don't you?"

I'm not willing or ready to discuss this with anyone, much less these guys. "See this." I mimic locking my mouth and throwing away the key. "Y'all might be into gossiping about your love lives, but I'm not."

Boone comes back out with what he needs to make the meal for us. He eyes the group, no doubt picking up on the vibes that are flowing between us. Like he always does, he somehow manages to make things less tense. "Are you on call for later in the week?" He looks over at me, eyebrows raised. "I saw the weather forecast, and it seems like it's going to get bad to the north."

"Yeah." I take another drink from my beer. "I volunteered, but I hope I don't have to go. I'd rather stay here. I'm not into being there for a few weeks with potentially no electricity and sweltering temps, but it is what it is."

I hope they can't read between the lines, that I don't want to leave Val. Back when I volunteered and I didn't have much going on in my life, the money was worth it. Now I don't care about the money.

"I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya." Abel flicks his hat onto the table in between us.

That move and the sentiment says more than words ever could. Just like that we're back to zero, as are me and the rest of us.

"How many burgers y'all want?" Boone grins, as he stands at the Blackstone.

"As many as you've fuckin' got." Jasper yells.

"God, I'm glad y'all aren't growing anymore. I about went broke trying to feed y'all when you'd come over as teenagers. Thought for sure I'd have to pawn some video game system once or twice."

Jasper gets up from where he sits, and goes over to put his arm around Boone. "I don't think any of us have ever really thanked you for the safe space you gave us during that time in our lives. You did more than our own parents did, when you obviously couldn't afford it easily. We love ya, big guy."

It got serious real quick, but it's true. Boone Wilson has been a part of our lives since we were kids, and sometimes he doesn't get enough credit for that. We're quiet until a few seconds later, Abel speaks.

"Way to make me look like shit."

It's the break in the heaviness we need to continue having a good time.

Four hours later, I'm a bit tipsy and slightly sunburned from sitting out on the back porch at a weird angle, when my phone buzzes in my pocket. Reaching in, I grab it out, fully expecting it to be work, verifying that I will be on call.

Instead, I'm surprised to see it's Val.

Hot Baker: Are you up for watching some TV? I don't wanna be alone tonight.

I glance around at my friends. Everyone is starting to pack up and head home.

Me: Sounds good, I can be there in about fifteen? Want me to bring anything?

Hot Baker: Just yourself.

Me: I'm fixing to leave, see you soon.

"It's been fun tonight, we'll have to do it again, but I gotta head on out."

Jasper glances at my phone, and then back up at me, smirk on his face. "Have a good time."

No one else says anything, but everyone is offering me smiles, and I know that they know. As long as they don't say anything, I'm not rising to what they want me to. Heading out to my truck, I open the door and get in. Before I press the button to start it, I grip the steering wheel. "Keep your shit together." I whisper to myself. "She's inviting you over because she trusts you. Remember that."

The ride over is quicker than I remember, or maybe it's because I'm looking forward to being with her, but when I pull into the back of Get Baked, I blow out a breath and then get out. Taking the steps two at a time, I stand in front of the door, and before I can knock on it, she's opening it to me.

"Hey." She smiles, pulling the door back so that I can see inside.

"Hey yourself. What are you doing up so late?"

She wrinkles her nose. "When I don't have to be at work early in the morning, I do stay up later than normal. I took a nap this afternoon, which is why I invited you over. I wanna watch some TV, and I didn't want to do it on my own."

"I'm glad you invited me." I stand around, swinging my hands back and forth.

"I know it's not much, but it's mine." She raises her shoulder, in an almost embarrassed gesture.

For the first time I take a look around. It's a studio, with the only delegation being a folding partition, that I imagine her bed is behind. There's a small kitchen with a tiny countertop and a full stove, there's only one basin for the sink. The couch and TV are in the corner, but there's enough room for at least two people to sit on it comfortably. There are little touches all over the place that remind me of her. A colorful picture adorns one of the walls, on another one there's an inspirational quote. "This is very much you, Val, at least from how much you've allowed me to get to know you so far."

"Yeah." She smiles. "It is. I've never had a place that's been mine before, that I could decorate exactly how I wanted to. When I moved in Gabby told me I could do whatever I thought I would like with it, and I have."

The happiness radiates from her. "You're one of the most amazing people I've ever met, Val, and if I'm not careful, you're gonna fuck me up."

She swallows slowly. "What exactly does that mean?"

"You'll learn, Val, that for the people I care about? I'll burn the fuckin' world down for. I'm getting there with you."