A swarm of people seems to pop out from all directions. A regal couple stand on the porch, and I figure them to be Lincoln’s parents by their age. Another man comes out the front door and down the steps towards the car. He looks like Lincoln, just more distinguished in his navy button-up and open collar. I vaguely recognize him as Barrett Landry from random magazine articles.
From the side of the house comes a stockier, clean-cut version of the same cloth. With his black track pants and long-sleeve white shirt, he looks military. At his side is a female, younger than Lincoln, in ripped jeans and an orange off-the-shoulder shirt. Her long, blonde hair is purple at the ends.
“My family,” Lincoln smiles the widest I’ve ever seen. “Come on!”
Without waiting for Troy to open the door, Lincoln slides out, nearly pulling me along with him. His excitement is contagious and, despite the tinge of panic, I find myself smiling.
“Hey,” Lincoln calls, pulling one of his brothers in a bear hug. “How are you, Barrett?”
“Good. How was the trip?”
“Great. Where’s Alison?”
“Fuck off,” Barrett laughs, stepping to the side. “Who is this?” He heads my way, his eyes sparkling. “I’m Barrett. Nice to meet you.”
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear before extending my hand to him. “I’m Danielle Ashley. Nice to meet you.”
He walks right past my hand and pulls me into a quick hug. “We don’t shake hands in this family,” he laughs.
“Easy with the hug,” Lincoln laughs, shoving him gently.
Barrett chuckles as the other siblings reach us. Lincoln greets them both before standing beside me, his hand around my waist. “Danielle, this is Ford and Sienna. Guys, this is my girl.”
My reaction to his declaration in front of his family is pasted on my face. Sienna laughs right before she, too, pulls me into a hug. “It’s so great to meet you,” she says, her eyes shining. “He treats you right, right? Because if not, I’ll take care of him.”
“He’s great,” I blush.
“Don’t say that,” Ford says, stepping to me and rolling his eyes. “You’ll make his ego even bigger. I’m Ford.” We hug. Naturally.
“Tell us about you,” Sienna says. “Forego the normal introduction stuff. Tell us what you enjoy. What you love.”
“She loves my cock,” Lincoln interjects.
“Oh my God,” Sienna says, her hands covering her ears.
“That’s great, Linc! I’m so glad the surgeons could create one from your pussy,” Ford jokes.
“Fuck you guys,” Lincoln laughs.
His fingers dip into my skin. I’m not sure if it’s to remind me that even though he’s conversing with his family, his mind is on me, but that’s what it does. My heart fills with warmth and as I try to fight this feeling, of maybe falling in love, the sensation takes over.
“Let’s go say hi to Mom and Dad,” Lincoln says.
He guides me to the porch, his brothers and sister bantering back and forth in a way I’ve never seen before. The love that fills these siblings is so apparent, so dynamic. I could watch their facial expressions and listen to their stories for days.
“There’s my baby boy!” The woman has her arms out for Lincoln before he gets there. She’s dressed in beige slacks and a purple top with a long gold necklace that catches the sunlight. Her hair is perfectly coiffed. She’s beautiful. “I’ve missed you. I’m so glad to have you home.”
“Missed you too.” Lincoln kisses her cheek and smiles at her more warmly than I’ve ever seen him look at anyone. The love between them tugs at my heart. He turns on his heel and extends a hand to his father. He takes it, pulling him in to a quick, more formal embrace. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hi, Son. Good to see you. How’s that arm feeling?”
“Pretty good. A little sore, but therapy keeps it that way.”
“You’re gonna be fine, Lincoln. You’re gonna be fine.”
Lincoln nods stiffly before turning towards me. “Mom, Dad—I want to introduce you to Danielle Ashley. Dani, these are my parents.”
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Landry,” I say, hoping I come across way more cool than I feel. I’ve met distinguished people a hundred times in my life. Why the nerves are kicking my ass now is beyond me. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh, sweet girl,” Mrs. Landry says softly, her hand patting my back as she leans in. “It’s Vivian. Mrs. Landry was my mother-in-law.” She sends me a quick wink before turning to her husband.
“It’s nice to meet you,” her husband says, shaking my hand. He gives me a kind smile, but I can tell he’s distracted. “Lincoln, want to take a walk with me?”
I grab on to his bicep as he looks warily at me. “Go on. I’ll be fine.”
“You sure?” he asks, his brows pulled together.
“I’m sure. I’m a big girl.”
Vivian places a hand on my shoulder. “Go on with your father,” she tells her son. “I’ll take Danielle inside and we’ll get her some food. You hungry, dear?” she asks me.
“A little.” I’m not, but I want Lincoln to go. He needs to, I think. “I’ll be inside when you get back.
He kisses my cheek, much to his mother’s amusement, and takes off down the stairs with his father.
“Do you like soup?” she asks.
I almost laugh. “Soup is great.”
Lincoln
THE WIND IS COOL AND steady as we step off the porch and away from the house. I let my father lead me. We amble down the driveway for a bit before he takes a detour off the asphalt and towards a little bench near the tree line.
My stomach knots and twists as I try to read his body language. He’s said nothing, indicated nothing, and it has me wanting to just ask him outright what he has to say. Because there’s something. There always is.
Looking towards the house as I take a seat next to my father, I wonder what Dani’s doing. If she’s okay. If she’s nervous or anxious. This kind of thing is new to her, and I have no clue how she’s feeling, and that adds majorly to the chaos inside me.
I want to be with her. My hand around her waist. My ears picking up her giggle, making sure she’s happy and comfortable.
“Lincoln?” Dad’s voice pulls me back to the cold, iron seat. His eyes are on me, but the fire I expected in them isn’t there. I breathe a sigh of relief.
He’s always treated me like the youngest boy in the family. True, I am, but I’m capable. I’ve never needed him, not like Barrett and Ford have. I’ve never asked him for a dime, for a job, or for anything more than a piece of advice and that was only when there was not one other person in the world that knew what I needed to know. Yet, he always seems like I’m hanging by a thread or on the cusp of destroying everything. Sure, I might have wrecked a couple of cars and got tossed from a game . . . or two. But I’m not whatever he thinks I am.
“How are you doing, Son?”
My head bobbles around. “Good. Fine. Everything is chugging along.”
“Therapy going well?”
“Sure.” I toe a rock with my sneaker. “I meet with the management when I get back about the assessment I did yesterday.”
He nods, taking in more than my words. He already knew this, but what he didn’t know is how I feel about it. I’m careful with him. I project what I want him to take away. The way he’s looking at me now has me nearly squirming. He’s putting together every cue I’m emitting.
“I talked to your agent about that briefly yesterday. What’s your plan, Lincoln?”