“Want a s’more?”
She was never one to turn down sweets, and it wasn’t like he was asking her to sleep with him. So she nodded eagerly, went over, and sat down in the chair beside Piper’s. Tate handed her a stick with a marshmallow already stuck on the end.
“Thank you,” she said, stretching her stick over the fire.
“Any time,” he said in a low voice.
Audrey refused to look at him; instead she cuddled into her jacket, holding tight onto her stick. The temperature had dropped again and everything was dying quickly. It was probably the worst thing about winter. She hated when everything went from orange to dead. Tennessee was much prettier with color on its rolling hills. The only thing good about winter was the Christmas decorations, which she just loved.
“So, Tate,” Piper said in a cute little voice. Audrey knew the voice well. It was Piper’s “pick them up” voice.
Who the hell was she trying to pick up?
Audrey glanced over to see Piper giving Tate a wide smile as she bent toward the fire, showing off her skinny figure.
What the hell was she doing?
“What made you want to make a fire in the middle of your yard?”
Tate chuckled as Audrey stewed with anger. She didn’t understand Piper’s game, but Piper needed to cut it out.
Holy crap, am I jealous?
“I was in the mood for s’mores.”
Piper giggled. “You can’t just go making fires on your front lawn! What if the cops come by?”
“Apparently, as long as it’s not higher than five feet and you are only burning wood, you are okay. But when you burn say, furniture, or an Xbox, there is a hefty fine.”
Laughter escaped Audrey’s lips, causing everyone to glance over at her. She swallowed her laughter, shrugging her shoulders while Tate gave her a knowing grin. “What?”
Piper glanced from Tate to Audrey and then shrugged too. “Nothing.”
“My mom and dad are coming home in two days, Tate! Isn’t that awesome?” Aiden exclaimed with a big grin.
“Sure is. I bet you are excited to see them,” Tate said. He took Aiden’s burnt marshmallow and squished it between the two graham crackers and chocolate before handing it back to him. It was weird seeing someone else who was so great with Aiden.
“I am! I’m gonna miss my A.A., though, and Will.”
Audrey looked up. “You can take Will with you.”
Aiden shook his head quickly. “He says he wants to stay here and protect you.”
Audrey smiled. “Baby, I don’t need protecting, I promise. Take your friend with you, please.”
“I’m so confused right now,” Piper chimed in beside her.
Audrey shook her head as Tate said, “Yeah, me too.”
“Who is Will?” Piper asked.
“Will is my friend,” Aiden said. “He’s sitting right there.”
Tate, Piper, and even Audrey all looked over at the empty chair, before looking at Aiden.
“Oh,” Piper said, as Tate said, “Cool.”
“Yeah,” Audrey responded. Will freaked her out, and Aiden really needed to take him to Fallon’s.
“You know, Aiden,” Tate said, “I could watch over Audrey for you and Will. I’m really good at protecting things.”
Audrey looked up to see Tate grinning at her. Aiden said, “You can protect a goal, but I don’t know about my A.A.”
Audrey rolled her eyes. “I’m a big girl, Aiden, I can protect myself.”
“I promise I’ll keep an eye on her.”
Tate was the last person Audrey needed keeping an eye on her. That spelled disaster.
D.I.S.A.S.T.E.R.
His aunt’s sanity not a consideration, Aiden nodded his head slowly. “We hope you keep your promise,” he said. He turned to the empty chair. “At least you get to come home with me instead of staying here, and watching A.A. divide her shoes by color!”
Tate chuckled before glancing over at Audrey. “You divide your shoes by color?”