Taivon: Book Three of the Cantrell Brothers Series

Chapter Thirty-Three

Jane laughed. “Details, girl. I need details!”

“But I don't know what you all want to know.”

“Everything,” Anna said.

“Yeah,” Callie chirped. “Everything.”

Alix just shrugged, feeling more at ease at how welcoming they all were, and began to tell them everything.

***

“Oh, my God!” Jane was laughing so hard there were tears coming out of her eyes again, only this time, they were good tears.

Right beside her, Anna and Tina were laughing just as hard, and Anna asked, “You gave him a bloody nose!?”

“It was an accident. Don't worry. But he was a good sport about it, ya know. And now, no more bloody noses to speak of.”

She felt so much better now. It was amazing how telling a few funny stories could make a person feel so much more relaxed. And it even seemed like Taivon's mom liked her. If that wasn't fist pump worthy, then she didn't know what was.

From behind her, a timer went off, and Tina deposited Ella back into Anna's arms before scurrying over to the oven and pulling out a big crock pot of what looked to be some sort of stew. It smelled delicious, and her stomach grumbled.

“Okay!” Tina shouted, loud enough for the people in town to probably even hear. “Time to eat!”

Just like that, the table was filled. Four of the boys and their father, Titan, were all seated, spoons and forks at the ready. Taivon, however, wasn't seated; instead, he stood off to the side a little, waiting for her, a small, hesitant smile on his face.

“Titus,” Titan said, smacking the oldest brother on the shoulder. “Go help your mother with the rolls.”

As milk was being poured and rolls, vegetables, and stew being distributed, Alix went over to Taiv. He took her hand in his, gave a comforting squeeze, and then sat her down before sitting down beside her, right in between her and who she thought to be Thrane.

Jane sat at her left, with Tobias right next to her, and across from them was Anna and Titus. Everyone talked animatedly, especially Thrane, who talked loud enough that he was heard over everybody else. Taivon, on the other hand, was silent as he passed the platter of fat rolls to her, and dumped a mound of vegetables onto his plate.

“Hey, Taiv,” Titus said as he came back to the table with a full pitcher. “Pass me your glass.”

The older brother filled up Taivon's glass of water and passed it back to him. Taiv smiled but didn't say anything. Understanding why, she moved her hand under the table and gave his knee a reassuring squeeze. His fingers twined with hers a second later before letting go.

“Psst...” She heard someone say from the right of her. “Hey. You.”

Alix looked around until her eyes landed on the loudest one there, Thrane. He was looking at her through narrowed eyes, but there was a playfulness about it that was more welcoming than anything else.

“Yeah?” she asked.

“How'd you end up picking those patterns? I like 'em.”

She looked down at the covered tattoos on her arms. They were barely noticeable, but through the thin material of the wispy shirt, a person could tell if they were looking closely enough – which Thrane, apparently, was.

Alix shrugged. “My little sister went to art school and just...asked to paint me one day, so she did, and I loved the patterns.”

“Oh, yeah? And how far do they go?” The older man winked.