Layers of Us (Second Generation Book 2)

Chapter 19

MILES

“So, that was awkward….” My oldest cousin Lyle let out a bit of a chuckle, in reference to the family dinner that we just finished.

After getting everything cleaned up, most of the family left, but us “older” kids hung around and are now sitting on the back porch. Lyle has his wife, Harlow, wrapped on his lap. Deacon and Jace are sitting together on the staircase, each with a beer in their hands. Stef and Ember stuck around and they’re sitting on the porch swing, Ember with Peyton in her arms. My heart tightens in my chest as I watch her. I haven’t seen her often, but every time that I do, I feel something, something I’m not sure I had a right to feel.

I may have been teasing Ember a bit earlier when she brought up our almost kiss, but the truth is that it has been on my mind since it happened and I keep itching for a redo. That night, everything happened so quickly. She was injured and I was worried about her, then everything switched and I was scared shitless for what was going on with Peyton. Ember was my calm though. She didn’t let me freak out. She took control of the situation and we were able to get Peyton’s fever down and her back to sleep. 

There was no doubt in my mind that Ember was beautiful. She had bright doe eyes and the cutest bow-shaped lips that were totally kissable. Her hair was a mixture of blues and purples and pinks. It was beyond just her looks though. She was compassionate and cared more about other people than she did herself. She didn’t treat me like I was some sort of leper, I didn’t know how much she knew about me, but she didn’t seem to judge me from what I knew she did know about me.

“You know what we should do tonight?” Harlow spoke up in her cheery voice.

“What?” Deacon mocked her and in turn, Harlow stunk her tongue out at Deac.

“We should all go to Nikki’s!”

“What’s Nikki’s?” Ember looks up from Peyton.

“Nikki’s is the bar in town. It’s been a while since we’ve gone and we’re all here right now. Come on, it’ll be fun!”

Deacon and Jace shrug at each other, “Yeah, sure we’re down.”

“I can drive,” Lyle replied, kissing his wife on the cheek. “That way this one can get shit faced and I know she’ll get home safe.”

“What about you, Stef?” Deacon glanced over at Stef and I noticed the way that Stef slightly looked away. I’ve seen that look in Deacon’s eyes too, he has his eyes on something he wants.

Stef looks at Ember who returns with a half-smile. “I guess we could. We don’t have to be in tomorrow at a certain time.”

“As much fun as it sounds, everybody, I’m going to have to pass. I need to get that one at home and asleep.”

The back screendoor opens and Grandma steps out onto the porch. She has her housecoat wrapped tight around her body, she must be on her way up to bed. “It looks so great to see you all back together. You boys have grown so much, but you still like to see you all sitting on this back porch like you did so many times as teenagers growing up here.”

“That was a nice little guilt trip, Grandma.” I smile up at her and she just places her hand on my shoulder and gives it a light squeeze.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I’m okay with watching Peyton tonight if you’d like to go out with everybody.”

“I don’t want to impose on you or anything, she’s still waking up a couple of times at night.”

“Boy, I raised four girls and one of them was your mother and she had colic for the first eight months. I think I can handle Peyton for a night.”