Chapter 57 57.Picnic
Tabitha’s POV
We spread out the blankets close to the water, mist cooling the air around us. Luca sets down the basket he carried all the way from the estate.
Luca drops the basket onto the blanket and starts unpacking foil-wrapped bundles. “Grilled meat, fruit, drinks, snacks. Figured we’d need enough to keep Reed from strangling Jace before the day’s over.”
Reed scowls. “Don’t test me.”
“That’s a lot of food,” I comment, plucking a piece of grape popping it to my mouth.
Luca shrugs. “The cook went all out with it.”
“Don’t be fooled. This is not nearly enough for me,” Reed says, already making himself a sandwich.
“Because you eat like a damn barbarian,” Jace says, tossing a grape at Reed’s shoulder and smirking when it bounces off. He leans back on his elbows, casual like he’s daring Reed to lunge at him.
I lean back on my hands, listening to them go at it. Jace pelts Reed with grapes and Reed mutters curses under his breath. I’ve seen them from a distance before, like storm clouds rolling through a room together, always a force and somehow untouchable. But sitting here now, watching them tear into each other over small things is a bit ridiculous but entertaining. They aren’t just four intimidating wolves or Emery Aldair’s heirs—they’re brothers. Real brothers who can’t go five minutes without taking shit at each other. They like exchanging jabs and pissing each other off. But I know that at the end of the day, these brothers always look for each other.
It’s fascinating, really.
As an only child, I don’t know what it’s like to have that kind of bond. My life has always been quieter, lonelier in a way I never admitted out loud. Especially since I don’t really have much friends too. But right here, with them, I get a glimpse of what it feels like—messy, loud, ridiculous, and yet strangely comforting.
Evren clears his throat and pulls out a container from the basket. The sharp scent of marinade hits the air when he lifts the lid.
“I’ll get the fire going,” he says, already heading toward a flat patch of rock near the water where the grill can sit. He works in silence, stacking wood with the same calm efficiency he brings everywhere, though I notice the faintest crease in his brow when the smoke curls wrong.
Reed finishes chewing, then builds another sandwich, slapping all types of meats and veggies on the bread. Then, he briefly looks at me and says, “Do you look mustard?”
“Uh, yeah…” I say tentatively.
Reed nods, spreads mustard across the bread, presses the sandwich closed, and hands it to me.
“Oh, thanks…”
“Eat before Jace throws the rest into the river.”
“You mean before you devour all the food, you baffoon,” Jace claps back.
“Careful,” Reed says around a mouthful of bread. “You’re gonna choke on your own mouth one day.” He flicks a grape straight at Jace and hits him square in the shoulder.
Jace snorts, grabs two grapes, and launches them back. One misses. The other nails Reed on the jaw.
“Fucker.” Reed mutters, already reaching for another handful.
Reed flicks a grape at Jace. It bounces off his shoulder. Jace flicks one back, hitting Reed on the jaw.
“Alright, guys, that’s enough! Stop wasting foods!” I hiss.
“Listen to your mom, kids.” Luca snickers without looking up, calmly peeling an orange like he’s above the chaos.
Evren pulls the skewers off the grill and sets the freshly charred meat onto a plate. The smell makes my stomach growl with hunger, and it takes all of two seconds before the others dive in. Especially Reed and Jace. Jace loves to shit on Reed for eating too much, but he’s no better, really. Meat disappears from the plate faster than I can blink. I realize these brothers don’t just eat, they consume like wolves who haven’t seen food in days.
By the time I chew through a piece myself, they are already halfway through another round. It should annoy me, but watching them eat with that much satisfaction almost makes me laugh. When the plates empty, we lean back on the blankets.
This is nice.
The falls send mist drifting across us while the forest hums with birdsong.The air feels easy and just perfectly relaxing. The world sounds alive, and I can let it sink into me without the usual weight pressing down.
“I didn’t even know a place like this existed on the island,” I admit, staring up at the water that crashes down in a comforting roar.
“It’s tucked deep into the forest, so it’s not easy to stumble across,” Evren says while refilling my cup with juice.
“Honestly, that works in our favor,” Jace says, flicking a pebble into the pool. “The fewer who know about this place, the fewer who can mess it up.”
“Tsk. Anyone who tries to thrash this would answer to me,” Reed mutters. “This place is off limits.”
“Wow, that’s rich coming from a guy who enjoys vandalizing public properties,” I quip.
Reed snorts and rips into another piece of meat. “Graffiti’s art. Trashin’ this place would just be stupid.”
He shoves the last piece of pastrami to his mouth before stripping his shirt without warning. I almost gasp, feeling scandalized.
“I’m gonna take a dip,” he announces before unceremoniously launching himself into the water with a clean leap. A splash soaks the edges of our blanket. Luca laughs and peels off his own shirt, then follows him.
My gaze betrays me before I can stop it. My eyes stick to the cut of their shoulders, the ripple of muscle when they hit the water, and the way the spray runs across their golden skin. I tell myself I’m admiring the waterfall, the rocks, the whole scene. Not them. Definitely not them. Nope, I’m not looking at those washboard abs.
Damn it. I want to slap myself for staring like some thirsty idiot.
A sudden splash of cold water smacks against my leg. I jolt and look up to find Reed grinning at me from the waterfall. “Quit sitting there. Get in!”