The rumble of engines faded into the distance, leaving behind a silence that felt too loud. The boys were off to St. Louis, and the compound suddenly felt hollow without their swagger and noise. I stood on the porch, arms crossed, watching the dust settle. My lips still tingled from Wolf’s kiss—unexpected, rough, and way too short. It wasn’t just a goodbye. It was a promise. Or maybe a warning. Hell if I knew.
“Kat, baby, grab the cooler from the garage,” Mama Red called, her voice slicing through my thoughts like a whip. She was already knee-deep in party prep, her red curls bouncing as she barked orders. My own mama was inside with the other ol’ ladies, plotting out the food and drink situation like it was a military op.
I snapped out of it and jogged to the garage, grabbing the cooler
