Page 53 of Star Rucked Lovers
“Guess we’ll see,” he murmured, his grin widening as he brushed a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. The simple gesture made her heart skip, though she’d never admit it aloud, not here, where Jessie sat just a few feet away, undoubtedly ready with a snarky comment.
“Oi, Dennis!” Jessie’s voice broke through the moment, sharp and amused as she leaned forward in her chair. “You gonna let her run the show now, or are you too scared to challenge her?”
“Smart money’s on Myst,” Lachie chimed in from across the yard, where he was busy flipping sausages on the barbecue. “She’s got the star powerandthe brains.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Myst called back, laughing as George groaned dramatically beside her. She gave his knee a playful pat. “See? Even your mates know what’s what.”
“Traitors,” George muttered, shaking his head but unable to hide his amusement. Jessie had come to a game with Myst and Lachie had taken one look and lost his heart, amusing both George and Myst. Both of them had promptly been adopted into the Dennis family too, and were regular fixtures at the Sunday barbecues.
“Now, now,” came Julie’s voice as she appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a tea towel. Her tone was light, but the glint in her eye was unmistakable, the kind of look that promised trouble, the fun sort. “Enough squabbling. Let me ask the real question everyone’s been wondering.” She stepped onto the verandah, pausing to take them both in: Myst comfortably tucked into George’s side, his hand resting loosely on hers.
“When are you two going to settle down properly?” Julie asked, her smile warm but teasing as she folded her arms. The words hung in the air, drawing a sudden hush from the group.
Myst felt George’s fingers tighten around hers ever so slightly, a silent reassurance. She turned her head to meet his gaze, their eyes locking for a beat longer than necessary. Oh, he was enjoying this, she could tell by the way his lips twitched, holding back a grin. Typical.
“One step at a time,” Myst said finally, her voice soft but steady as she broke the silence. She glanced back at George’s mum, offering a small, knowing smile. “We’ve got plenty of time to figure it all out.”
“Plenty,” George echoed, his Australian accent wrapping around the word like a promise. His thumb brushed gently against her knuckles, grounding her in the moment.
“Fair enough,” Julie said with a wink, clearly satisfied. “But don’t keep us waiting too long, I’m not getting any younger, you know.”
“You’ve got quite enough grandkids to be going on with, Ma!” George said teasingly.
The whole group burst into laughter, the tension dissolving as quickly as it had formed. Jessie rolled her eyes, muttering something about meddling mothers under her breath, while Lachie shouted something unintelligible from the barbecue. Myst let herself relax back into her chair, the corners of her mouth lifting despite herself.
As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange, Myst and George sat quietly amidst the happy chaos. The kids’ laughter echoed across the yard, mingling with the rhythmic sizzle of the grill and the comforting murmur of family chatter. George’s hand remained in hers, a steady presence.
“Not bad, huh?” he said after a while, his voice low and quiet, meant just for her.
“Not bad at all,” she agreed, her gaze drifting to the horizon. The future stretched ahead of them like the endless expanse of sea and sky, full of possibility, full of hope.
And as they sat there, fingers intertwined, watching the world around them settle into a perfect kind of harmony, Myst couldn’t help but think: they really did have all the time in the world.
