Page 111 of Indigo Ridge (The Edens 1)

“That wasn’t me,” I said. “That was Knox.”

“And that was a fun night.” Knox laughed. “I lost my virginity that night.”

“Way too much information.” Eloise stood from her chair. “I need to go to bed.”

“I’ll help.” I nudged Winn, both of us standing to help, because Eloise looked like she was five seconds from passing out.

“Where’s everyone sleeping?” Mateo asked.

As they started debating who got which bedroom, I led Eloise inside with Winn following.

The entryway split my house in half with the kitchen at the back. In one half was the living room, the office and the master. In the other, three guest bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The architect I’d hired to design this place had made a joke once about the need for abundant bedrooms. We’d met in town to discuss blueprints, and during that lunch meeting, each one of my siblings and my parents had stopped over to offer their opinions.

For years, I’d lived in the loft apartment above the barn at Mom and Dad’s. It was where Mateo lived at the moment. But as I’d gotten older, it had been time to build my own house.

Knowing that this was my forever home, I’d spent the money. I’d given myself plenty of space, not just for the family I might have, but for the one I already did.

The first guest room had three twins, two bunked on top and one below beside a dresser. The walls were planked in a distressed barnwood, much like the siding that covered my actual barn. The gray and brown striations gave it enough character that I hadn’t needed to buy art.

I pulled back the blankets on a bottom bed, making space for Eloise to sink down.

“I’ll get her a glass of water.” Winn slipped out while I helped my sister take off her shoes.

“I love her, Griffin.” Eloise gave me a dreamy smile. “But when you marry her and have babies, don’t get rid of my bunk beds.”

“Okay.” I chuckled, tucking her in. Much lik

e I’d tucked her in as a kid when I’d babysat for Mom and Dad to have a date night.

Winn returned with a glass of water. “Good night, Eloise.”

“Night, Winn.”

I kissed my sister’s forehead, then eased out of the room, hitting the light.

“Come on, baby.” I took Winn’s hand and led her down the hallway, past the living room and kitchen to our side of the house.

The master bedroom’s vaulted ceilings were lined with thick, wooden beams like those in the living room. The fireplace in the corner of the bedroom had a floor-to-ceiling stone hearth. Large-paned doors opened to the farthest end of the deck—my other siblings were still talking and laughing outside.

The moment I closed the door behind us, Winn began undoing the buttons of the flannel she’d stolen from the walk-in closet earlier when she’d gotten cold outside.

“I’m beat,” she said. “I hope they don’t care that we disappeared.”

“They won’t.” I took over for her, undoing the buttons. Then I eased the shirt off her shoulders, letting it pool at her feet.

“I forgot how this is.”

“What is?”

“Family gatherings.”

“You mean you forgot how loud and obnoxious they can be?”

“And wonderful and entertaining.”

I put my hands in her hair, kneading her scalp. “Did you have these sort of nights with your parents?”