Despite the chill in the air, a simmering heat rose to my cheeks. Ella raised her brow at me.
“You’re not intruding on anything,” I assured him.
“So, Grace, tell me about school.” Cash cleared his throat, changing the subject.
Grace shrugged. “School is fine, I guess, I’m just ready to graduate.”
“Hey.” Ella reached out and squeezed her arm. “Don’t rush it.”
Dallas laughed. “Sounds like you’ve got a case of senioritis.”
“It doesn’t seem possible.” Ella shook her head. “My little girl is all grown up, and now she’s going to leave me all alone with an empty nest.”
“You won’t be all alone.” Grace laughed and rolled her eyes. “You’ll still have Aunt Liv.”
“But that’s not the same as having my little baby bird.” Ella wrapped her arms around Grace, covering her head in kisses.
“Mom!”Grace tried to wriggle free from her mother’s grasp. “You’ll be fine.”
I smirked. “We can always get you a cat like Mama.”
Ella snorted. “Don’t you think we’ve got enough hostile kitties around here?” She mimed a cat scratch. “Me-ow.”
Cash choked on a laugh, turning his attention back to Grace. “What are your plans after graduation?”
“I’m not really sure.” Grace shrugged. “I kind of want to study abroad, maybe somewhere like London. It’d be nice to have a change of scenery.”
I grinned. “And I’m sure the boys with British accents are an added bonus.”
Ella grimaced before turning to Grace. “I don’t even want tothinkabout it. You’re not allowed to date till you’re fifty.”
Grace giggled. “I thought it was till I was thirty?”
Cash chuckled, clearly amused.
“If you keep on, I won’t let you date till your next life.” Ella ruffled Grace’s hair.
The wind picked up, causing a chill to rip through me. I tugged the sleeves of my sweater over my hands.
“Are you cold?” Jax slid closer, wrapping his arms around me.
I noticed Ella watching with a goofy smile plastered on her face.
“Actually, I think I’d like a coffee or something.” I started to get up, but Jax stopped me.
“I’ll go get it,” he said.
“What about you two?” Cash asked Ella and Grace, rising to his feet.
“I’d love a hot chocolate.” Grace grinned.
Ella flashed him a dazzling smile. “I’d love a hot chocolate with alcohol in it.”
Cash chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Brady and Dallas both stood.
“You guys have got the right idea.” Dallas nodded with a sniffle. “I’m going to go get something too. I can’t seem to shake this cold feeling.”
