Wyatt:Should be home at three AM. Make sure you’re naked and ready for me >
Me:Yes, Sir.
“Wyatt says you need to be in the guest room by three AM.” Sliding down on the pillows and snuggling into the big down comforter, I grab the book, opening it to chapter one.
“Seriously? He’s ruining our sleepover to get some ass?”
“I told him you’d be mad.”
She mutters under her breath. “Whatever. I can’t even complain because I’m so happy for you. I’m setting the timer for twenty minutes. Let’s get chapter one and two done.”
Athena huffs between us, stretching out and pushing against my legs with her paws. She’s supposed to stay at the foot of the bed, but she likes to creep up when she thinks you aren’t paying attention, and then you end up with a paw to your eye when she has puppy dreams.
“Twenty minutes.” I nod. Looking at my best friend snuggled inmy boyfriend’sbed with our smutty books out in the open, it hits me all of a sudden. A year ago, this never could have happened. James would have lost his shit if I read smutty romance.
“Am I not good enough for you? You need to read this fucking filth to get through a night with me?” Slaps. Punches.
Now, I have a man that not only reads them with me, but re-enacts them. Tears well at the corners of my eyes.
I scan the first page, trying to will the tears back before letting my eyes settle on the first sentence.
Yup, this is the life I want. No, this is the life I need. The tears are replaced by a smile as I forge ahead.
Aubrey and I read until dinner time when Cooper brings us takeout from Rebels. I was going to be kind and let Cooper eat inside the house, but she quickly shooed him out so that we could continue ourgirls’night.
“I’m really thankful for this new family of yours. Anna taking the kids so you guys can babysit me as a grown adult is something she shouldn’t have to worry about, but she does it without complaining. I want to get them something to say thank you,” I say, taking my first bite.
“You know you don’t have to. They’re happy as a stuffed pig to have the kids on overnights. I secretly think Anna misses the noise of six kids in her house. Meanwhile, I’m loving the quiet with just my one gone. She’s a super mom. I have no idea how she survived six, especially those men.” She shakes her head.
I can’t imagine these Keaton boys when they were teenagers. They’re trouble enough now when they’re all together. And after seeing the way Cooper and Wyatt were ready to come to blows, I can only imagine the number of holes in walls and broken vases from their childhood.
“Which is exactly why she deserves a treat. Something special for her and Nathan.”
“Annahasbeen saying that she wants to go on a whale watch with everybody. She tried to plan it last year, but with the inn and Olivia, it just never worked out.”
“That sounds fantastic and like a perfect opportunity for me to get them something.” Grabbing my phone, I quickly search for local whale watches. “Look, there’s one available next weekend.”
I turn my phone to Aubrey so she can see.
“Oh, that would be perfect. Let me check with everybody else.” She picks up her phone this time and sends out a group chat for all the women, minus Anna.
Aubs:Sophia and I want to book a whale watch for your parents next weekend. Is everyone free on Saturday?
Emma:Hell yeah. Let Rome check with Jasmine to see if she’s okay taking the Saturday night crowd by herself.
Evelyn:You can count me and Hunter in!
Willow:Yes! Finally Gunnar and I won’t miss something. We will be back in Balsam Cliffs on Wednesday.
Willow:Oh! And Candace and Jeremy will come with us and bring the baby for everybody to meet finally!
Violet:I have to check with Gran and Esther to see if they can cover the inn, but I will say yes for both of us for now!
Aubs:Perfect. We are going to go ahead and book tickets. If you can’t come Violet, we will just have two extra.
Violet:I already heard back from Gran, she said ‘of course’.
Emma:Rome said that Jasmine owes him so count us in too.
