Page 113 of What About Us

“Yeah, whatever.”

Cassie shakes her head and goes back to checking whatever is on the stove.

I look around and feel my eyes widen when I see that Zack and Indie are in the corner talking. He’s leaning on the wall by her head, and they’re both frowning, and it looks . . . serious.

But then Indie scootches away from him, leaving Zack standing there, looking like he wants to punch the wall.

What. In. The. World?

“We’re out,” Tucker says and pulls Darby in for a kiss. “Have fun, Duchess.”

“Oh, we plan to.”

Xander doesn’t even care that we have an audience as he dips me back and kisses me hard on my mouth, making me smile against him.

“See you later, Red.”

“See you later.”

Easton takes another bite of something, earning him a glare from Cassie, and then they’re gone like a tornado moving through the house, leaving surprising stillness in their wake.

“They’re so . . . noisy,” Ava says, shaking her head.

“This is so fun,” Harper says, rubbing her hands together. “Okay, boss lady, what are we doing?”

Charlie grins, obviously enjoying that title. She’s the prettiest woman, with the signature Lexington family blue eyes and dark hair. She’s in a burnt orange sweaterdress that looks amazing on her.

Darby always says that Charlie is the fashionista in the family.

“We have some party favors to assemble,” Charlie says. “Which I was happy to do, but this is way more fun. And of course, Cassie is letting us sample all of the food options for dinner, from appetizers to the main course.”

“And Noah, the baker of the century, has sent over cake samples for everyone too,” Cassie adds just as the bell rings again, and I walk over to open the door, grinning when I see Juliet Blackwell.

Jules is one of Darby and Ava’s best friends, and she owns an awesome restaurant in Bitterroot Valley.

“Sorry I’m late,” Jules says. “It’s been a crazy morning, but I’m here, and I’m ready to be put to work. Hey, Indie.”

“Hi.”

I love that everyone is here and that they’re my friends. In the past couple of months, I went from having basically no friends to having a whole community of people, thanks to Xander.

It’s just one of the many reasons that I love him.

“Before we eat,” Charlie says, “I have a surprise for Ava.”

Ava’s eyebrows lift. “What?”

“Your dress came from the seamstress, freshly altered and pressed, and you can try it on for everyone.”

Ava’s eyes go glassy as Charlie rushes out to her car and comes back in carrying a big dress bag.

“You can use this guest room,” I say, leading them down the hall. “Help yourselves.”

I leave Charlie and Ava and return to the others just as Cassie starts putting food out on the huge island.

“The actual dinner at the event is a sit-down,” Cassie says. “Not buffet style, but I’ve prepared everything today to be eaten at your own pace.”

We’re all listening raptly as she explains what everything is when Charlie says from behind us, “Get your tissues ready, friends.”