Page 236 of That Rush

“That is a very limited definition of everyone for your family.”

“What am I telling them?”

“That I’m hosting a small celebration at my library tonight.” I point at the cupcakes. “Seven o’clock. No additional relatives and no arriving early.”

Aiden’s slow smile unwinds something tight in my chest.

“You’re inviting my family into your Friday.”

“I am.”

“On purpose?”

I walk into his arms. “Try not to make me regret it.”

He kisses my forehead and reaches for his phone.

“No promises, girlfriend.”

At seven-oh-four, the blue paper star is still stuck to my dress, Hudson is standing on the private-library porch with two grocery bags, and Deven is explaining why arriving early would have violated the invitation.

“It’s four minutes after seven,” Hudson says.

“Because I made you drive around the ranch once.”

“There was no reason to circle the barn.”

“There was every reason. Paige said no one early.”

I open the door wider. “You may enter.”

Hudson lifts the bags. “I brought ice cream.”

“You may enter first.”

Axel and Sadie arrive with Poppy. Adrienne and Scotty follow carrying Silas, who points at the cupcakes and says, “Cake,” with the conviction of a man announcing his evening plans.

Aiden leans close. “You invited them.”

“I remember.”

“Still happy about it?”

I look at the people waiting on my porch, their hands full and voices quiet, waiting for me to invite them in. They haven’t claimed a single chair.

“Yes.”

I direct the food to the porch table and put Hudson in charge of ice cream. The reading chair is off-limits, I tell Axel, since Josie has claimed it for the presentation of her completed map.

“You’ve become very authoritative,” Aiden says.

“It’s my library.”

His mouth brushes my temple. “Exactly.”

Josie waits until everyone has a cupcake before holding up her map.

“I read twenty books,” she says. “Paige checked because librarians have to make sure you don’t lie.”