Page 49 of Not Until I Found You

“See, it’s a good idea,” Olivia says brightly. “And it also means you have to do it.”

I open my mouth to argue then immediately realize I don’t actually have a reason not to invite her. The thought of Maxinne sitting around the dinner table with all of us slips into my mind so naturally.

“Alright,” I say. “I’ll ask her.”

Edna chooses that exact moment to stand from her chair with entirely too much innocence on her face. None of us misses the bulging shape stuffed suspiciously inside her purse. “Well, I’m tired of listening to you guys meddle in Zane’s business.” Like she doesn’t do that herself. “I’m going to head home.”

Olivia narrows her eyes immediately. “Edna.”

“Olivia?”

“Open the purse.”

Edna clutches it tighter against her side. “Absolutely not.”

“Eddy…”

Luke starts laughing before Olivia even rounds the table, and the second she does, Edna makes a break for it toward the front door. Unfortunately for her, Buttercream launches herself off the counter like a fuzzy orange-and-white missile.

Edna yelps as the cat darts between her feet, throwing her completely off balance. Her purse slips from her arm, hitting the floor hard enough to send thumbprint cookies scattering across the kitchen tile.

“Whoa—”

She stumbles backward with a gasp, arms pinwheeling, before Luke catches her around the waist, stopping her before she hits the ground. Edna’s sprawled against his chest while the cat trots away, completely unbothered by the destruction she caused.

“Edna, are you okay?” Olivia cries.

Wren doubles over laughing so hard her chair scrapes loudly against the floor, one hand clutching her stomach while the other points accusingly at Edna. The kitchen erupts around us, and I lean back in my chair, letting myself take it all in for a second.

No matter what’s going on, these people show up for each other, every single time. They might tease me relentlessly and steal each other’s desserts, but somehow, they make even an ordinary Sunday afternoon feel like a day worth remembering.

My gaze drifts toward the empty seat beside me, and my mind wanders back to how easy it’s felt being around Maxinne. I wonder what it would be like if she became a part of this, but I quickly push the thought away because it’ll never happen.

“Alright,” Luke says, taking a step away from Edna. “I can’t pull a muscle. Some of us have work tomorrow.”

“Yeah. We wouldn’t want you to pull another calf muscle again.” She giggles and stretches her arms over her head. “I need to get going too. I’d like to nap the rest of the day. I’ll see you guys on Wednesday for small groups.”

Edna starts stuffing the escaped cookies back into her purse while pretending nobody notices. Buttercream darts by, stealing one in her mouth, and takes off running into Olivia’s bedroom.

Olivia sighs. “Just take them at this point.”

I need to be heading back home myself, so I stand up and stretch. Tomorrow morning will come too early. It’ll be another week of double shifts and sweating through work shirts in ninety-degree heat. I’m already tired from thinking about it.

I reach for my phone, planning to head out, when the screen lights up again with another text from Maxinne.

Butterfly

Alright ‘Wasp-Man’… Would you like me to bring you some ointment for your sting?

Me

Yeah, that’d be nice.

Three little dots appear, vanish, then appear again. I’m standing here like an idiot, staring at my phone, waiting on those dots like they’re the best part of my day—which, terrifyingly, is the truth. Whatever is growing between Maxinne and me, I have a feeling that I’m already in so much trouble.

Chapter Twelve

Maxinne