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“That’s what he said. Anyway, just bring yourself. I’m ordering pizza. Everyone will be here at six.”
I glance down at my watch and see it’s a little after four. “Okay, I’ll be there. If you think of something I can bring, just let me know.”
“Will do. Thanks.” We end the call, and I finish packing up before locking up the manor and heading to my car. Once inside, I start the engine and decide to call Declan to check in.
“Hey, Kens,” he says. He sounds like he’s laughing.
“Hey. You sound happy.”
“My daughter.” He laughs.
“What did she do?”
“Brooks is here. We’re just having a chill night while you ladies get together. Which, by the way, I’m going to miss you again. Do you think you can swing by so I can at least hug and kiss my girl? It’s been since Sunday since I’ve had my hands on you.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” His request makes me smile. I do that a lot around the two of them. “So Blakely?” I prompt.
“So Brooks and I are just hanging out. We told the other guys if they wanted to stop by that we would be here. Anyway, Brooks comes in wearing sweats, a hoodie, and slides. Blakely comes walking into the kitchen and notices. She says, ‘Uncle Brooks, I like your sandals.’ Nothing to it, right? Well then, she speaks up and says that ‘Papaw wears strap-ons.’ Brooks and I lost it. Thankfully we were the only two here at the time. Dad has sandals that he has to strap onto his feet. Some kind of hiking sandals. That’s what she meant, and we knew that because we know our dad, but damn, in the wrong company, that could have been bad for Dad.” He chuckles.
“That’s great.” I laugh. “He’s lucky the twins weren’t there to hear that.”
“Oh, they’re going to hear about it. This is too good for us to keep to ourselves.”
“You’re terrible.”
“You love it,” he fires back.
“I do.”
“I miss you, Kens.”
“I know. I miss you too. This week has been crazy. I’m heading home from the manor now. I’ll stop and say hi on the way to Palmer’s.”
“Be safe, baby.”
“Will do.” I end the call and head toward Grandma’s. When I get there, she’s dressed and ready to go to the sewing club. Carol is going tonight and driving her to and from, which leaves me off the hook. “Have fun and be good.” I point at her as Carol laughs.
“I’ll keep her in line,” she assures me. “You do the same. I hear that all the ladies are getting together tonight. You all be safe.”
“As far as I know, Piper requested it, and we’re just hanging out and having dinner.”
“I hope everything is okay with Heath.”
“Me too.” I don’t know why Piper requested a girls’ night, but I do know that with this group, when someone needs help or even just a chill night, you rally around them, and I’m thrilled to have been included.
I’m barely out of my car when Declan comes running down the front steps to greet me. He lifts me into his arms and smashes his lips to mine. I allow myself to get lost in him and his kiss, something that’s easy to do where Declan is concerned.
“Do you have time to come in and say hi to Blake and Brooks?” he asks, placing me carefully back on my feet.
“Yeah. I don’t have to be there until six.” I have just about thirty minutes I can spend with them before I need to leave.
“Come on.” He laces his fingers through mine and leads me into the house. “Blake!” he calls out. “We have company.”
“I know, Daddy. Uncle Brooks is here.”
Declan and I both chuckle. “I guess I’ll take all of Kennedy’s hugs.”
“Kenny!” she shrieks, and the pitter-patter of little feet hitting the hardwood floor echo throughout the house. I bend down and brace myself for impact as she launches herself at me. However, I didn’t brace good enough because we both fall back laughing as we tumble to the floor.
“Easy, Blake,” Declan tells her.
“Sorry, Kenny, I’s just so happy to see you. Did you come to play?”
“Sorry, sweetie. I have a meeting,” I say carefully. If she gets wind of “girls’ day,” she’s going to be crushed she can’t be there. I catch Declan’s eyes, and he nods, pretending to wipe the sweat from the back of his forehead, making me smile.
“Let her up, squirt, so we can talk for a few minutes before she has to leave,” Declan instructs. Blakely jumps to her feet, and Declan offers me his hand, helping me to mine. He kisses me once more, slow and deep, until Blakely yells for us. He breaks the kiss and smiles down at me. “I don’t like going days without doing that.”
