AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She nods. “Unfortunately.”
“Naw,” I say as I slip my arm around her waist and pull her to me. “It just means I’ll fit right in with them.”
She leans her head on my shoulder. “We have to go slow. The kids, my life…”
“Hey, we have all the time in the world. We set our own rules. We’ll take it as slow as you want.”
She looks up at me, her head still on my shoulder. “I love you, Mason.”
Those three little words hit me square in the chest. “I love you, Olivia.”
“So, this is like a thing that’s happening?” Avery asks from the doorway. She’s watching us while eating a pancake that’s folded over like a piece of bread, and there’s a ton of bacon hanging over the edges. I see now why Everly and Avery get along.
“Avery,” Liv says, her voice holding reprimand and amusement. I have a feeling the entire family is like that with her.
“Come on, those pancakes smell amazing,” Mason says.
“Oh, yeah, they are. And she’s saving some for you, although Fritz is trying to sweet-talk her out of them. Like he doesn’t get to eat like this every flipping day.” Her eyes narrow. “Can you cook breakfast?”
“I’m pretty good at it.”
“You already heard about his bacon gravy,” Liv offers.
“That’s right. Great. Then I plan on being here on Saturdays since I’ve found a place to rent.” Then she turns, still eating her pancake.
“Wait, what?” Liv hurries after her. Of course, I follow because wherever Liv goes, that’s where I go from now on. When we get to the kitchen, I smile. It’s a good sign that Liv’s used to a crazy family. The kids are at the breakfast bar eating. Cora and Fritz are at the dining table eating—Cora looks like she’s already drinking a mimosa—and Savannah is in the kitchen.
“You’re going to come into town every Saturday?” Liv asks Avery, who has finished her pancake and is now getting coffee.
“No. I’m going to be staying here for a while.”
“Where?”
Avery laughs. “Don’t worry. I won’t crowd you, but I’m cool with sleepovers if you get my drift,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows.
I look at the kids and see that Sam ignores the conversation, but Callie is watching us warily.
I shove my hands in my pockets to keep from hugging her. She doesn’t look as if she would accept that from me at the moment.
“Hey, Cal.”
“Hey.” Well, that didn’t sound that great.
“Do you want to talk to me?”
She thinks about it in a way that reminds me of her mother. I motion with my head to the living room, and she nods, slipping off the barstool.
“I can—” Liv starts off, but I shake my head.
“Cal and I have things to talk about, right?”
The little girl nods her head but doesn’t say anything as she moves to the living room. I kiss Liv on the temple.
“Don’t worry. I’ll call if things get dicey.”
I join Callie on the couch, although I am careful not to sit too close.
“So?”
