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I pointed at Alana. "Stop. I don't like that road you're taking."
"If you say so."
"I do."
I swallowed hard. My chest felt a bit heavy. I remembered the times when I felt Sam and I were fated for each other, but that was a silly schoolgirl crush. Now I was a grown woman who'd lost her business and needed an affordable place to live while getting back on my feet.
"What are you going to do? Tell the hot doc that you're going to move in with him and possibly jump his bones?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
I rolled my eyes at her. "I’m going to look for some more apartments. You never know. Maybe something will come up. I still have a couple hours until I have to give him an answer." I sighed. "But yes, that's the gist of it."
Chapter Five
Sam
"Are you trying to winthe prize of being Paisley's favorite uncle?" Tate challenged my intentions.
"I'm definitely going to make a run for the title. I didn't even know it was up for grabs, but it's going to be mine before long." We were at his house in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, gathered for dinner. I'd forgotten how much my family loved cookouts. God, it was good to be back.
"I have a lot to make up to Paisley," I said as I helped my brother carry out the marinated chicken breast for the grill. Travis and Luke had already brought out the vegetables and other side dishes. We weren't fussy when it came to food, and the grilling season would end soon. October was the last decent month in Chicago as far as I was concerned.
"You've got a lot of competition," he said.
The truth was, because I'd been gone for so long, I hadn't been able to build a relationship with Paisley, not like the rest of my family had. I was a cool uncle because I always had stories from my travels. It was endearing the way her little eyes would light up whenever I recounted one. I tried to edit out any difficult information for her ears, so she'd only ever heard the good parts. But now that I was here, I wanted to do more, which was why I was negotiating with Tate to let me take my niece out for a treat, like ice cream.
"Buddy, you've missed that window."
"What window?" I asked as we went out in the backyard.
"When she thought going out for ice cream was a highlight. You're about two years too late."
"What does she like to do these days?"
"I think it's best if you ask her. It changes weekly."
My brother was about to have a teenager on his hands, and by the sound of it, he wasn't prepared in the least.
