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“Ever since Theo and Scarlett have gotten all coupled up with you and Jamison, Grinny’s getting bolder with me and Wyatt and Sutton. It won’t do for only the youngest Landmarks to be settled and content…” He grumbles under his breath and points at Theo. “She showed up at the ranch on Sunday morning and waited until I put on a button-down shirt so she could take me to church. She said it was a tourist-heavy weekend and the best place to meet a woman was in the house of her God.”
Theo’s laugh is so loud it makes Callum jump. When I start laughing too, he glares at both of us.
Theo clears his throat and tugs my back to his chest. “Can’t say I blame Grinny for trying to set you up. The idea of you all domesticated is something I’m dying to see.”
Callum turns and walks to the table, tossing his folder on top as he shoots up his middle finger.
He sits down and Theo and I follow, leaning in when he pulls his drawings out and lines them up in front of me. My mouth drops when I see how intricate his plans are.
“Callum, these are…brilliant.”
His scowl barely softens, but I can tell from the way his shoulders relax that he’s pleased. He doesn’t say anything else as I pore over the pages. When the doorbell rings, I pause and look at Theo over my shoulder.
Wyatt barrels in, still in his scrubs, hair messier than usual. His hands land on his hips and he takes a deep breath.
“You okay?” Theo asks.
“I had an hour left on my shift when I realized I forgot Grinny’s birthday,” Wyatt says.
Callum stands up so fast, his chair clatters backwards.
“I’ve tried calling her, but she hasn’t answered.” Wyatt shakes his head. “I missed a few calls from her earlier, inviting me to The Dancing Emu.”
“It’s today?” But I’m already cringing, knowing it is.
“Fuck,” Theo says. “How could we forget?”
“Scarlett usually reminds us, but she’s been busy with…sex,” Wyatt finishes. “Sorry, Sof.”
I wave him off. I’ve been busy with sex too.
It’s not an excuse, but…my brain hasn’t exactly been thinking about much else.
Callum curses and runs his hand over his face. “Maybe we can fix this.”
“Looks like we’re going to The Dancing Emu,” Theo says.
“I’ll call Scarlett and Sutton on the way,” Wyatt says.
We pile in Theo’s truck and pull into the parking lot of The Dancing Emu a few minutes later.
“No answer for Scarlett or Sutton. And I don’t see Grinny inside,” Wyatt says. “Hang on, I’ll run in and see if she’s in the back.”
Theo’s phone buzzes and Callum’s too, and they both pull their phones out at the same time. I look at my phone and am surprised to see I got a text too.
“They’re at The Gnarly Vine,” Theo says. “Shit. We’ve never forgotten Grinny’s birthday. I feel like such an asshole.”
Wyatt jogs out and gets in the truck, holding up his phone. “You saw the message?”
Theo’s answer is to whip out of the parking lot, stopping just a few doors down in front of The Gnarly Vine.
“I guess she wasn’t feeling in the party mood when no one showed up for her,” Callum says, the guilt thick in his voice.
We walk in and all stare in surprise when we see Grinny seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant, surrounded by people singing “Happy Birthday” to her. A huge chocolate sheet cake is in front of her with the candles lit, and as we walk up to the table, she looks up and her already happy expression brightens by about ninety percent.
She waves and holds her hand out for us to come closer.
Scarlett and Jamison are on one side of her, and Sutton and Owen are on the other. Pappy is standing behind Grinny, directing the song.
