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And my best friend riding beside me.
Trying to race the sun before it tucked behind the clouds, just like we’d done our whole lives.
My hair whipped around me, and we stayed right beside one another.
Stride for stride.
And we made it to the water… just before the sunset.
* * *
Gracie had her little hand in mine, and Finn was holding her hot chocolate as we walked through the maze of pumpkins. Cage had stepped away to take a work call, and we were going to meet up with Olivia, Georgia, Maddox, Hugh, and Lila to go for a hayride in a little bit. Brinkley and Lincoln were traveling for a game and in Chicago right now.
“Can you come to my tea party in two weeks, Ree Ree?”
“I would love to come. I’m guessing it’s at The Tipsy Tea?”
“Yep. Bossman got it for me, but I wanted to wait until you got back from the faraway place you went to so I could have my tea party with you, too.”
My heart squeezed. I adored little Gracie Reynolds. She was dressed as a bumble bee, and there was no cuter human on the planet. All the kids were wearing costumes, and they’d go trick-or-treating tomorrow night, as well.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Who all is coming?”
“My Bossman and Aunt Georgie are coming, and my Bossman called Miss Matilda and made it so I can have all of my peoples at the tea party. So, Daddy and Grammie and Pops. You and Uncle Finny.” She paused as she counted on her fingers. “Aunt Lila and Uncle Hughey, and Auntie Brinks and Links are going to fly home just for my tea party. We’re going to have tea and pumpkin spice cupcakes.” Her long brown curls bounced on her shoulders, surrounding her little cherub cheeks. She really was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen.
“I can’t wait. I’ll have to find a special dress to wear that day.”
She covered her mouth with her hands and squealed. “Yes. I’ve got a special wedding dress that Links got me, and Daddy said I can wear it to the party.”
“I can’t wait to see it.”
“Yeah, she’s been talking about this tea party for months, but she didn’t want to have it until Ree Ree got home,” Finn said with a laugh, bending down to give her a sip of her cocoa.
“Hey, Reese,” a deep voice said from behind me, and I turned around to see Carl waving at me. I glanced at Finn, and he gave me the slightest nod, letting me know they’d be fine if I stepped away.
“I’ll be right back, okay?” I said, and Gracie smiled with a chocolate mustache above her top lip, which made me laugh.
“Carl, hey,” I said, walking toward him.
His girlfriend stood a few feet away, but her eyes were on me.
“Hi, I thought that was you. Is that Gracie Reynolds? She’s getting so big,” he said, waving at her. I looked over to see Finn and Gracie both frowning at Carl and a loud laugh escaped.
“Yeah, she’s in kindergarten now.”
“And she’s definitely not a fan of mine. I guess she likes you with her uncle, huh?”
“I think she does, yeah,” I said, and my gaze kept moving over to Finn and Gracie. They were laughing now, and Finn dropped her hot chocolate cup into the trash can and scooped her up, settling her on his hip. I’d always loved how much he loved his family.
“She knows a good thing when she sees it,” Carl said, pulling my attention back to him. It was a sweet thing to say. But my gaze kept wandering back to Finn and Gracie, watching her head fall back in laughter as he tickled her cheek with his scruff.
“Thank you,” I said. “So, we’re good for Monday?”
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to getting started. I can’t wait to see your new office space, too. That’s exciting.”
“It is,” I said. “I just ran into my old neighbors, the Johnsons, and they said they are looking to do a remodel on their home, so I may have just landed another client.”
“Wow. Look at you go. I’m proud of you.”
