“Why not?”
“Because I know who’s texting him.”
“And that would be?” Emmalyn asked.
“Maia. We’ve been working out who all is coming to the wedding.”
“Maia’s coming?” Emmalyn asked, pleasantly surprised.
“Yep. And her family. Even Cristie and Sebastian. Lazarus and Alex, and Roman and Talie, and at least Cruz, not sure about Darcie. Lucas and Anahla are trying to come, too. But he and Richie might stay behind to run things. They’ll just have to see.”
Emmalyn reached for a notebook and started jotting down notes.
“What are you writing down?” Analise asked.
“Guest list.”
“That’s just part of it. Still waiting to hear from Matty, and I’ve friends from Boston that will have to be invited…”
“Slow down, I’ve got to write it all down.”
“Why are you all up in our business at 6:30 in the freaking morning. How did you even know we were back?” Havoc grumbled.
“Because I’m helping plan the wedding. And I brought pastries, so get over it.”
“At 6:30 in the morning?”
Emmalyn sighed. “Okay. Truth. I’ve been at Mom and Dad’s for about a week. It’s killing me being at Mom and Dad’s. They are so overprotective.”
“Then go back to Alabama. Don’t you have to work?” Havoc asked.
“Not at the moment. I’m between cases and I’ve been told to go somewhere and lay low for a while. Besides I don’t want to go back to Alabama. I miss being here. Y’all are here living your lives and I’m in a city with a bunch of strangers. I’m thinking about starting on my house here. Nice and safe, and surrounded by everybody I love. Was thinking about building right next door. Right in the middle of everything. What do you think?” Emmalyn asked excitedly.
“Nope,” Havoc said.
“Nope?” Emmalyn asked.
“Can’t,” Havoc said.
“I most certainly can.”
“No, you can’t. Brandt promised that nobody would be building right up on top of us, even if we do love them we want our privacy. In fact, the deed to our house includes an acre on each side and behind. I don’t want anybody as close as the spare house they built between Remi and Christian. I want to keep the woods around us,” Havoc explained.
“Oh.” Emmalyn said, her disappointment clear. “Yeah, I can see that. But I can build a little down the street. Maybe across the street. I could see you from my porch.”
“I’d really like that,” Analise said, happily licking the Bavarian cream from her donut off her fingers.
“Me, too,” Emmalyn said.
“If you don’t come over first thing in the morning, before we’re even up every day,” Havoc said, making a face at her.
Analise laughed. “You two kill me. I think you like fussing at each other more than anything else.”
“It’s our love language,” Emmalyn said, tossing a balled up paper towel at Havoc. “Got to pick on the brother.”
“In-law. Brother-In-Law,” Havoc reminded her.
“Same thing,” Emmalyn said.
