Wiping my hands on my apron, I bite my tongue because it’s the situation I’m frustrated with, not my friends. It wouldn’t be fair of me to take it all out on them.
“Let’s go see what kind of mess Pops has made now.”
Clover is sitting closest to the door, so she pushes it open slowly—just enough for us to peer out into the hallway that opens up at the foyer.
“Pops wanted a party,” Clover whispers.
“Or an inquisition,” Savvy snickers.
Pops’ oldest friends, Moose and Chief, stand in the entryway, while Pops is behind the desk with Braxton.
Moose opens the front door, and Cian walks in with Shep and Beau Collins.
“What are they doing here?” I whisper above Elle’s head.
“No idea, but Cian’s going to be pissed I didn’t invite him myself.” Elle snickers.
Braxton must hear us because he turns just in time to see all our heads stacked in a row—my head on top of Elle’s, Clover’s on mine, and Savvy on top of Clover. Elle jumps back when she sees him smirking at us, and we tumble to the floor in a heap of tangled limbs that twist and turn, trying to keep our weight off Elle.
The four of us lie there in shock and only move when Braxton pokes his head inside again. When he sees us, I swear the light reflects off his bright white teeth.
“You spend a lot of time on the kitchen floor, Madison?” He enters and offers Elle a hand, since she’s the first one he reaches, and she’s super pregnant.
“Only since you arrived,” I grumble.
“Good to know.” He chuckles, then offers me and Clover a hand. He pulls us to standing with zero effort as Savvy stands on her own. “I just wanted you to know I was only around for the invite to Chief—is it true that he’s retired but refuses to give up his badge?” My friends laugh, and someone must say yes while I’m here trying to get my words to work. “Anyway, the other five,I’m not sure when they happened, but I’m happy to help if you haven’t made enough for dinner. I can order something or?—”
“Madi cooks for an army of fifty every time. She can’t help herself,” Savvy says, then waggles her brows at me.
“Mads?” Pops finally enters the kitchen, looking far too pleased with himself. “Oh, good. Girls, ya mind setting the table for me?”
“We’ve got it, Pops,” Clover says, patting his arm. “You’re in a lot of trouble.” She whispers, but it sounds as though it echoes in the open space.
Pops laughs, but otherwise ignores her. “We got any beer, Mads?”
“I wasn’t expecting a full house, Pops. We don’t really have the…” I cut myself off when I remember that Braxton’s hovering nearby.
“I can run to the store. What kind do you want, Pops?” He’s always so stinking accommodating.
There must be something wrong with him.
“No—”
“Anything from Briar Patch Brewing is good. It’s local, ya know,” Pops says so proudly you’d think he owned the dang brewery.
“You need anything else, Madison?” The way Braxton’s voice dips when he says my name makes my stomach turn over. He genuinely wants to help, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. It would be easier if all he wanted was to get in my panties.
My chest thumps wildly at the thought, but my shoulders slump as I give in to another mess created by my grandfather. “No. I appreciate you asking though.”
“Sauvignon Blanc is her favorite, you know, if you’re feeling generous.” Savvy’s not so helpful.
I love how Braxton’s lips twitch at the corners. “Thanks for the tip. I’ll be back.” Instead of leaving, he walks over to therefrigerator where I have a notepad and pen hanging, and my jaw falls slack as he scribbles something down. When he looks up, his gaze pins me to my spot. “My number,” he says. Why is he so smiley all the time? “In case you think of anything while I’m out.”
“Smooth, real smooth.” Pops chuckles.
“Pops, please,” I plead. “Just stop. Braxton, if you give me a minute, I’ll give you some cash for the beer.”
If I can find some.
