“Family meeting,” Sebastian bellows from downstairs. “We need to clear some shit up.”
“Fucking great,” Cash says as he straightens his papers. “I’m blaming Ry for this.”
I snap Levi’s laptop shut and hand it over. “You should get out of here before he realizes you’re back.”
Levi stuffs the laptop into the bag next to his desk. “Let me know if it’s anything important?”
“It won’t be,” Cash says. “It’ll just be Sebastian trying to fix his miserable mood by lecturing us on the importance of sticking to timelines and working as a team.”
Levi hesitates. “We need an actual office and an office manager as good as Stanley.”
I hate family drama and the stress of getting this business going in this new town. I wish I had a wedding to escape to. “I offered her so much money to move with us, but she wouldn’t do it, man.”
“Maybe I should stay,” Levi says. “I saw a couple of properties last week that might work for Mom and Dad. We could talk about it before I go.”
Cash stands and gives him a shove toward the window. “If you get into that right now, you won’t be leaving tomorrow. Get out of here before he comes up looking for us.”
I slide the window open, and Levi climbs out of it.
“Just don’t let him do anything too unhinged,” Levi says from the tree he’s slid onto.
“We’re on it,” Cash says. “Trust us.”
After Levi’s gone, we shut the window and head down to the meeting. It’s a shitshow as usual, but at least we’ve got a plan now to improve Sebastian’s mood.
CHAPTER THREE
Amelia
Harper and I are sorting her Halloween haul when the doorbell rings. I know immediately who it is. My best friend shows up more often than my own family, especially when she knows I’ve had a rough day.
Harper’s big blue eyes pop wide. “Ellery?” she asks, already bouncing in her seat. It sounds more like El-wee with her four-year-old pronunciation.
“I bet it is,” I say as I push back my chair and stand.
Harper slides out of her seat and races for the front door ahead of me.
Ellery looks so fresh and happy, standing on our front porch in one of her big-skirted dresses with pictures of books all over it. Her dark curls are pulled up into a springy ponytail, and she’s wearing earrings shaped like books.
“Hi, y’all,” Ellery says. “Do you have any candy for me?”
“Yes.” Harper grabs her hand and pulls her inside. “We have lots.”
Ellery works at the local library as the children’s librarian, and Harper loves Ellery’s weekly story times. They became friends before Ellery and I did.
“Momma,” Harper says as she wiggles into her seat at the kitchen table. Her little face is smeared with chocolate. “I want more candy.”
“Please?” I say.
“Please,” Ellery and Harper say at the same time.
“One more candy,” I say.
I grab a caramel from Harper’s pile because I know it’s Ellery’s favorite, and Harper hates caramel. I hand the candy to my friend. “Thanks for stopping by.”
“Don’t thank me,” she says, her eyes twinkling. “I just want to hear the whole story. I don’t believe Shaleigh said you’re too mean to be promoted.”
“Momma, you’re not mean,” Harper says, intently watching Ellery as she removes the wrapper from her dessert.
