It’s a chorus from the men all around us.
Evie freezes, but only for a moment.
Then she shrugs and skips her way out the door. “Boys are gross anyway.”
I snort.
Nova giggles.
Ella is smiling wide.
Ivy laughs and shakes her head as she follows her daughter out the door. “From the mouths of babes.”
“That’s rude,” Knox says grumpily as he follows his girls.
“But true,” I tease, earning a scowl from my brother and a murmured, “You didn’t think I was gross last night,” from the man who holds my heart.
My cheeks go pink.
“What do you think he just told her?” Ella stage whispers to Nova.
“I would pay a lot of money to find out,” she stage whispers back to her best friend.
“I wouldn’t,” Lake says dryly, jerking his chin up in thanks to my brother and Joey for tonight’s hosting. “Let’s go, butterfly.”
Nova winks at me as Ella pulls me into a hug then they’re both heading out to their cars.
“Be good, kid,” Damon says, embracing me (this time without the side of noogie).
“You too.”
“Am I really off your Christmas cookie list?” he asks.
“Yup.”
Joey’s mouth twitches as she loops her arm through mine. “My mom is coming to town next week.”
“I know,” I tell her. “Beth and I already scheduled our mani-pedis.”
“Why am I not surprised?” She comes in for a hug as Damon and Colt step outside, her voice dropping until it’s almost a whisper. “Just so you know, we postponed Colt’s celebration until next month.”
“Celebration?”
“He hasn’t told you?”
“No.” I frown. “Is it for his charity?”
Joey’s gaze flicks to the duo as they walk down the driveway. “It’s for his five hundredth game, Ky.”
I suck in a breath.
Because that’s a big deal.
A big deal.
“You didn’t know?”
“No,” I mutter. “What do you need?”
