“Well, then,” Caleb says, eyes flicking to mine briefly. “Guess I should listen to Miss Delaney more often.”
Heat crawls up my neck.
“Obviously,” Sadie says. “She’s the boss of the kitchen.”
“And apparently my immune system,” Caleb murmurs.
I refuse to read into that.
“Okay, you.” I ruffle Sadie’s hair lightly. “Out. Let Caleb shower so we can degerm this room. I’ll make pancakes to celebrate his return to the land of the living.”
“Chocolate chip?” she asks, eyes going round.
“Is there another kind?”
She gasps. “Can I help?”
“Only if you promise not to eat all the chips before they hit the batter.”
“I can’t promise that,” she says gravely.
“At least you’re honest.”
By late afternoon, Caleb is back in bed with strict orders to nap, Sadie is in the living room creating a zoo out of Legos, and I’m leaning against the kitchen counter staring at my phone.
A new notification lights up the screen.
Sloane: Girls’ night at The Hollow tonight. You in?
I chew on my bottom lip.
I should say no.
There’s laundry to rotate. A menu to plan for next week. A dozen small tasks I could use as excuses to stay home and not risk being seen, or… noticed.
But the truth is, I’m tired.
Not just physically. Emotionally. Mentally. Spiritually.
My days have shrunk down to the ranch and the kitchen and the men and Sadie and a tight coil of feelings I don’t let myself look at directly.
The thought of a few hours with the girls, loud, messy, glitter-covered, sounds like oxygen.
Delaney: Tempting. Who’s going?
Sloane: Me, Ivy, Olivia. Maybe Lani, if we bribe her with fries. And you.
Sloane:Yes, I said you. Don’t make me send Roman to ask in person. He’ll bring a guitar, and you know it.
A laugh bubbles up my throat.
Delaney: Low blow. What time?
Sloane: 8. Dress code: hot enough to make at least one man walk into a wall
My heart squeezes.
I stare at the message for a long moment.
