“Now I’m even more intrigued.”
“Excellent. My nefarious plan is working.”
“I like it when you’re sassy.” I wrap an arm around her waist, hugging her from behind.
Tristan gives me a subtle chin dip in approval.
Once the avocado mash is mixed, I add it to the growing spread at the dining room table.
Quinn and Kellan arrive with beer and street corn, completing the meal. Only Ash and Shilpa couldn’t make it tonight since Pavin is running a fever.
Gathering around the table, we pass bowls as we doctor up our fajitas. There’s a whole carousel of sauces and dips.
“Maybe we need to rotate fajita night locations so you’re not always hosting,” Hemi says to Rix.
“Oh, this is my happy place. I’m totally living my dream, and getting all our friends together for dinner is the icing on the cake.” Rix hugs Tristan’s arm.
Tristan beams as he gazes down at my sister. “You’re made of magic.”
She smiles. “I wouldn’t have this without you.”
Rix went back to school for nutrition and finished her degree last summer. She finally resigned from her accounting firm and now she handles my, Tristan’s, and Dallas’s financial portfolios, and spends the rest of her time creating meal plans for many of the guys on the team. She’s amazing at it, and she loves it.
Tristan rubs his nose against hers.
“Save it for when everyone leaves, you two,” Nate grumbles.
Rix laughs and puts her hand over Tristan’s mouth when he tries to come in for another kiss.
I stretch my arm across the back of Tally’s chair.
“We’re looking at renting Bea a professional kitchen too, and possibly hiring an assistant,” Tristan says.
“If you have access to a professional kitchen, will you have room for another client?” Quinn asks hopefully.
“Or two,” Kellan adds.
“Once I have an assistant I can,” Rix says.
“Awesome,” Quinn says.
“I’d even be happy with a meal or two a week,” Kellan adds.
Tally rolls her bottom lip between her teeth as she covertly checks a message on her phone.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Arya from my dance troupe had to pick up another shift at work, but it conflicts with our scheduled practice, and everything is booked out for weeks,” she explains.
“Did you have this problem last semester?” Hammer asks.
“No, but one of the main studios is under construction, and we all need more practice time leading up to the final showcase of the year.”
“That’s not ideal,” Essie says.
Tally smiles, but it’s strained. “I honestly thought the floors would be done by now. Hopefully soon, though. In the meantime, we’re trying to be creative. I’ve booked the yoga studio in my building, but other people jumped on that recently, so there’s less availability, especially on short notice.”
Hemi frowns and turns to me. “What about the one in your building, Flip?”
