Great.
I pulled into the driveway, and Lily no longer waited for me to open the door for her. She was unbuckled and out the door asquickly as Mikey, leaving me behind to get their backpacks and reminisce about their baby years.
This was some bullshit.
My phone buzzed with a message as I headed for the door, and I saw it was a text from James.
When was the date for the team-building thing? Are we sharing hotel rooms, or can I skip my anti-snore nasal strip?
I snorted under my breath and dug out my keys. If he snored, he’d better bring that thing because we were, in fact, sharing rooms, and I was his roommate. Theo and I had split all twenty-three employees between ten rooms and one junior suite.
I’d respond to him later. Now I had kids to feed and homework to check up on.
Dylan was home in the middle of the day, so that was nice. We should ground him more often so we’d see him.
One week to go until he was free again.
A couple weeks later
Arlington
Nathan Riley
This was a good sign, wasn’t it? Ash hadn’t stayed for dinner in ages, but he’d actually accepted when I’d asked today.
I couldn’t help it. I was nosy. Nothing about him was predictable anymore, and I needed to get an update on his life. Sometimes, he sounded upbeat and ready for anything. Sometimes, bone-weary and down. Sometimes, curt and irritated.
I’d heard through the Mclean grapevine that he was slowly but surely reconnecting with his friends out there. It made me both happy and anxious. The latter because…it meant he was getting out there, right? He was moving on. He’d met up with Walker the other day for lunch in town. He’d had a beer with KC after work.
He had also reactivated his Mclean account.
Daddy Dom
Primal Predator
Sadist
Nothing about his status, married or single, available or whatever. Nothing.
I was going to ask him about his renovations too. Dylan and Hallie were over at Ash’s house sometimes to visit, and I knew they’d just received furniture for their rooms. The kitchen remodel was complete.
So, how long until we sat down with Lily and Micah? A month? Two months? A couple of weeks?
“It smellssogood in here.” Hallie joined me in the kitchen and forced me to refocus on finishing up the salad. “What’re you making? Ooh, lasagna. It’s been forever.”
Yes, well. It was one of Ash’s favorite meals, and I hadn’t felt like making it since he’d moved.
“Can you grab the loaf of bread on the island for me?” I asked. “Dad should be home any minute, so it’s time to prepare the garlic bread.”
“Yup, yup.” She handed the bread to me.
I smirked a little and side-eyed her. She’d gotten that from Ash.
“Should I tell the others to wash up?” she asked.
Just then, I caught sight of Ash’s truck pulling in. “Yes, please. Thanks, honey.”
I made quick work of slicing the bread and slathering on an obscene amount of garlic butter, and right when Ash walked in, I pulled the lasagna out of the oven. The bread went in immediately after.
