Harleigh blinks. “My what?”
“That’s why Cabe was running late to pick you up,” the brunette continues excitedly. “Grandma and Imma Jean told him to stall you while we finished setting everything up.”
The blonde nods. “Yeah. We had to light the fire and get the brisket going.”
Then the brunette’s eyes shift.
Past Harleigh.
To me.
Her grin sharpens.
“Hi,” she says brightly. “I’m Charli. Har’s favorite sister.”
The blonde immediately scoffs. “Are not.”
She sticks a hand through the window toward me. “I’m Shelby.”
Shelby. The barrel racer. I recall that from Harleigh mentioning her sisters at dinner.
I shake her hand. “Porter.”
Her eyes flick toward Harleigh.
“It was nice of you to bring Harleigh home, Porter.”
Harleigh groans. “Stop.”
Shelby laughs.
Charli ignores them both and keeps staring at me like she’s trying to figure something out.
Harleigh opens the door.
“I didn’t need a do-over party,” she says as she steps out.
Charli waves that off. “Matty insisted.”
“Yeah,” Shelby adds. “She still feels guilty for going into labor and ruining the last one. Besides, there’s brisket and presents.”
Harleigh shakes her head, but she’s smiling. The kind of smile that tells me this family probably does this sort of thing a lot.
She shuts the door.
Once she steps away from the Escalade, Charli leans down and peers at me through the open window again.
“You’re invited too, Mr. Fancy-Pants.”
I blink. “Um …”
An excuse rises instantly to my lips.
I should go.
But before I can say it, Charli continues, “Come on. You’re already here. Might as well grab a plate and a beer.”
I glance past her.
