“I like wherever you are.”
“And your brothers.”
“Yes,” I amended. “They’re just obnoxious sometimes. Well, most of the time.”
Sadie laughed. “Your family is important. It’s good that you’re so close.”
I sighed, pulling her back against me. “It’s a lot of together time.”
“Be grateful for what you have. Your family always has your back. Don’t discount that. Now let’s go to brunch!”
* * *
Hazel yawnedand waved to us when we walked into the Grey Dove Bistro.
“You’re lucky I even opened up! If I didn’t live on top of my shop, you would not be getting breakfast,” she said.
Ida and Barbara, along with a gaggle of senior citizens, many still in their party clothes from the previous night, were already in the café, sipping coffee.
“We could just go back to bed,” I muttered to Sadie.
“See, that’s why I want a man in his twenties!” Ida said loudly.
“How are you even able to hear that?” Sadie exclaimed.
“I turned up my hearing aids,” Ida declared.
“They take a bit to make,” Hazel said when Sadie ordered raspberry chocolate pancakes. “I’ll start you off with coffee. I have a raspberry mocha latte since it’s almost Valentine’s Day. There’s little chocolate hearts for decoration!”
Sadie clapped her hands. “I’ll tag you on Insta!”
“I have iced coffee starting for Garrett if you want that,” Hazel offered. “You Svensson brothers have weird food requirements.”
“Do you have bulletproof coffee?” I asked.
“I can make it.”
“Gross! How can you drink that?” Sadie said as we sat at a small table by a window with our coffees.
“Says the girl who is drinking a coffee that looks like a Hallmark card double homicide,” I teased her.
The door jingled, and Garrett and Penny walked in, followed by Weston and Blade. Penny went to talk to Ida. Archer chose that moment to stumble down the stairs into the café. His shirt was half-off, and his hair was a mess. He grinned sleepily when the seniors wolf whistled.
“We could go anywhere else,” I grumbled.
“Are you kidding me? They have pancakes—the big soufflé ones. I want pictures for my Instagram account. And at least your brother is wearing pants,” Sadie remarked as she licked the whipped cream off of the spoon.
Garrett was glaring at me from across the room. This was turning into something far from a romantic brunch.
Hunter opened the door for none other than Meg.
“Oh my god!” Sadie whispered. “We can’t go now!”
The café was dead silent. Everyone watched in fascination as Hunter and Meg made their way to the counter.
“I heard you were making bulletproof coffee now,” Hunter remarked.
Hazel looked between her sister and Hunter.
