“We’d love that,” Tae beams.
“I think you’ve already met Damon?” Faye questions.
“I don’t think he was my biggest fan,” Jagger mumbles.
“Oh, don’t worry about him. Damon doesn’t like anyone.” Sabs flicks her wrist dismissively. “Grumpy is basically his middle name.”
“Hey!” Faye objects. “He’s not grumpy!”
“Maybe not to you…” Sabs sticks out her tongue as a car beeps outside.
“That’s Hale.” Kady grabs her purse. “I better go before Janice dies in the driveway.”
“The name of Hale’s car,” I supply as Nash’s eyes widen in alarm. I put my hand on his forearm. “He and his dad fixed it up together.”
“And it’s safe?” The concern in Nash’s voice is clear, and I remember the conversation we had the other day about his brother.
“Of course, it is,” I assure him.
“He needs to do more work on it soon.” Kady groans. “None of the others want to help him, though.”
“What about Calder?” I ask. “He has a fancy car, right? I thought he’d enjoy it.”
“Calder?” Kady laughs. “He loves driving cars, but he’d hate to get his hands covered in oil.”
“Maybe I could help?” Nash offers. “I know my way around an engine.”
“If you’re as good with cars as you are with radiators, I’m sure he’d love that.” Kady grins. “Delilah can give you his number.”
“Thank you again for coming tonight,” Jagger says as they reach the door. “I appreciate you all giving me a chance.”
“Don’t fuck it up this time!” Sabs playfully punches him on the arm.
“If you need anything, just call us, okay?” Kady hugs me before they leave.
“Thanks.” When I lean back against Nash, he wraps his arm around my shoulder, and I feel like I’m cozying up next to a warm campfire. Right now, I’m exactly where I need to be.
The heavy thud of the front door closing echoes through the hallway as Janice’s low rumble fades into the distance, taking the chaotic, high-energy of the Stellas with it.
“We survived.” Jagger runs a hand through his hair and breathes a long sigh of relief. He looks like a man who just survived a battle.
“Toward the end, I think they were actually starting to like us,” Tae chirps.
“And Kady didn’t throw out any more death threats,” Nash utters. “I’m counting that as a win.”
I laugh. “The Stellas can be pretty intense sometimes, but it’s just because they love me.”
“I’d let Kady Sinclair interrogate me a thousand times if it meant getting a second chance with you.” Jagger’s husky voice vibrates through me, making my toes curl. “Although, I’d rather not have to.”
“It sucks that the lasagna didn’t work out.” Tae screws up his nose.
“Don’t remind me,” Jagger groans, cupping his forehead in embarrassment.
“You can leave the cooking to me next time,” I say. “Maybe I can even teach you.”
Jagger steps up to me, closing the gap between us. “I’m a fast learner.”
“Okay, no more talk about burnt lasagna!” Tae declares. “Let’s just enjoy the rest of the evening. The four of us.”
