CJ looked up from his phone.
Reilly’s hand paused as she set the butter dish beside the rolls.
Deborah stopped what she was doing, her eyes wide. “What news?”
Everyone stared at Stone, waiting for his big announcement.
Stone grinned, slowly skimming every face in the room. “I’m movin’ back to Coyote Ridge.”
Deborah clasped her hands together as tears formed in her eyes. “Really?”
Reilly squealed and ran over to hug him. Stone put one arm around her and the other around his mother, hugging them both. Brady noticed that his smile faltered but only for a second. It was obvious he was working hard to keep it in place.
Brady was curious what happened, but he decided not to voice the question. He figured that information would come soon enough. In the meantime, the fact that Stone was moving back was all that really mattered.
“You can live in the barn,” Reilly told him.
“I might have to take you up on that.”
“Tears?” Donovan asked when he joined them, his gaze coming to rest on Stone. “You told ’em?”
“I did,” Stone confirmed.
It didn’t surprise Brady that Donovan was in the know. The man kept his thumb on the pulse of his siblings. That had always been the case.
Deborah wiped her eyes as she pulled away, giggling before she went over and hugged Tate and Donovan.
“Does a girl hafta go into labor to get some attention?” Chelsea asked when she came into the room.
Brady stepped back, allowing everyone to fit in the space.
“What did I miss?” Chelsea asked as she hugged her mom.
“Stone’s movin’ home,” Deborah announced, still wiping tears away. “Brady and Reilly are gettin’ married. One day,” she tacked on with a giggle. “And Donovan and Tate are movin’ in together.”
Brady found it interesting that Deborah knew that last part considering Donovan hadn’t announced it yet. Then again, Donovan was close to his parents. Knowing him, he called his mother as soon as Tate agreed.
“Oh, we’re gettin’ married, too,” Donovan noted as he put his arm around Tate. “When he’s ready.”
Tate blushed, shaking his head as though he couldn’t believe Donovan had said that.
Chelsea’s eyes were wide as she looked around at each of them. “What the hell?” She looked at her husband. “We were here a week ago, right?”
“More like two and a half,” Reilly said with a laugh.
“Fine. Two and a half and…” Chelsea shook her head, disbelief etched on her pretty face. “Wow.” She looked at Brady. “It’s about damn time.”
That caught him off guard. “What?”
Chelsea looked at Donovan. “The same goes for you.”
“What did I do?”
“For someone who knows everything, you’re kinda oblivious.”
Brady looked at Donovan. What was she talking about?
Chelsea grinned. “My little sister’s been in love with you”—she pointed at Brady—“and Tate’s been in love with you”—she pointed at Donovan—“for so long. I thought y’all wouldneverfigure it out.”
