She quickly shrugged it off and then tilted her head to the side as if she was waiting for an explanation about why I was here.
“I figured you’d need help, so I brought backup.” I eyed the barely touched food on the counter. “Is this your sandwich?”
“Yes. Are you hungry?” she asked, and I chuckled.
“No. I ate lunch. I’m wondering why you aren’t eating—you’ve taken one bite, and you’ve been here for hours.”
“Ahhh…you’re becoming a real wet nurse, Heart.” Cannon clapped me on the shoulder. “Put us to work, Gracie.”
“You going to eat those chips?” Phoenix asked Tatum when she moved to the counter to take a sip of water. “I assume those are yours?”
She rolled her eyes and handed him the bag. “Some things never change.”
“Hey, you were always more prepared with lunch than I was.” He tore the top open and shoved a few chips in his mouth.
“You just ate at Four Clovers. How are you and Heart always hungry?” Brody asked with a laugh.
“Hey, this body is a work of art,” Phoenix said over a mouthful of food. “I need to keep it well fed. Thanks, Tate.”
“You’re looking good, per usual, Tater Tot,” Cannon said as he winked at her, and I noticed the way Phoenix’s hands fisted at his side.
I could swear Cannon flirted with her just to get under his skin. Phoenix and Tatum had grown up living next door to one another, and he’d just always been protective of her.
Bass added, “I’ve got two hours before I have to be at the restaurant, so let’s stop with the flirty banter and get our asses moving.”
Gracie laughed, and she started directing us. The place was an absolute disaster, and I had no idea how she’d possibly have this ready to go by tomorrow morning, when my aunt and uncle were set to arrive.
I’d offered to move their arrival back by a day or two, but she’d turned me down. She had to get the Petersons’ house staged next, and she said she worked best under pressure, and she never missed deadlines.
But looking around the place, I didn’t know how she was going to pull this off.
We all spent the next few hours moving furniture, breaking down boxes, and carrying tall potted trees from room to room. I unpackaged more throw pillows than I’d ever seen in my life, and Brody and I were assigned to hanging things on the walls, with Gracie directing us like a fucking boss.
She was badass.
I loved watching her in her element.
Bass had to take off and get back to work. Tatum stayed until it got dark, when Gracie insisted she head home. Brody and Phoenix and Cannon stayed for another hour and hungfloating shelves and carried all the broken-down boxes out to the recycling bin on the side of the house.
“All right, you think you two can handle the rest?” Brody asked.
“Yeah. We’ve got it. Thanks so much for coming,” I said, giving each of them one of those half bro hugs that dudes did.
These were my brothers in every way.
We always showed up for one another.
Always had. Always would.
“You guys are life savers,” Gracie said, pausing to give them each a hug. “I will be baking you all cookies and any other treats you want.”
And then it was just the two of us. I made my way out to the backyard to help her place the outdoor furniture she’d ordered.
I had no idea how she would have done all of this herself, but I had a hunch she would’ve just stayed and worked through the night.
She was impressive, no doubt about it.
When we stepped back inside, I whistled as I took it all in.
