Before I can beg him to come over so I can sit on his lap, the sound of tires on gravel mutes me. Rhett’s truck appears up the drive, followed by Tanner’s behind it with Lauren at the wheel. They park and jump out of their respective trucks and smile at me as they approach, then at each other, then at Tanner and then at me again.
“Have you gotten the eggs yet this morning?” Rhett asks Tanner, fighting a shit eating grin.
Tanner simply tips his head for Rhett to follow him to the coop.
“Holy shit,” Lauren says, strolling over.
“Language,” I scold as if Winnie were around to hear her.
“Hannah. You’re wearing his clothes, sitting in his chair on his porch. Don’t tell me you just showed up this morning. And wait.” She pauses. “You’ve been here all weekend haven’t you?”
“Lauren.”
“Does this mean you’restaying,staying?”
“For now,” I tell her and she nearly squeals. “You two just showed up this early to drop off his truck?”
She shrugs. “Tanner hasn’t come back for his beloved ugly green truck. Also, it’s been two nights. So, we checked your place first, but neither of you were there, so this was our second stop.”
“You’re both ridiculous.”
“And you’re smitten.” She shakes her head. “Look at you. Where are your clothes anyway?”
I nod over at the clothesline.
“I had a feeling that dress would land you in a situation like this.”
“Oh my God, I am going to put a tracker on you and make sure you never know where I am ever again.”
“Was it good?” she asks in a terrible hushed tone. “Like did you just do it last night? Or at your?—”
I pull in my lips and shake my head. “Absolutely not. I am not telling you.”
“Please, please, please,” she begs as the guys begin to walk back up to us. “Just like scratch your head if it was good and scratch with your right hand if it was a lot of times.”
“You’re insane,” I tell her, but it’s only halfhearted.
“For your troubles.” Tanner drops a few eggs right into Lauren’s hands.
“No carton?” she asks and he shakes his head.
“A phone call would have warranted a carton. Showing up unannounced is a no carton situation.”
“We did call,” Rhett says. “We’ve called you twice this morning and a couple times last night. But you’ve been occupied. I get it, those Dorada girls are something else.” He shakes his head with his own devilish smirk and now it’s Lauren’s turn to flush.
“Okay. We’re going.” Lauren stands. “Love you both. Be safe. Use protection. Or don’t! Our babies can be close in age!”
Rhett all but forces her into the truck, and just before she gets in, I scratch my head with my right hand and Lauren’s jaw drops.
How many?she mouths.
“More than my soccer number,” I call out to her, and the boys exchange a confused glance.
“Holy. Shit.” She shakes her head and climbs into the passenger seat.
“What was your soccer number? And why did you say that?” Tanner asks.
“Eight. My soccer number was eight.” I smile and wave Rhett and a jaw-dropped Lauren away.
