Page 143

Somehow, what starts as Ethan and Cas arguing about who could beat whom in a race across the pool turns into the men daring each other to jump in.

One minute, Ethan is standing at the edge of the water, insisting he'd win, and the next, Cas shoves him straight into the pool.

Ethan comes up sputtering.

“You asshole!”

Cas is laughing so hard he doesn't notice Dex coming up behind him until it's too late.

“Don't you fucking—”

Splash.

Everyone erupts into laughter.

I pull my arms tighter around myself as Cas surfaces and immediately starts threatening Dex, who is already backing away from the pool with both hands raised.

“Cold?”

I look up at Jude, who's standing beside my chair.

“A little.”

He doesn't say anything. He just turns and walks away.

Okay.

I watch him cross the yard toward his truck, wondering what the hell I said, but a minute later he's back with a dark hoodie in his hand.

He holds it out to me.

“Here.”

“Oh.” I take it. “Thanks.”

He nods once and heads toward his brothers.

I pull the hoodie over my head, immediately surrounded by warmth and the familiar scent of forest, hay and something uniquely Jude. It's a little too big, and I have to push the sleeves back to free my hands.

“Now that's a good idea,” Summer says, tucking her legs beneath her on the chair beside me. “I should've brought something warmer.”

“Ethan probably has a jacket somewhere,” Penny tells her.

Summer looks toward the pool, where her husband is trying to convince Dex to get into the water. “I'll ask him when he's finished trying to get his brothers into trouble.”

Lexy laughs. “Good luck. Dex looks far too pleased with himself to stop now.”

Grace pulls her chair closer to ours. “I'm glad you came tonight, Nora. It's nice having you here.”

“Thank you. I've had a really good time.”

“Even after meeting all of us?” Penny asks.

“Especially after meeting all of you.”

Grace grins. “Then you're definitely one of us now.”

“Actually,” Grace says after a moment, turning toward me, “I'm happy Jude brought you. He doesn't usually bring friends to these things.”