Page 109 of After the Snap

COOKIES WIN

Sullivan

That’s not what happened.

Easton

I’m getting cookies. Sounds like a win to me.

A stupid amount of satisfaction settles through me, considering all I did was offer to make two desserts. “Apparently, all this team needed was competent leadership.”

“Careful. Your dad might hear you and make you our official babysitter.”

I start to close the chat, then stop with my thumb over the screen. Olivia is coming to spend Thanksgiving with me, but Dad’s house won’t be anything close to the quiet escape she probably pictured when I invited her. With the guys coming, a warning is absolutely necessary.

Also, everybody better be on their best behavior Thursday. My friend Olivia is coming.

Archer answers before I can even lower the phone.

Archer

Is she cute?

I should’ve known better than to ask for good behavior before giving them a reason to misbehave.

Is she single?

Sullivan

Subtle, gentlemen. Very subtle.

“Absolutely not.” I turn the screen enough for Jubal to see, and he laughs.

“You walked into that one by introducing a potentially single woman into the conversation.”

I narrow my eyes at him before another message pulls my attention back to the screen.

Whit

Leave the woman alone. We’ll make sure they behave, Callie.

Archer

I ASKED ONE QUESTION.

How long is she staying?

Archer asking if a woman is cute is the least surprising thing he’s done all week, but JJ usually lets everyone else fight for the oxygen in the room. Two questions about a woman he hasn’t met is practically aggressive flirting, by his standards.

Wednesday through Sunday. Why?

Just asking.