Page 112 of Good Directions

“Besides,” I continue. “When you’re done with this, you’ll be halfway done. Just a weekend of dish duty at Pour Decisions for Milo and then furniture shopping in a Speedo for Jace.”

“You forgot the whipped-cream bikini.” I spin around, looking up at Gus, his own trademark Hayes smirk shining back at us. “That’s quite the pancake there.”

“It’s delicious; thank you for asking!” Anton sasses.

“Whipped-cream bikini?” I repeat, still stuck on that key piece of information I missed.

“Hey y’all,” Margeaux greets. “Holy pancake…”

Anton makes a face, clearly already over everyone commenting on the size of the carbohydrate delight in front of him. I bite down on my lip, trying not to laugh. Seriously, I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.

“Yup,” Gus confirms, sliding into the booth next to his brother. I scoot in so Margeaux can join me, waiting on the rest of this story. “That’s my collection. Anton has to recreate the whipped-cream bikini from Varsity Blues for the next Hayes state of the business meeting.”

“Oh my God,” I exclaim, clasping my hands over my mouth.

“I had no idea what he was talking about, so Gus made me watch the movie,” Margeaux says, leaning in so that she doesn’t have to admit that too loudly. “I’m not entirely sure how they’re going to pull it off, but…”

She grits her teeth, giving me a look that says exactly what I’m thinking—that this has the potential to go very, very wrong. But also to be absolutely hilarious. Poor Anton.

“I was going to make him do it at Rhythm and Brews, but then Ewan stole that with his.”

“Which, oh my gosh, did I send you the photo I got?” Margeaux ask.

“No!”

Pulling out her phone, Margeaux starts to laugh, and I look over at Anton. He simply shakes his head, turning his focus back to his breakfast, owning his own embarrassment. I can’t help but fall for him a little more, taking this all in stride as his brothers set out to do whatever they can to get back at him for years of poking at them.

“Here.”

She hands me her phone, and I gasp. Perfectly framed, the bright blue sky behind him, is Anton, smiling as proud as a peacock, collection can in hand, wearing a homemade sandwich sign reading “saving for a penis enlargement.” Laughter bubbles up inside me, and this time I know there is no holding it back. Because if ever there was a picture that screamed Anton, it’s this one.

Every single inch of the silly, instigating, sweet, caring, agriculture nerd I’ve fallen head over heels for.

“I made damn good money, thank you,” Anton adds, his mouth full of food. “Hayes Cares got quite the donation thanks to that.”

Because yes, Anton refused to keep the money. Even though there wasn’t a stipulation about what needed to be done with whatever was put into his collection can, my man opted to give it all to the charitable arm of the company.

“It’s perfect,” I tell her through my laughter. “Can we get it printed? I want to frame it.”

“Absolutely! Hell, I’ll put it on the Christmas card.”

“We’re not putting it on the Christmas card,” Gus says, his face as serious as they come. “I’m still impressed Ewan came up with that though.”

“Psssh, that stunt had Emily Barrowcliff written all over it,” Anton tells him.

“She’s the sweet, strawberry blonde that he was with at the wedding, right?” I ask, making sure I have all the players correct.

Margeaux nods. “Yup, she’s actually Dolly’s cousin. She and Ewan have been…“hanging out” since the wedding.” She overemphasizes her air quotes, waggling her eyebrows to get her message across.

“Ewan and Emily Barrowcliff?” Gus chokes out, as if this is the first he’s hearing of it. To be fair, it’s the first I’m hearing of it too, but it means far less to me.

“Well, that’s a pair…” Anton mutters. “No one tell Maisey…”

“Who’s Maisey?” I ask.

“Hey!” Dolly says, sidling back up to us, my unanswered question disappearing into the air. “Y’all eating? Anton, ready for another?”

“Bring it on, Doll!” he tells her.