Page 21 of Mister McStudmuffin

“Oh, yeah, she’s married to Dane’s older brother, Grady.” I point to another group of people off to our right. “Do you know who Micah Stone is?”

“The country singer? Holy shit!” She puts a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, that was probably too loud. Why are there so many famous people here? I mean, I know that one of Charlie’s soon-to-be sisters-in-law is married to Mason Ball from Soul Obsession.” She looks up at me, her expression full of pure joy.

“Yeah, he’s marrying Luna. Dane’s fiancée is actually Luna’s sister, Shelby.”

“Of course. How could I forget? Charlie was so upset her doctor put her on bedrest. She wanted to come to the wedding. Max refused to go without her. Thankfully, his sisters understood.” She glances over at me. “I keep forgetting that you and Max are from the same small town. Kinda weird, don’t you think?”

“Or perfect. Depends on how you look at things.”

I lead us to seats where Hayes and his wife, Rory, are already sitting down. Hayes jumps up when he sees Chelsea and pulls her into a hug.

“So great to see you. Chelsea, this is my beautiful wife, Rory.”

The women exchange greetings, then we sit on the other side of the couple.

“No kids tonight?” I ask Rory.

“No. Mama needed a break. They’re with my sister, Ava, and her husband, Remi. They’re in town for a couple of weeks while he’s in between missions.”

“He’s in the service?” I ask.

“SEALs. But yeah, he’s still on active duty. I don’t think for too much longer, though. He’s itching to move back home so they can start a family.” She leans forward to see around my body. “It is really nice to finally meet you in person, Chelsea. I’ve heard so much about you, I feel like I know you.”

Chelsea smiles and they chat back and forth for a bit. I take the opportunity to put my hand on Chelsea’s back. Being able to touch her, feel the warmth of her skin, everything about it is right to me. The seats around us fill in, and I introduce Chelsea as my girlfriend. She gasps the first couple of times I say it, but by the third or fourth time I repeat it, she just rolls her eyes.

Some of Hayes’s siblings end up sitting in front of us, including his sister, Madison.

She turns to me, smiles wide. “If it isn’t my favorite hottie.”

“Mads, please don’t start that,” Hayes says.

“I think it’s funny,” Rory says.

“Aside from you, dear brother,” she says to Hayes. “It is accurate. Where are the other hotties tonight?”

“Hotties?” Chelsea asks from my side.

“Ohhh, I don’t know you.” Madison glares at me. “Why don’t I know her, James?”

She says my name in that knowing way. It’s my turn to roll my eyes.

“Trouble, behave,” her husband, the sheriff, says.

She leans over and kisses his mouth. “Do you even hear yourself? I can’t behave. Not yet. I have work to do.” Then she holds a hand out to Chelsea. “I’m Madison Burton, formally Crawford. This is my husband, Caleb.”

Chelsea is about to speak, but I interrupt and do the introductions myself.

“This is my girlfriend, Chelsea.”

Madison’s brows raise. “Girlfriend? Why haven’t I heard about this before now? Is it new?”

“Very,” Chelsea mutters under her breath.

I smile. “No, we’ve been together three years now.” I lift our entwined fingers and bring her hand to my mouth for a kiss.

“How did this happen?” Madison asks. She reaches over and smacks her brother’s knee. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You don’t need to know everything, Mads,” Hayes says.