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Ginny’s gaze darts between Nora and me. “Uh…how Nora can finally do something about this crush she has on Crew.” I silently thank her for changing the subject.

Blair nods. “Well, some men don’t see what’s right in front of them until another man does. Have you considered making him jealous?”

Nora’s brows draw together. “How though?”

“Date one of his friends.” Blair shrugs. “It works in romance novels all the time, right?”

Nora slowly turns to look out at the group of sweaty men again. “Huh. I—I guess I never thought about that.”

Blair shakes her head with disapproval. “And you’re the bookworm. I thought you’d be the smart one.”

Ginny and I laugh. “Well, would now be a good time to tell you I’ve decided to give dating apps a try?” Ginny declares.

Blair waves her off. “Oh, I’ve been there, done that, honey. Good luck. You might find a decent guy to fuck, but very few are looking for anything long-term.”

Ginny shrugs. “Yeah, but at this point, I think sex is all I really need.”

Resting my hand on Blair’s shoulder, I glance up at my older sister. “You could always take Mom up on her offer to set you up…”

She runs a hand through her long brown hair. “Not sure I’m at that point yet, but it’s in the back of my mind. I just want a man who can accept me for who I am. Is that too much to ask?”

Yeah, I get that, sis. More than you might understand.

***

By late afternoon, I’ve almost forgotten the guys are in the backyard except for the whine of power tools and the pounding of hammers. The girls stayed until one, and once the house was empty, I tackled schoolwork after putting dinner in the oven.

Finals are coming, and I need to be prepared. Luckily, I’ve gotten ahead on my work experience hours, so I’ll start next semester ahead of schedule.

When I decided to try to finish the program early, I knew it was ambitious. My professors weren’t sure it was the right decision to make either. But now that I can see the end in sight, I’m hell-bent on proving to everyone they were wrong to doubt me.

The only person who hasn’t doubted me is Easton. He may insist that I rest, and worry about the pressure I put on myself, but he has never told me to stop.

And actions like that make me fall for him even more.

Easton clears his throat beside me, making me jump. I lift my head and find him beside the dining-room table, looming over me.

“Jesus, I didn’t even hear you come in.”

“You were obviously too engrossed in…” Peering over to read my textbook, he continues, “Health care policy.”

“Oh, totally. It’s so interesting that I can’t think of anything else.”

Laughing, he leans down and kisses me, giving me one pass of his tongue before drawing back. “More interesting than watching the guys and me work?”

“Definitely.”

“I think you’re lying. I saw you checking us out.”

“Correction. Nora and Ginny were checking all of you out. Blair was completely turned off because she works with the guys and sees them as siblings. And me?” I pull him toward me by a belt loop on his jeans. “I was only interested in watching you.”

“Is that so?”

I nod. “Yes. And now that you’re done, there’s a homemade lasagna in the oven that has your name on it.”

“You made lasagna?”

“Yes. I knew you’d be hungry, and it’s your favorite,” I say, gauging his reaction.