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Willow winks at Mabel, who giggles, though she has utterly no idea what her Aunties are on about.

“Everyone coming for the barbeque tonight?” Faye breaks from whatever she’d been chit-chatting to Adeline about.

“We wouldn’t miss it,” Mom tells Faye.

Faye looks to Adeline. “You and Colt are welcome to the guest room. We’re setting up tents in the back yard for the boys. Harlow is welcome to either bunk with Mabel or borrow Owen’s bed.”

“And where am I going to sleep?” A feminine voice demands, and we all turn to see Andy strutting close. “Sorry I missed the game.” She spreads her arms wide. “But I’m here now.”

“You can take our couch,” Quinn offers.

Andy scowls. “Hard pass.”

“You know you’ve always got a bed at our place,” Candy offers Andy. “And it’s close enough you can walk yourself and your mimosa over to Faye’s in the morning.”

Andy sways back as she considers. “We’re having mimosas in the morning?”

“Absolutely.” Candy nods.

“Consider me there,” Mom tells Candy.

She grins. “The more the merrier.”

Adeline leans into Faye. “We’ll be there. I’m going to head back to Creekwood Valley for Colt, but we’ll be back as soon as he’s off shift.”

Colt is the small town’s Sheriff. He met Adeline when she appeared on his front porch with her toddler after escaping a marriage, she’d unknowingly entered with a mafia family. Their story is crazy, and they made it out on the other side, but not without a few harrowing twists.

“You can leave Hayden with us,” I offer to keep her boy, who is now the same age as Owen. I’d offer to keep Harlow, her daughter, too. But she’s a mama’s girl so I know better.

“He’d like that. Thanks.” Adeline touches a hand to Harlow’s shoulder. “What do you say we go get Dad?”

Faye falls to the bed flat on her back, exhausted. “Another year.”

“Another party,” I finish.

She groans. “Andy can party.”

“Quinn takes her for her money.” I lower over Faye to steal a quick kiss before falling to the bed next to her. It’s late and I’m spent.

Faye laughs. “Yeah, she really does. Poor Willow.”

“Willow can handle the two of them drinking each other under the table.”

Faye props up on her elbow. “But can my dad handle my mom now that she’s spent the night trying to go one for one with Andy?”

“God be with the poor man.” I salute the ceiling, and Faye sighs.

“Do you think Andy is okay?” Her face pinches with worry for her friend. She really started throwing them back when Micha and Mandy showed up. “I think she still loves him even after all these years.”

“Do we ever really stop loving someone?” I don’t miss the way her breath catches in her chest or the way those shutters slam down in her eyes.

“I don’t know.” She frowns.

“I don’t think we do. Not if it was real.” I grab her hand to twine my fingers with hers. “I believe we’re meant to love who we love, and it’s that simple.”

Her eyes trace my face. “How did you become so perfect?”

I sigh a heavy sigh and tease, “Yes, I’ll get you a maple latte in the morning. No need to stroke my ego.”