Page 28 of Hearty

“This is the perfect solution for you right now.” Cass nods, looking hopeful on my behalf.

Moving to the stove, Gabrielle takes the lid off a large pot and stirs.

“We all wanted soup today, and my grandmother had this bomb recipe for chicken and wild rice. Can I get you some when it’s done?” Gabrielle asks. “Nothing that’ll heal your soul like some good soup.”

“Honestly, that’s so true. Why is no other food as cozy and heartwarming?” Cass dreamily sighs.

“I can find something pretty heartwarming about a double stuffed burrito,” Alana mumbles, and I snicker.

“So, now that the emotional side of things is dealt with, tell us about the boys. Who has caught your eye?” Cass leans forward in full gossip mode.

Wouldn’t they love to know that I harbor a huge, enormous, silly crush on their brother slash brother-in-law? I’ll never disclose that because how embarrassing. Plus, they’ll probably try to play matchmaker between Evan and me and make me look more like an idiot.

“No one, honestly. I either know everyone still in town, or they’re coupled up. Hope Crest isn’t really the place to cruise for guys on dating apps. Unless you want to find one who is forty and divorced while living close to his ex for the kids,” I quip.

Gabrielle brings over a pitcher of iced tea; I pour a glass and then drink the refreshing liquid.

“Well, Evan is still single,” Cass practically purrs.

The iced tea gets stuck in my windpipe at her seemingly innocent remark, and I begin to choke violently. I hit myself on the chest three times, coughing and sputtering, before glancing across the table at her.

She’s smirking like a cat who got the cream, and I wonder if she has some idea just how big my feelings are where her brother-in-law is concerned.

“Ohh, that would be interesting. You’d finally be family.” Alana wiggles her eyebrows.

“Evan is a man-child who is not worthy of this accomplished, rising star.” Gabby waves them off.

If I know anything, it’s that Evan and Liam have a weirdly odd competitive relationship out of all the siblings. I don’t think Gabby buys into it much, but I wonder why she has that opinion of Evan.

“True. My little brother can be a pain in the ass. And he’s awfully selfish. Okay, I changed my mind, not good enough for our August.” She deems it so, and my heart sinks a little.

I wonder how their tunes would change if they knew I actually wanted something to happen. Not that I do, but … oh hell, I don’t know what way is up anymore.

“How is the whole roommate thing going?” Cass eyes me again with that knowing gleam in her eye.

Yeah, I have a feeling she’s going to try to corner me about that at some point. “It’s fine. Good, actually. We barely see each other and he’s gone so much that I kind of feel like I have the place to myself, but don’t have to cook. He stocks the fridge with some of the best meals I’ve ever had.”

The other morning, I woke up to a note on my door informing me that he’d made maple butter waffles from scratch, and a plate was in the microwave for me whenever I woke up. Evan was long gone by the time I got to it, and I was thankful for that, since the moans I made while eating the breakfast he left were completely indecent for company.

“You do have to hand it to him, the kid can cook his ass off.” Gabby chuckles.

“All right, I think it’s time for baby snuggles. Let them at me.” I open my arms, ready to have the spotlight off of me.

Since I was young, I’ve always had an affinity for watching children. I babysat on the side of my waitressing job for a long time simply because I love it, and the families of Hope Crest paid well.

The Ashton grandkids? They’re some of the cutest I’ve ever seen, and there is nothing like newborn baby snuggles to make all your problems melt away.

Alana plops the baby on my chest, and he scrunches his little nose in sleep, then settles right down like I’m his favorite new mattress.

“He’s magnificent.” I breathe in his scent.

“So far, a much calmer sleeper than his sister. Although I’ve heard the second child is a hell raiser, so we’ll see.”

“If you and Patrick are anything to go by, that role is reversed between the second and third,” Cass points out.

“True,” Alana agrees, laughing lightly as she strokes the soft baby fuzz on her son’s head.

I spend the next two hours smothered with cuddles, imaginary play, and altogether mindless fun. From the decision to manage Lily to the playtime with the kids, this visit with the Ashton wives is exactly what I need to raise my spirits.

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