Page 30 of Catching Feels

“Shit, thanks.” I look at the RV. “I didn’t know the Hart ladies were back already.”

“Just me,” she says, looking down at Ellie. “I came back with Cora. Rome and CeCe are on their way back. We did the house thing, so our mom’s staying back for a week, or forever.”

“She must have been over the moon.”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, that excited, huh?” I joke.

Her lip curls up slightly.

“Not a morning person; got it.” I hold out my hand for the leash. “Thanks for the save.”

“Morning has fuck not to do with it. You never speak, ever. Actually, you’re kind of a dick.”

Ever had the wind knocked out of you and never felt the punch? Yeah, me, neither. But before I have a chance to respond, she’s throwing open the RV door.

“Be more careful with her, for God’s sake.”

“Yeah? Well, you be more careful, too.”

She whips her head around and scoffs, “Me? I didn’t?—”

I walk the fuck away, calling back, “The giant bruise on your left ass cheek says otherwise.”

Inside, I’m blocking out all the shit that’s happened in less than twenty-four hours. I cannot be in this fucking headspace. I can’t let my emotions get the best of me, or I’ll fuck up.

I can’t fuck up.

I look down at Ellie. “We’re sticking to our game day routine, cool?”

Her tail wags.

“Perfect.”

The bacon is finishing up, the omelets are covered and staying warm, and the toast has just popped out of the toaster. “I’ll feed you first, then me and the boys.”

“You made us breakfast?” Blaze asks, walking into the kitchen.

“We don’t deviate from the plan, especially when it’s been working.”

“I wanted to say?—”

“Nope. We’re good. It’s game day.”

“You heard the man.” AJ smacks his hands together and walks into the kitchen. “Time to fucking chow.”

7

Flowers

Jillian

I was minding my own business, hiding out in here, waiting for the Jags to leave, when he had to go and lose my brother’s dog.

Freaked me the hell out that he tried to have a conversation with me, because he never does. In fact, the most he’s ever said to me, and it wasn’t just to me but directed to both Cora and I, was “This either of yours?”

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit. He knows. He knows I’m on that app, and he purposely matched with me.

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