Page 242 of Steamy Ever After

“You up already?” Alex asked.

“You scared the crap out of me.”

“You’ll forgive me when you hear what I brought you.”

“What?”

“Warm muffins from the Olallieberry Diner.”

Peyton smiled. “I love you so much right now.”

“See?”

“How were the boys this morning?”

“Absolutely fine,” Alex told her.

“I’ll take a shower and meet you at Stave in an hour.”

“Uh, nope. I don’t need you to come in until later this afternoon.”

“It’s Friday, Alex. New-release night. It’ll be nuts.”

“Your mom and mine are coming down around noon. They’ll help me set up, pick the boys up from school, and take them to the movies.”

Jamison and Finn usually spend the night on the ranch with her parents on Fridays and Saturdays. Her dad would bring them home Sunday afternoon and stay until Peyton returned from Stave. When Kade was still alive and home on leave, he’d be at her house with the boys Saturday nights. It was their “guy time,” he’d tell her.

“Are you sure your mom doesn’t mind?” Peyton asked.

“She’s as much their abuela as your mom is. She loves those boys.”

“Your mom is a saint. So are my parents, if you think about it.”

“I’m glad she has your boys to spoil, so she isn’t on my case to get married and have kids as much as she used to be. My brothers thank you too.”

“What is it with your family?”

“None of us are in a hurry to get married.” Alex grabbed her coat off the chair in the dining room. “I’m leaving. Get in bed and rest. You look like shit, Peyton.”

“Thanks, Alex. Brutal honesty is my favorite.”

“Hey, I meant to tell you. Jamison asked me about Brodie this morning.”

“Oh, God. What did he say?”

“That he hoped you liked each other.”

“Get out of here! He didn’t really say that.”

“He did. He also said he and Finn talked about it, and they wouldn’t mind hanging out with him too. I told Jamison you were friends.”

“I hope they’re not expecting me to find my happily ever after. With my luck with men, they’ll be waiting for that bus until I’m old and gray.”

“What do they know of the yin and yang of dating? To them, it’s as simple as you like someone, you hang out, you get married, and bam—happily ever after.”

“I’m a colossal failure at happily ever after, Alex.”

“Third time’s the charm, girlfriend.” After a moment, she added, “Hey, uh, are you sure you’re not mad about me saying Kade wasn’t who you thought he was?”

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