Page 13 of Ever After All

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not looking.”

I was very much not single. But aside from me and Rosie, only the doctor I’d confessed to in my loopy state when I got stitches and Griffin knew. If Rosie found out he knew, she’d be beyond furious.

Chapter Seven

Wyatt

Locals’ night at Fireweed Winery was packed that evening. The restaurant held these weekly throughout the year to cater to the locals with special prices on food and free samples of beer, wine, and mead. During the summer months, it was even busier because we didn’t bother to distinguish between tourists and locals. Anyone who showed up got at least one free drink.

I weaved through the crowded area near the bar, glancing around until I spied Rhys standing with his wife, Haven. Our mother, Kenan and Quinn, Blake and Fiona, and Adam and Tessa were all there. As usual, the family was out in force.

I slipped in beside my mother, leaning down to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Hey, Mom.”

She beamed up at me, slipped her hand through my elbow, and squeezed. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Mom, just to point out, I’ve been here for almost a year now.”

“I know, but I had to wait extra long for you and Griffin to finally move back to town. I’m relieved you’re not going out and fighting fires anymore. Now we just have to convince your twin to stop doing that.”

“He will when he’s ready,” I said lightly.

Someone said something to my mother, and she released my elbow, immediately drawn into a conversation with Fiona and Quinn about the kitchen renovation at the restaurant.

Rhys caught my eyes, lifting his chin in acknowledgment. “How’s it going over at the brewery?”

“I love it,” I replied honestly.

“Good to hear.” Rhys had his arm looped around Haven’s waist. He’d been the first of us to settle down. They already had a toddler-aged son as well. As far as I could tell, Rhys was still deep in the honeymoon phase of being in love with Haven.

She smiled at me after she took a swallow of her mead. She held up the bottle and wiggled it in her hand. “I love this new flavor.”

“It’s a blueberry-blackberry combo. I ran it as a special to see how it sells.”

“I think you should make it a permanent product,” Haven said.

McKenna appeared at her side, immediately joining in. “That’s what I said! I love it.”

Blake chimed in, “It’s selling really well. We usually make more money if we offer them on a limited basis.”

Haven sighed. “But I want it all the time.”

I chuckled. “We’ll see.”

“Hey!” McKenna said, her eyes looking past my shoulder.

Before I even glanced in that direction, I knew Rosie was approaching us. The skin on the back of my neck tingled. I forced myself to wait a beat before glancing over. As soon as my eyes landed on Rosie, my entire system felt jolted with a hot sizzle.

Her auburn hair was pulled up in a ponytail high on her head with loose tendrils dangling around her cheeks. Her skin was a little flushed, and my mind instantly conjured the memory of the freckles scattered all over her body, constellations that I’d teased with kisses.

Rosie’s eyes met mine just as she stopped beside McKenna. She looked away quickly, fast enough that I couldn’t read the expression there. McKenna swept her into a hug and began chattering about something before she looked my way. “Did you get your stitches out?” McKenna demanded.

“I already told you I did.” I rolled my shoulder, reflexively checking to see how it felt. The incision felt sore, but that was about it. “I’m good to go.”

McKenna pinned Rosie with her attention next. “Did you remove them and check it?”

Rosie’s smile was bemused as she shook her head. “Wyatt must’ve had an appointment time when I wasn’t there. Plus, the follow-ups aren’t usually in the ER.”

“Oh,” my sister said, looking a little annoyed at this.

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