Page 123 of Myla: The Hawthornes

“They’re in a cooler in the garage. I’ll have Bas or Titus help me carry the cooler to the front porch when they get home.”

“I can help you.”

“It’s full of soda, beer, and ice.”

“No problem.”

“Not happenin’.”

“Why are you home from work so early?” Noel asked as she walked with me to the kitchen.

“Finished the truck I was workin’ on yesterday, and they didn’t have anythin’ for me. I spent all day cleanin’ the garage and takin’ inventory.”

“Poor Cian,” she teased.

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered.

“Well, you can help me put up the decorations if you want?”

“You bought decorations?”

“Just streamers and balloons,” she replied offhandedly. “And a banner. No big deal.”

“You realize Saoirse is an adult, right?” I asked slowly.

“Yes, I’ve met your sister.” She huffed. “Everyone likes it when you make their birthday special. It doesn’t matter how old you are.”

“If you say so.”

“You don’t have to help me,” she said, walking over to the back door to pick up a paper grocery bag. “I don’t mind hanging this stuff myself. It’s actually kind of relaxing to get things done without the girls trying to help.”

“Where are my girls?” I asked, giving in to the inevitable.

“They were all up at six o’clock this morning,” Noel complained. “So they all fell asleep at nap time.”

“Nice.”

“It would’ve been a lot nicer if they weren’t up at six,” she said dryly as she handed me a package of streamers. “But, yeah. They rarely take naps at the same time anymore.”

“I don’t remember the last time Ariel took a nap.”

“Me either.”

I followed her around the kitchen with a step stool, using thumbtacks to connect the crepe paper streamers to the ceiling so she could twist and drape them across the room. It took longer than I expected because she had to keep walking around to look at them from different angles to make sure it was how she wanted it.

“Thanks for helping me,” Noel said happily while we blew up balloons. “We haven’t seen you much lately.”

“Yeah, we figured it was probably a good idea to sleep at Myla’s.”

She smiled. “I think Titus appreciates that.”

“I bet.” I wouldn’t want to be just down the hall from one of my little sisters and her man. The thought of it made me want to smash something or vomit.

“Things are good with Myla?” Noel asked. “You two seem happy.”

“Yeah, they’re fine.”

“Uh-oh,” Noel murmured.

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