Page 55 of Shameless With Him

Chapter 11

Zoey

My hands were cramped,my back ached, my feet hurt, and I was pretty sure I was getting a headache. Might as well round it all out for a beautiful evening.

I stretched and made my way to my house. I hadn’t planned on working so late, mostly because I had been forced to take a longer lunch than usual—if I ever took a lunch, that was—because Lacey had needed me for wedding plans.

I hadn’t minded that too much, though, because she’d needed to meet with the owners of the gorgeous farm that would be hosting the reception, wedding, and rehearsal, and John was supposed to be there. However, her fiancé had been stuck dealing with an emergency, and our mother had had a root canal, meaning I was the one who got to go with her. Mom was recovering, John was apologetic, and I was exhausted.

Lacey hadn’t wanted to be alone, and I didn’t blame her. There were thousands of tiny decisions that needed to be made, and she’d needed a sounding board, even if I didn’t say much the entire time. However, that two-hour lunch ate into my day, and I still needed to complete the same amount of work. I was dog-tired, but at least I was done for the day.

And because I was running late, it meant that I wasn’t the first one to my house for our girls’ night. I walked inside where Erin and Amelia were working on a charcuterie board and pouring a glass of wine.

“See, I knew each of us having keys was great for emergencies.” Erin spoke as she walked over, handing me a glass of red.

I drank half of it in one gulp and sighed. “This is bliss. Actual bliss.”

“Long day?” Amelia asked, taking a sip of her own wine.

“Yes, but a good one. It was just long. I guess wine and cheese is always an emergency. So, yay keys.”

“Amen,” Erin said and clinked her glass to mine. Amelia scrambled over and clinked her glass, as well.

“Don’t forget me,” she said. “To wine and cheese and girls’ night.”

“Yes, I need food. Anything. I didn’t actually get to eat lunch.” I took another sip of my wine and wanted to drown in it.

Erin nodded. “Welcome home. And, yes, food is a must. Considering that you almost downed your entire glass just now, let’s get some food in you. We have charcuterie, but I made those little meatballs that you love, too.”

“Ooh, the sweet ones in the Crock-Pot?”

“Yes, I even brought over the meatball Crock-Pot.”

Amelia snorted. “I love how Devin has named it that, even though I’m pretty sure you’ve used it for dips before.”

“Not anymore, actually. I had to buy a bigger Crock-Pot for dips because it’s not just me or the girls anymore. Guys tend to eat a lot of cheese dip.”

“It’s cheese dip. Can we blame them?” I asked, laughing.

“No, I guess we really can’t. Anyway, we have a Crock-Pot of meatballs, a Crock-Pot of that cheese dip, and bacon-wrapped pineapple.”

My stomach growled, and I actually groaned aloud. “Bacon?”

“You know it.”

I took a meatball and considered dying right then in meatball bliss. “I’m so sorry I was late. I didn’t actually do anything to help tonight.”

Amelia shook her head. “You had your house open for us, and if we drink too much wine or the guys can’t pick us up, you’ll let us sleep here. I’m not really seeing a problem.” She shrugged.

“Though, actually, I can’t stay the night,” Erin added. “I can probably share a bottle of wine with you guys, but then I have to go.” She winced, and I frowned.

“Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine, but Devin and I have a few wedding plan things to start on before we start the real planning, and tonight was really the only time he could do it.”

I nodded. “That’s not a problem. I like that we’re at least having dinner together. And, honestly, I’m too tired to have a full girls’ night.”

Amelia smiled. “Oh, good. Because I haven’t actually gotten to spend a whole night with Tucker in a while. And he’s off work tonight, oddly enough.”

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