Page 158 of Smooth Sailing

Hugger looked to Di. “What was that ‘oh shit’ look you had when she invited us to brunch?”

Di glanced at the door then waved her hand at him in a come here gesture.

He hauled his ass out of his chair and went there.

“Three possibilities,” she whispered like Annie might overhear. “She’ll remember she asked people to brunch, and when we all show at ten o’clock, she’ll be prepared to host a brunch. Or, she’ll remember, just too late, so we’ll all sit around for two hours while she prepares brunch. And we’ll all do that constantly reminding her she might want to go back to the kitchen and finish what she started. Or, she’ll totally forget, we’ll show, and she won’t be there because she decided to spend the day in Sedona.”

He grinned at her. “This doesn’t surprise me.”

“There is a fourth possibility, that being we’ll show to find she burned her house down while preparing brunch.”

He laughed softly before he said, “We’ll go prepared and have donuts before.”

“You’re good with brunch with Annie?”

He needed to un-narrow his world, and he was starting now.

“Sure, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because she’s Annie, and she might forget who you are by Sunday.”

He laughed again, bent to touch his mouth to hers, and when he pulled away, said, “I’ll weather that blow if it happens.”

She smiled brightly up at him, and damn, but he liked her smile.

“See things have progressed while I been away.”

They both turned to see Big Petey strolling into Di’s workshop.

“Petey!” Diana cried, like he’d been away years, not days.

She got up from her chair and raced around the table to throw her arms around him.

Hugger watched Pete’s eyes close as he enveloped her with his arms and gave her a tight hug.

When they broke, Di asked, “How’ve you been keeping?”

“I ain’t been eatin’ as good, that’s for sure.”

“So obviously that means you’re coming over for dinner,” Diana stated.

Hugger wanted some just them time when she wasn’t at work or getting over dealing with heavy shit.

But for both Pete and Di, he’d deal with it.

Pete gave him a glance, and when Hugger gave him a nod, he turned back to Diana.

“Sounds good.”

“Awesome,” she gushed.

“Here to check in and give you two an update.”

“Let me drag another chair over,” Di said.

“Don’t you move,” Hugger ordered.

Di looked to him.

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