Page 96 of After All

“I’ll be right over.”

When TJ answered the door ten minutes later, he took one look at her and scowled. “What the hell happened to you?”

She looked down at her legs and feet covered in mud and grinned up at him. “My truck got stuck. Had to get it out.”

“By yourself.”

She shrugged. “Yeah.”

His frown deepened. “Seriously? You could have called me for help.”

It was a stupid thing to have hit her right in the heart, but yeah, of course she could have. She was just so programmed to turn to Scott that she never called TJ for stuff. But he would have been there for her. So would Kyle or Derek. Or any number of people.

“Well,you’rethe one needingmyhelp right now,” she said, with a very satisfied grin.

He ran a hand through his hair. “Apparently you and Hope both got your stubbornness from your father.”

Peyton laughed.

TJ gestured down the hall toward the living room. “She’s in there.”

“I’ll go clean up quick,” Peyton said, starting for the bathroom.

“Borrow some of Hope’s stuff,” TJ called after her.

“Okay, thanks.”

“And don’t tell Scott that you dug yourself out,” TJ said. “He’ll kick all of our asses,” he added with a mutter.

But Peyton just grinned at him over her shoulder.

She was definitely telling Scott. And yeah, he’d have a few words for her she was sure. But then she’d show him all the things shedidneed him for, and he’d forget about the truck and the mud.

She cleaned up and joined Hope in the living room. Her sister was positively glowing from where she rocked in the rocking chair near the front window.

“Hey,” Peyton dropped onto the couch.

“Hi.” Hope tipped her head, studying Peyton. “You look great.”

Peyton laughed. “Do I have mud in my hair?”

Hope shook her head. “No, I mean it. You look great. What’s going on?”

Peyton blushed. “Well…”

Hope’s eyebrows rose. “Yes?”

“I’m in love.”

Hope’s face broke into a bright smile. “I know.”

“You do?”

“Of course.”

Hope was one of those people that had an innate ability to read people. It seemed that she was especially good at it with Peyton and TJ. Hope always said it was because of how much she loved them.

“And I’ve decided to get married,” Peyton said. She fought a smile. She’d love to shock Hope for once. It seemed that her sister was always a step ahead of her even when it came to her own thoughts and feelings though.

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