Page 347 of Lodestar

“You met them already.”

“Barely,” I grumbled. “A ‘hello’ and ‘bye’ doesn’t count for much of a meeting.”

“The worst of the bunch is Savannah and you got her back on your side, didn’t you?”

“Sort of. As much as you can get Savannah Daniels on your side.”

“Savannah O’Donnelly,” he corrected. “Don’t let Aidan hear you use her maiden name.”

“Pissing on her would be quicker.”

“Not as clean though. Plus, Ma made it a rule a long time ago—no whipping out our dicks in public.”

I let loose a laugh. “Thank fuck for that.”

Amusement gleamed in his eyes as he tugged my hand from my pocket so our knotted fingers could swing between us. “Seriously, though, you doing okay?”

“I’ll be better when we’re in London and the funeral is almost over.”

He grimaced his understanding. “Makes sense. Until then, whatever Aoife can say about Ma, she can’t argue that her roasted chicken isn't the best in the tristate area.”

Though I snickered, as we stepped toward the house, him flicking the alarm on his ride over his shoulder, I drawled, “Aoife said very little about your mother.”

“That’s because she’s too kind for her own good.”

“Probably for the best in a family like yours.”

“Ours,” he corrected, which made me bite my lip.

“Ours,” I repeated though I cleared my throat beforeandafter I said it. “Next time, I’ll bring Kat, yeah?”

He nodded. “Of course.”

“I’d have brought her with us today if it weren’t for the fact it’d disrupt her schedule, seeing as we’re leaving for the UK tomorrow.”

“You don’t have to explain?—”

I sucked in a breath. “Sure I do. We’re a team. We make decisions together.”

His smile made the concession worth it. “Then I agree that you made the right decision. Though I think she’ll enjoy our meals.”

“Why? Because Seamus is here?”

It was his turn to snicker. “Yes.”

The door opened to reveal an ever-dramatic Savannah standing in the doorway.

I watched as my sister/friend strode toward me in too-high heels. “She should have been on the stage.”

“She does channelGleeenergy, doesn’t she?” he teased.

“Is there a reason you haven’t answered my texts yet?” Vana shrieked.

My brow furrowed. “You haven’t texted.”

“Myoldtexts.”

I rolled my eyes. “Who the fuck has the time to answer old messages, Savannah O’Donnelly?”

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