Page 48 of Undeniably Enemies

“I’d host it,” Katy offers. “I bet Owen and Estlin would too. She’s not here to mention it since she’s still working on that commission.”

“We would as well,” Sorel says to Katy. “Mason loves that kind of stuff, and Willow and Rory I think would be fine, and we’d get some toys or things for them. Maybe a Christmas party would be fun! We’re slowly starting to baby-proof anyway. Not that Rory needs that.”

Just as Rory’s name is said, she comes flying across the room and practically jumps up into my arms. I nearly topple over as I attempt to catch her. She’s seven and tall, and it doesn’t work out so well. She’s so much like I was at that age. I freaking love it.

“Aunt Wren!” she cries. “Come sit with me. Football issoboring, and I want to braid your hair. Will you do mine after?”

“The game hasn’t even started yet.” Katy laughs, tugging on her hair.

“I know,” she groans dramatically.

“You also have your art stuff,” Kenna reminds her. “We can draw pictures if you want.”

“I want to do hair first.” She bounces in my arms. “Please, Aunt Wren?”

I laugh and set her down before I break my spine in two. “Absolutely, but let’s sit somewhat close so I can watch Uncle Mason play. The game is going to start soon. Let me grab something to eat and drink first.”

“No! Now. I want to do your hair now.”

She takes my hand and drags me down the few steps to where the tiered seats are.

“I’ll grab you food,” Katy calls out to me. “What do you want to drink?”

“Anything that doesn’t have rum in it.”

“You got it!”

I throw a hand up to thank her. I’m starving.

“How’s school going?” I ask Rory as we sit down.

“It’s goooood.” She elongates the word in a singsong voice as she climbs into the row behind me and starts to play with my hair. Rory and I have almost identical hair. Same length and color. In a lot of ways, she’s a mini-me, and I wish I got to see her more than I do. “Art is my favorite, like it is for Estlin, but I like math too.”

“Math was my favorite.”

“But you’re a doctor now.” She splits my hair into three sections and starts to pull on it. I try not to wince, but Rory isn’t always gentle. “Don’t you like science?”

“I’m almost a doctor.” That brings a smile to my lips despite the hair torture. I sit for my boards soon and then get matched up with a residency program after that. I want the ER at MGH, but with the upheaval going on and Jack being there, I mightneed to rethink my top match. “And yes, I love science too. Math and science sort of go together.”

“I hate science. It’s slimy. Our class took a walk down to the pond behind our school to get tadpoles. The boys loved it, but I don’t like frogs.”

“I get that. I don’t like frogs either. Not all science is slimy.”

“Here.” Katy sets a plate of food down on the small table in front of me. “Go easy, lovebug. Aunt Wren’s hair is too pretty to rip out.”

“Thank you,” I mouth to her, and she throws me a wink.

“So you got trapped in an elevator with my Jack, eh?”

I throw Keegan a side-eye since I can’t move much. “If you’re thinking it was a bonding experience for us, you’re wrong.” Even if heat crawls up my neck as I say that. I hide it by taking a sip of my whiskey and Diet Coke.

“A girl can hope. Especially now that Alden and I are sort of a thing.”

“Sort of a thing?” I question. “As in more than just spending time together?” I bounce my eyebrows suggestively since that’s all I can do with little ears present.

“Yes. He asked that we be exclusive with that.”

“Wow. Nice.” I hold up my glass to her and take another sip. “That was fast.”

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