Page 93 of Nate

“Of course, we do,” Lola replied with a twinkle in her eye.“Let’s go. I’m starving and I’d bet money you two are.”

Nate looked at Markie to see her frown. “I told her you were drying your hair and she mentioned that mine was damp too.”

Markie burst out laughing. “Leave it to her. I told you that woman didn’t hold back.”

“We should all have an Aunt Lola,” Nate said, then took Markie’s hand and they all left the house.

They all piled into Stella’s SUV, with Nate in the driver’s seat and Markie in the passenger seat beside him while Lola gave directions from the back.

When they arrived at the pub, Nate parked and opened the door for Stella before noticing Markie had already gotten out and was holding the door open for her aunt.

Inside the small restaurant, a friendly server came to their booth and took their drink orders. Nate opted for a soda while the women indulged in glasses of wine.

“I see who’s driving,” the server joked with a laugh.

“Yeah, I’m not sure how I got roped into that one,” Nate chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s not my vehicle and I’m not from around here.”

“Where are you from?” the server asked curiously.

“Clifton, Montana.”

She grinned mischievously. “Looks like I should take a trip.”

After taking their orders, she winked at Nate as she walked away, causing the women to giggle.

“I’m sitting here with three women, and yet she still flirts,” Nate teased, making Markie laugh.

“She knows a good-looking man when she sees one. Besides, we could all just be friends,” she replied playfully.

Nate raised an eyebrow and looked at her with a grin. “Being your friend is the last thing I want from you, Markie.”

Stella laughed loudly when Lola sighed dramatically, earning chuckles from both Markie and Nate.

As the night wore on, Nate couldn’t help but notice the women getting a little tipsy, their laughter ringing out in the pub. He shook his head in amusement, wondering how he was going to help three of them into the SUV. But he realized that Markie hadn’t had too much to drink.

Nate helped Lola and Markie’s mother, Stella, into the car. As he opened the back door for Lola, she gave him a playful smile and placed her hand on his cheek.

“I’m so happy you love my niece,” she slurred, before climbing inside. Nate couldn’t help but chuckle at her drunkenness as he pushed the door closed.

He settled behind the wheel and heard Markie and Stella laughing loudly. It seemed like Markiemighthave had a little too much to drink after all. She climbed onto the seat next to him and tried to buckle her seatbelt, but burst into giggles when she couldn’t figure it out.

Nate reached over and snapped it into place for her, smiling as she gazed at him with adoring eyes. He leaned in and kissed her lips, causing her to break into an even bigger smile.

“Get me home, I have to pee!” Stella declared between laughs.

“We just left the restaurant. Couldn’t you have gone before we got into the car?” Lola scolded her sister.

“I did, but I have to go again and there’s no way I’m getting back out of this car and going inside. I’d never make it,” Stella explained.

Nate chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll get you home as soon as possible.”

“Thank you, Nate. You’re such a good man. My daughter sure picked a good one,” Stella praised him, causing Markie to nod in agreement.

As they drove, Nate couldn’t help but steal glances at Markie. But as they pulled into the driveway, he noticed that Lola had her eyes closed and he wasn’t sure if she was asleep or just resting. He really hoped she wasn’t asleep.

“Great,” he muttered to himself. He was going to have to wake her up because there was no way he could carry her inside and keep an eye on the other two.

Stella stumbled out of the car and made a beeline for the front door, giggling as she fumbled with the lock. Nate couldn’t help but laugh at her.

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