Page 17 of Returning to Everton

“Well then, I hate to break it to you, but you were definitely getting hit on by two younger guys,” he says.

“Oh... um... are you sure?” I laugh. “You know I’m like thirty, right?”

“Well, I didn’t know exactly how old you are, but age is just a number. Besides, cougars are hot,” he winks at me with that, then walks away with a patio chair floating behind him.

I think I need a glass of wine about now. I pull out my phone to tell Quinn what just happened when Nick comes back out with Violet’s backpack. So, I put my phone back in my pocket.

“Thanks, Nick. I’m glad you found this and that we forgot to pack it,” I laugh at myself. “I can’t believe we forgot about the outside of the house. We’re normally better prepared than this,” I say.

“No problem. Glad I can help. Working in this job for a few years, I’ve learned everyone always forgets something. No matter how prepared and organized they are, something always slips through and gets left behind. We try to make sure we look everywhere, so that doesn’t happen,” he reassures me.

“You must be very good at your job,” I say.

“I am very thorough in everything I do,” he replies suggestively.

Wow, this guy really likes his innuendos. Luckily I’m saved by Violet.

“Mommy, did you find my backpack?”

“Yup! I got it right here! Come get it. You know I can’t climb that ladder,” I remind her.

I take the bag from Nick, and he gets back to work before Violet gets down to me. Thank god. I mean it’s flattering, really but I think I’ll stick to guys closer to my own age. Besides I’ve already got a few guys in mind. I smile to myself as I think about the guys. Tim and Nick have nothing on Hudson, Nate, and the twins. I haven’t seen them in years, but they were hotter than my movers when they were their age. I can only imagine how much better they look now that they’re grown and not little boys anymore. I haven’t seen Declan yet, but from his voice alone, I can tell he’s on a whole other level of sexy than these two. I can’t wait to see the guys and meet Declan. I wonder if Quinn warned the guys I was coming back.

I’m standing there, wondering what’s taking Violet so long to come get her bag, when suddenly it flies out of my hand and I hear her little giggle above me. Why on earth did I think that girl was going to come down here to get her bag when she could just use her magic? I think this day has been too much for me. My brain is clearly fried.

I laugh at myself and turn around when I hear the guys come back out.

“Okay, ma’am, we’re all done. Christy said you’re good with it all getting delivered tomorrow, right?” Tim asks.

“Yeah, that’s fine. We’re just glad you were able to squeeze us in sooner. Thank you,” I say.

“Oh, I’ll squeeze...” Tim hits Nick so hard in the stomach that by the time I look over at him, he’s hunched over coughing.

“I’m glad we could help. You drive safe and have a good trip,” Tim says politely. Then he drags Nick through the house to the truck. While Nick looks back at me with a big grin on his face and waves.

“Alright, Violet, we’re all done. Do you have all your toys packed up? We can leave whenever you’re ready.”

“I’m ready, Mommy!” she yells as she climbs down the ladder.

We do one more walkthrough of the house before we lock up and get in the car. I back out of the garage, then press the button to close the door.

“Alright, kiddo, you ready to start the next chapter in our lives?”

“Yes, Mommy! Let’s go!”

And with that, we’re off. It’s going to take most of the day to get there. Hopefully, we’ll be at Quinn’s by dinner. I call her real fast to let her know we’re on our way. But I don’t stay on long because I don’t like talking on the phone while driving, and I can guarantee any conversation with Quinn will not be fit for little ears, so using Bluetooth is not an option.

7

Rowen

The drive to Everton is long. It gives me too much time to think. I think about the last time I saw Hudson. He was standing in front of me as I introduced Harris as my fiancé for the first time. Thinking back, I remember seeing a flash of emotion in his hazel eyes before he quickly hid it behind a blank expression. He told me congratulations like any good friend would, but I just felt like he didn’t really mean it. He wasn’t happy for me. He was supposed to be my best friend. Why wouldn’t he be happy for me?

When I told them I was moving to Harris’s hometown hours away, all of their faces dropped. I felt awful to be leaving them like that. But Harris was going to be my husband. I had to start thinking about what would make him happy, not my friends. Nate was so mad at me, he didn’t even tell me goodbye. I cried to myself in the shower that night, where no one could hear me.

Ayden and Kayden at least tried to act happy for me. But they were sad I was leaving too. Not that I could blame them. We were always very close. Me going off to college was a big change for us, but I was always supposed to come back. We would be friends forever. Then I brought Harris home and told them that wasn’t going to happen.

I almost changed my mind. No one knows this, but after seeing the guys again, I had serious second thoughts about marrying Harris. Seeing them all reminded me how much I loved them. We’ve always only been friends, but I secretly wished we could be more. Seeing them, being in their arms for those short moments, I didn’t want to let go. I almost told Harris I changed my mind. I couldn’t marry him. I went to sleep that night after sobbing in the shower.

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