Page 108 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

I wish I hadn’t spent so long tuning them out.

I was pulled from my thoughts when a familiar voice chirped beside me.

“There you are! I was starting to think you’d slipped away to hide.”

I turned to find Hayley grinning at me, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her coat, cheeks rosy from the cold.

“You know me too well,” I admitted. “But no, I’m actually having a good time.”

“Good.” She nudged me with her elbow. “You deserve to.”

“Hayley, I need you…”

All of a sudden, my foster mother was tugged away by Harriet. It seemed like the Sweet Maple Bakery stall was overwhelmed.

“I’ll be right back, sweetheart,” she cried as she was dragged away.

I wouldn’t see her for a while, but I couldn’t help but smile to myself.

She was my family. My real family. I definitely saw her as more than just a foster mom.

Even more so since I’d been back. It was nice to discover that I really did have a great support system here.

Speaking of which…

“Sadie!”

Before I had a chance to turn, Lila’s arms wrapped around me from the side, squeezing me tight like she hadn’t just been glued to my side all afternoon.

“You look so good,” she declared, pulling back to admire her own handiwork. “I knew the curls were the right call.”

“Obviously,” Aurora added, adjusting her grip on Evie, who was watching everything with wide, curious eyes. “We’re professionals.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You two just like bossing me around.”

“Yeah, and?” Lila grinned before reaching down to ruffle Biscuit’s fur as he zoomed excitedly around my legs. “He agrees with us, by the way.”

Before I could respond, Biscuit darted forward like a tiny, unstoppable force of nature… straight toward a precariously stacked display of caramel apples.

“Oh no,” I breathed.

“Oh, hell,” Lila muttered.

The moment the first apple hit the ground, the vendor—a no-nonsense older woman—let out a sharp gasp. “You get back here, you little menace!”

Biscuit, completely unbothered by the impending wrath of a caramel-apple enthusiast, seized the largest apple he could and took off under the nearest hay bale display, tail wagging victoriously.

Aurora covered her mouth, laughing. “That dog is actually unhinged.”

Lila groaned and handed Jace, who had been strapped snugly to her chest, off to Colt, who had just arrived with the rest of the guys. “If I don’t come back, assume Biscuit won.”

I was still laughing when their respective men joined us. Jaxon, Ryan, and Colt from Lila’s corner, while Ethan, Owen, and Mason made up Aurora’s. They all moved easily within the chaos, like this kind of thing happened all the time.

Jaxon gave me a once-over, clearly the protective one. “You good?”

“I am,” I said, and I actually meant it.

Colt, who still had Jace perched in one arm, smirked. “Having fun with your three strapping men?”

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