Page 66 of Fielder's Choice

I let out a light laugh. “And I think Uncle Knox just became her favorite person.” I look into the living room, where my daughter is perched on the sofa watching Bluey. I think I love the show as much as she does. “Lovebug, come here!”

Sage perks up and quickly pads out to the kitchen, and I scoop her into my arms.

“What, Daddy?”

“Uncle Knox brought you a hot chocolate, and I think the rest of your uncles brought some yummy breakfast. Why don’t you pick what you want, and I’ll set you back up on the sofa?”

She looks over at the guys excitedly, and they’re happy to help her pick some pastries with bright smiles on their faces. She settles on an apple turnover and a couple of purple macarons. They let me know they bought those specifically for my daughter since purple is her favorite color.

These four guys, as well as the girls, are all the proof you need that family doesn’t have to be blood. I don’t know where I’d be without them.

Before we go back to the living room, Sage hugs each of their legs and thanks them for breakfast. Ari then helps me get her set back up on the sofa, and then we meet the guys back in the kitchen.

“So, what’s the meeting about, Brooks?” Josh asks, sliding himself up onto the counter and dangling his legs over the side.

“I’m just… anxious, I guess,” I breathe. “I haven’t been on a date in years. What if I fuck up tonight somehow?”

“Well,” Cole says, “she doesn’t seem like the type to hold that against you.”

“She seemed incredibly sweet when I met her last weekend,” Knox adds. “My fiancée seems to love her.”

Ari laughs. “You’re gonna just casually drop fiancée into every conversation possible, aren’t you?”

“Hell yeah, I am,” he grins. “Harlow’s awesome, and she decided she doesn’t mind spending her life with me. I’m a happy motherfucker.”

“Which means you’re one step closer to being my brother-in-law,” Cole chuckles.

“Worst part of this entire arrangement, to be honest,” Knox smirks.

Cole rolls his eyes. “You’re a dick.”

“Moving on,” Josh says, taking a bite out of a croissant. “Why are you overthinking this? You’re probably the most calm and collected of us.”

“Because I’m nervous as hell,” I groan, throwing my head back. “I like Olive. A lot. Sage does, too. I don’t want to mess up my daughter’s relationship with her if things don’t go well tonight.”

“Lane,” Ari sighs. “I was there when you two met. She’s just as into you as you are into her. Take a breath and tell us what you have planned.”

I do as Ari suggests and take a deep breath and then another, settling my racing nerves. “We’re having dinner. I made us a reservation at a French restaurant in Midtown. Liv mentioned in passing that French food is her favorite.”

“Ew, are you going to eat snails?” Ari’s face turns up in disgust.

I laugh heartily. “I’ll try anything once.”

“What else do you have planned for tonight?” Cole asks.

“That’s, uh… everything.”

Ari stares at me. “You don’t have anything else planned?”

“I told you I haven’t been on a date in years,” I sigh. “What do you know about dates anyway, Mr. Never-Gonna-Settle-Down?”

“God, you guys need to just read a book sometime,” he chuckles. “Romance books tell you all you need to know. Bring her flowers. Tell her she’s beautiful. Look at the stars. Kiss her and sweep her off her feet. It doesn’t need to be extravagant. It’s the little things.”

Knox looks at Ari in disbelief. “What the fuck? You seriously know all that, and you don’t ever plan on settling down?”

“No,” he shrugs before the corners of his mouth turn down. “Love isn’t worth it to me.” Ari takes a deep breath to steady himself again. “But take some of that advice, man. Olive will love it.”

“Yeah, I hope so. There’s a florist nearby; I’ll grab her a bouquet. I think I’ll just play the rest by ear.”

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