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“No! No!” Lyn shakes his head. “Why do you hate me so much?” he asks with a hearty chuckle.

“I don’t hate you; I just think you’re making it too complicated. I wear clothes on my body, that body lays on sheets and under a blanket, and is dried daily with towels. It’s all mine…why can’t I just wash them together? The days of sorting into lights, and whites, and darks, and bedding, and towels…over! Gone. Get with the times, brother.” He flashes me a sinful grin of white teeth and pure happiness.

“Heathen!” Lyndell snaps back and I can’t hold back my own laughter any longer. They continue as I stop the video and text it to my mom.

Edee:*video* My dinner dates for the evening.

Mom responds less than a minute later.

Mom:Lucky girl! I hope you’re dating the one who knows how to properly sort his laundry. The other needs Jesus.

I snort, lifting my head when the two stop speaking all together. They are both staring at me expectantly.

“Sorry, gentleman. I relayed this particular debate to my mom, and she says that I better be dating Lyndell, because you,” I give Tyrone an unimpressed glare, “need Jesus. And I’m afraid I have to agree with her. I had no idea how you played life fast and loose. One red sock gets into a load of whites…complete anarchy!”

“Embrace the anarchy!” Tyrone yells, pounding his fist on the table. Lyndell loses it, laughing so hard tears fill his warm chocolate eyes. Several others in the dining hall offer their own support for overthrowing the system.

We finish eating dinner and have dessert. “I’ll trade you, Ty.” Lyndell offers after he’s cleaned his bowl of pudding.

Ty grins, leaning his elbows on the table and giving his brother his undivided attention. Butterflies take flight in my stomach at the way he cares for Lyndell. The devotion, admiration, love. Tyrone is a good man. I slide my hand on his thigh under the table and squeeze. I just want to touch him. His eyes slide to me, and his grin grows as he places his hand over mine and entwines our fingers. “Let’s hear it, Lyn.”

“I will give you…” Lyn’s eyes dart to me then back to his brother. “Edee for a piece of the chocolate chip cookie cake.” I gasp in outrage, but I start giggling and ruin it immediately.

“I’m worth more than a piece of cake!”

“It’s served warm with ice cream on top.” Lyn explains, like that will make me feel better about being bartered. Hmm…warm with ice cream? Now I want a piece of cake.

Ty sits back in his seat, his brows dipping down in consideration. These two, I swear. “You’ve already had dessert, Lyn.” Ty is stern in his reply, but Lyn isn’t dissuaded in the least.

“You haven’t had yours yet though.” Oh, that cheeky bugger. Ty definitely had dessert, but Lyn is talking about me!

“Lyn, watch yourself.”

Lyndell’s instantly crestfallen and remorseful. “I’m sorry, Edee, that was rude.”

“Thank you for your apology, Lyndell.”

His lips stretch to the side, his eyes lifting in amusement, “I’m sure warm chocolate chip cookie cake with fresh ice cream would make you feel better. And if you were to share…I heard that is caring.”

“Jesus!” Ty barks, his head falling back as he howls with laughter at his brother. I rest my head against Ty’s arm, my entire body shaking with merriment. Best dinner ever. Ty waves his hand at Lyn. “Go! Get your damned second dessert…you’re like a giant Hobbit!”

“Lyndell Baggins.” I laugh harder, watching Lyn hop up from his chair and practically skip back to the food line.

Sucking in a harsh breath, I tap Ty on his shoulder and wait for him to look at me. “Thank you.” I close my eyes, lift my head and press my lips to Ty’s. It’s soft, sweet, and over too quickly, but absolutely perfect.

“You’re welcome?” he responds, his words lifting up at the end in question. Men are clueless sometimes. I don’t need to explain, he’ll figure it out soon, I’m sure. Tyrone Wicawiil is a smart man.

Changing the subject, I ask, “Hey, have you spoken to Phia or Prib? How is she?”

“Yesterday.” He pulls his phone from his pocket, unlocks it, and hits Prib’s contact for a video call. A few seconds later, Phia and Prib fill the screen. Before any of us can speak, Phia squeals and claps her hands.

“Oh! Oh! Yay!”

“Babe, those are my sounds, you don’t share those with other people,” Prib growls adorably at his woman. Warms my heart to see them happy together.

“Hush! Ty and Edee are together! Oh, Lyndell! Hi!” She’s all kinds of chipper…

“She’s on medication.” Prib offers, as if reading my mind.

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