Page 138 of Knockin' Boats
Sawyer laughed at Brooks’s embarrassment. “Oh, man. I’m dying to know what they said.”
“Well,” Kitty started.
Brooks hurriedly cut in. “We should finish our walk if we want to have breakfast with Skylar before he gets too busy.”
Kitty smiled. “Yes, let’s do that. I was talking to Chester yesterday, and he had thefunnieststory about the Hookers’ Hole.”
Brooks groaned. “Not Chester again.”
“He’s a sweet gentleman.”
Brooks looked skyward, as if seeking answers out of his grasp. “What did I do to deserve this?”
Kitty chuckled and shook her head. “Young people are so dramatic. If a lady likes a gentleman, and he likes a lady, then it’s really quite simple. There’s no need for all this hemming and hawing around.” She paused. “Or if a gentleman likes a gentleman,” she added. “Get on with it, I say. Be happy.”
“Good advice, Grandma,” Sawyer said, smirking as Brooks shot him a glare. “You have a nice morning.”
“You too. Both of you.” She patted my arm. “Be happy.”
They walked on, and Sawyer squeezed my hand. “Well, you heard the woman. We should be happy.”
“Yes, we’re only doing what Grandma Kitty advises. She’s wise.”
“She is,” Sawyer said thoughtfully before raising our linked hands to kiss my knuckles. “Come on. Let’s tell Mom now before someone else figures it out.”
I laughed as he broke into a fast walk toward the staff entrance. “You never know who else we might bump into,” he said. “If Mom is the last to know, she’ll kill me.”
“We can’t have that,” I agreed with a chuckle. “I just got you.”
We made it to the kitchen without running into any nosy friends or neighbors. When we burst into the kitchen, still holding hands and grinning like idiots, Vera took one look at us and said, “About time.”
“What?” Sawyer exclaimed, eyes wide.
“You two finally got your heads out of your asses and figured out you’re in love.”
Sawyer sputtered. “Mom! How did— We didn’t even?—”
“Yes,” I said calmly. “I love him.”
Vera smiled wide and swooped me into a hug. “Welcome back, Ashton. You make sure he treats you right. If he doesn’t, you let me know.”
“Mom!” Sawyer said indignantly. “Shouldn’t you be telling him to treatyour sonright?”
Vera pulled back with an indulgent smile. “I already know he will.”
“I knew you always liked him more than me,” Sawyer grumbled.
“If I like him, it’s because I’ve always known he loved you. For a long time, if I’m not mistaken.”
My throat tightened. “I didn’t know at first. Not…not for sure. Not really.”
She nodded, eyes softening. “You both had to grow up. It’s okay, Ash. Sometimes timing is everything.”
“But you know what I did,” I said quietly, shame slithering through my gut. “I messed everything up.”
Sawyer slipped his arm over my shoulders. Tugged me closer. “That’s in the past. No more of that.”
He kissed my cheek.
