Page 72 of All Inn Thyme
“I bought all of these plaid shirts on clearance that all match, and we have to convince the guys to wear them so they’ll all show up wearing the same shirt, not knowing.”
I snort. “Okay, let’s do it.”
She walks over and reaches behind the counter. She pulls out a cream and beige plaid shirt and tosses it to me. “Here’s Ty’s.”
“We’re so bad.” I shake my head. But deep down, I love being considered as a couple with Ty. “So, what else is new?” I ask Allie, sipping my coffee.
“Just living my dream. The bakery is amazing, Logan is traveling a bit this week for work. He gets back home Friday night in time for the gender reveal.”
“I can’t wait to find out. What do you think they’re having?”
“Well, I already know, because I’m making the gender reveal cakes.” She covers her big grin with her hand.
“I’m so excited.” I check my watch. “I gotta head back.”
“See you Saturday!”
“See you,” I shout, laughing at the thought of them all showing up at the same time and realizing they’re all twinning.
24: ty
So, make me one.
“Why amI wearing this shirt again?” I ask Mellie, confused.
“It’s a gift. Don’t you like it?” Mellie says, her eyes not meeting mine.
“Yep, it’s nice, I just didn’t expect you to get me a shirt. Is it a special occasion?”
“We better go so we won’t be late,” Mellie says as she rushes to grab her purse.
“I’ll make us late,” I whisper as I pull her in toward me, cupping her bottom and holding her tight. She melts into me as she leans up to kiss me, wrapping her arms around my neck.
The problem is that kissing is all we’ve been doing, but I just feel like I need this job to wrap up so I can be honest with her before we go any further. I feel like it’s even more of a betrayal if we go there and she doesn’t know. It feels like I’m living a lie, so I need her to know first. It just feels wrong otherwise.
Kase’s footsteps come down the hall and she pulls back, looking like she’d rather stay home, too. “Okay, we really have to go.”
We’ve fallen into easy days together that just feel right. We do things as a family, and everything has fallen into a good place.
When we get to the inn, I carry in the plate of cheese and crackers we put together. Evan opens the door with an expression that looks less than pleased.
“Oh, you too? Beth!” Evan yells, but he’s shaking his head and smiling. I see Pete is also wearing the same plaid shirt that Evan and I have on.
Okay, now I get it. They’ve pranked us.
“Just wait until Logan gets here,” Beth snickers.
I look over at Mellie and shake my head, trying to hold back a smirk. Sasha is laughing and so is Beth, who is cackling so hard she looks like she’s crying. Pete looks up and rolls his eyes as he takes the platter from me and opens it and digs in. I follow him over to where the appetizers are to hide from all the mockery.
Just then, Logan and Allie come in. “Hey everyone,” she calls.
Logan follows behind her carrying the cake and he stops in the doorway and deadpans, “Really?” as he takes in all of us wearing the same shirt. “Whose idea was this?”
Allie, Beth, and Mellie can’t keep it together. Logan, Evan, Pete, and I cross our arms, all in our matching plaid shirts, and shake our heads, an action that seems to make them laugh even harder. Mellie pulls out her phone and makes us all pose for a picture.
“Oh, this will be great for photos later,” Margie says as she clasps her hands together, thrilled. “All of my boys, matching.”
The shirt prank I honestly didn’t mind, but hearing Margie include me with everyone and us fitting in here as a family feels good. Feels right. This is what I wanted. The everyday life with someone I love.
