Page 28 of A Date with Fate

“And that is?”

“That the only girl you’ve ever been in love with is standing a few feet away, with our mother, after you drove thirty hours cross country with her.”

Oliver leaned in. “Have you popped the question yet?”

Jesse nodded thoughtfully, one finger tapping his chin. “What do you like Ollie? It’s about fifteen years in the making?”

“Fifteen is overkill and you know it,” I growled. Apparently I hadn’t been as subtle with my interest in Taylor as I thought I had.

Both brothers held up hands defensively, but Oliver couldn’t keep his mouth shut. “Again, just making a point. All we know is that the baby lottery and grandchild bets are going to be piling in. And for once, I won’t be first.”

“Or second,” Jesse said with a grin. My brothers fist bumped.

I barely resisted the urge to grab onto their heads and knock that cocky look of their faces. “We haven’t really talked about that.”

Oliver snorted. “Maybe you should, because the way you’re looking at her tells me that you’d happily supply the shotgun for the wedding if it meant you got to keep her around.”

My shoulders slumped a little. Immediately they shifted, the teasing element in the air changing between us. They looked…almost worried for me. That was almost harder to deal with than the teasing, so I finally responded. “I’m still working on convincing her.”

Taylor chose that moment to look back at me, her face smiling, but it stretched wider as she took me in. The look sent a burst of pleasure straight down my body.

“Uh-oh,” Oliver said. “I don’t think that’ll be too hard.”

I hoped not.

Chapter Nine

Taylor

I’d lost that bet. Badly. Not only had Suzy been overly welcoming and kind, but she had barely noticed the camper or her own family since I got here. After I’d been shown off to half of the diner, she plunked me down at the bar and refused to do anything until I ate something.

I ordered the pancakes, because pancakes were delicious any time of day and they were the best anyway. I told her that as I sliced into the stack, butter dripping down from the top.

“Logan always wanted that pork fritter, but I remember you loved to order breakfast. Any time of day.”

I swallowed my bite. “I still do. Breakfast food should be universal.”

Suzy smiled. “I agree. Now eat up, and then we’ll get you settled.”

I nodded into my pancakes and watched as Suzy bustled back across the diner to her husband, where he lurked at a booth. They were adorable together, his rugged bulk so at odds with her petite, whimsical look. But as their sons walked in the door, I was visually reminded of what it looked like when opposites attracted.

My eyes immediately found Scott. Was that what people might think of us? Did I care? As I watched this family, one which I had envied every day of my childhood, I realized that I wouldn’t care. If I was ever lucky enough to have a family like that, then I would savor every moment. Even the ones that seemed like they might not be as smooth as the rest.

I pulled out my phone, texting my brother.

TAYLOR: Hey, I love you.

LOGAN: Scott, give Taylor her phone back.

TAYLOR: No, I mean it. I'm proud of you.

LOGAN: Thanks, sis. I love you too.

My heart clenched; my shoulders felt lighter than they had in years. Even though Logan and I had worked on things since our mother’s death, it had always felt hard.

But maybe hard things were the ones worth working for.

LOGAN: You, okay?

---