Page 36 of A Better Place

“I’m not about to go around snooping and gossiping about Carly. I want to get to know her. From her. Not from someone she’s confided in. Not cool, man. This isn’t high school,” I tease him.

“That’s how we did it in my day.” He laughs.

“We didn’t all fall ass-over-elbow in love when we were seventeen, either.”

“True. Not everyone can be as awesome as us,” he said with a straight face.

“You’re such a tool.”

“But you kinda love me.”

“Whatever, weirdo.”

“So, what was the look, then?”

“Nothing. I wanted to talk to her about the restaurant. Since it’s next door to Dreamin’ Beans.”

“Makes sense. Let’s finish up this wood-chopping so we can go inside.”

“I think Tess has soup in the Crock-Pot for us.”

“What kind?”

“Does it matter?”

“Not even a little bit.” I smile.

Ten minutes later, we walk inside covered in sawdust, arms full of wood. We drop the sticks in the metal firewood rack and make our way into the kitchen where Tess is grabbing some soup bowls from the cupboard.

Barrett walks up to her and nuzzles into her neck and gives her a kiss below her ear. “Hey, babe.”

I smile at their easy love. They’ve had their bumps in the road, sure, but who doesn’t. And they’ve always made their way back to who they are, together.

“Hey, there. Get it all cut?”

“Yup. Your man lumberjacked all over it.”

She giggles at him and lifts up on her toes and places a kiss on his lips, her hand resting the side of his face. “Thanks, stud.”

He smiles cheekily at me, and I roll my eyes in return.

“Where is everyone?” It’s never quiet in the Ryan’s home. Never.

“Lily and Harper are still shopping. Maggie went with Grady and Bri to a movie. I have a feeling that Jack is going to just so happen to be seeing the same movie.”

I laugh.

Barrett growls.

“Cole is over at Brandon’s with Mia.”

“So… it’s just the three of us?” I ask, suddenly feeling like the third wheel.

“Yup, thanks for hanging out, dude. We wouldn’t know what to do with our alone time,” Barrett teased.

“Yeah, I’m taking this downstairs. You guys enjoy your quiet while you can,” I say to them, grabbing my food and making my way to the basement.

“I was just joking, man. You know that.”

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