Page 99 of Stolen Kisses

"Damn, these are heavy,” Finn said.

I glanced around the basement. There were three piles that were clearly junk. Wyatt and Griffin had filled another box with what looked like tools.

“I’m gonna put the brownies in the oven,” Susan said. “It’s time for a break.”

“We’ve only worked for an hour,” Griffin said. “But that’s fine by me.”

Susan turned toward him. “The brownies need to bake about forty minutes, so there's still time for you to finish sorting your corner.”

He grimaced. “I walked into that all by myself.”

“All right, boys, let’s give it our all for forty minutes and then claim our prize,” Bruce said.

I moved over to Griffin and Knox, who were looking through a stack of magazines.

It didn't seem like much was worth keeping. We combed through a stack of toys next, then old silverware.

Forty minutes later on the dot, Susan came down.

“Brownies are ready,” she announced, glancing around.

There were only three more boxes labeled “Keep”; the rest were going to the junkyard.

Bruce rubbed his hands. “Can’t wait. You always made a mean brownie.”

“Haven’t done it in a while, though. I’ve gotten rusty.”

“Nah, you’re like red wine. You just get finer,” Bruce said with a wink.

The two of them led the way upstairs.

"Is it just me, or are Mom and Dad flirting with each other?" Wyatt asked once they were out of earshot.

"Yeah," Chase said, stunned. "It looks that way to me."

"Fucking hell, what's going on?" Griffin exclaimed.

It wasn't my place to say anything, but I did see a future in which those two might find a way back to each other. Especially if they were in close proximity every day.

“Chill, you two,” Knox said. “We should be glad they’re on good terms.”

“Nah, I’m with our older brothers,” Finn replied. “Something fishy’s going on.”

I took the bag with Jeremy’s gift and headed up the stairs. Chase walked right behind me, keeping a hand up at my lower back as if he wanted to protect me constantly. And I loved that.

"Anyone notice that they went really soft on Chase?" Finn asked.

"Next time we should all come with dates. Mom's going to be all over that and make us work less," Knox replied, and I couldn't help but laugh.

Chase shook his head. “I dare you to actually date someone seriously enough to bring them to meet Mom and Dad.”

Knox smiled at me. "Hannah, just so you know, this is all because of you. Now that he's managed to catch you, he feels even fuller of himself than before."

"I never thought that was possible," Finn added.

I looked at them over my shoulder. "Really? Is that why you've been giving him a hard time ever since the wedding?"

"Someone's got to bust his balls," Knox replied.

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