Page 102 of Heartbeats & Highways

The back door opened, and two teenagers tromped in. Duke came in behind them and shut the door.

“Evie!” Waverly greeted me with exuberance. She looked me up and down. “Why does that outfit look familiar?”

I smiled. “Because it once belonged to Brooklyn.”

“Ah,” Waverly said. “Well, it looks great on you.”

“Thanks.”

“As does my jacket,” she quipped.

“Are you going to continue ignoring me?” Savage asked her.

“You’re way less interesting than your girlfriend,” Waverly said.

He wrapped an arm around her and ruffled her hair before releasing her. “Hey, Sailor.”

“Hi, Savage,” she said with a smile. “I’ll forgo the hair ruffling if you don’t mind.”

“Your loss.” Savage shrugged.

“She’s right, her jacket does look good on you,” Sailor said to me. “But I’m kind of jealous because she promised that jacket to me.”

“In a few months I’ll be too big for it. And then I’ll give it to you,” I stated.

“Will you guys make the salad?” Willa asked.

“But I want to ply Evie with questions,” Waverly said. “Like is Savage a total simp? He’s a total simp, isn’t he?”

“Don’t answer that,” Savage said to me. “I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

“Yeah, he’s a total simp,” Sailor said with a nod.

“I need help lighting the patio lamps,” Duke said to Savage.

“Let’s do it.”

“Are you okay if we eat outside?” Willa asked me. “The heat lamps will take away the chill in the air. And the sky is clear so there’s no chance of rain.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“So, you’ve worked at Three Kings for a couple of weeks now,” Waverly said as she opened the fridge. “Have you gotten Homer to smile yet?”

Chapter 27

Dinner was not only delicious,but it was filled with laughter and flowing conversation. I watched Savage interact, noting the easy charm that emanated from him. But there was a relaxation in his body that was impossible to miss.

These were his people, his family.

He teased Sailor and Waverly like they were his own sisters. He watched Duke and Willa with an absent-minded smile and every time one of them did something sweet for the other, Savage patted my leg under the table.

“You guys clean up,” Willa said. “I want to show Evie the house. Then we’ll have dessert. Sound good?”

“Sounds good.” Duke kissed his wife. “Dinner was incredible, babe. Thanks for cooking.”

She clasped his face and ran a thumb across his cheek. “My pleasure. Evie?”

I wiped my mouth with a cloth napkin and then got up. Savage lifted his hand and placed it on the back of my thigh, giving it a squeeze. I touched his shoulder and then followed Willa.

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