Page 125 of Heartbeats & Highways

“Your sourdough starters are liking their new home,” Brielle said. “They’ve doubled in the last hour.”

“Fantastic,” I said. “I’ll come down and tend to them. The dough should rise overnight.”

“I worship at your sourdough alter,” Brielle said. “I’m hopeless when it comes to making bread. I’m not allowed. Every loaf comes out like a doorstop.”

“You have other talents,” Jazz teased.

“I do, indeed,” Brielle quipped with a waggle of her brows.

“Brothers, standing right here,” Roman drawled.

“Oh yes, hello.” Jazz waved. “Okay, one more piece for the road and then I really do need to get downstairs. Kendall is handling the register all alone.”

“Let’s go,” Brielle said. The two of them tromped toward the door. “I’m glad you’ll be close by, Evie.”

“Yeah, we can always come up here on breaks and hang out for a bit,” Jazz added around a mouthful.

“Sounds fun,” I said.

“It does sound fun.” Virgil frowned.

“You’re invited too,” I said with a smile. “Whenever you want.”

“Not whenever,” Roman said. “What happens when Savage gets back in town? They’re gonna be playing house and shit.”

I cleared my throat and raised my brows.

With a sigh, Roman pulled out his wallet from his jeans pocket and grabbed a dollar bill. “This is the last of my change.” He handed it to me.

“Then stop by an ATM,” I warned.

“The swear jar is really working, isn’t it?” Virgil asked. “I don’t sayfuckhalf as much as I used to.”

I held my hand out toward him.

“What?” he demanded. “I wasn’t swearing, I was using the word to demonstrate a point.”

“Yeah, what’s up with the swear jar?” Cozy asked.

“Evie doesn’t like a dirty mouth,” Virgil explained. “Well, maybe Savage’s, but you know.”

“Go away,” I groaned, my cheeks heating. “Swearing is a hard habit to break.”

“So?” Cozy asked.

“So my husband used to swear. And I don’t want to be reminded of him.”

The room fell silent.

“Makes sense,” Virgil said finally. “Besides, we don’t want to be swearing up a storm by the time the babies arrive on the scene. We gotta set good examples.”

“Then they shouldn’t be around you at all,” Roman said with a laugh, shoving his brother.

“I’m gonna be the fun uncle,” Virgil said.

Somehow, in the short time I’d been in Waco, I’d found myself a patchwork family.

And no matter what, I wouldn’t let go of it for anything.

---