Page 118 of Heartbeats & Highways

“I think they’re performing a mating ritual,” I stage-whispered back.

“What can we bring?” Roman asked suddenly, not taking his eyes off Cozy.

I opened my mouth to reply when Cozy said, “Beer. Bring beer.”

“Dessert?” Roman asked, his voice raspy.

Cozy licked her lips. “Chocolate . . . anything.”

Virgil looked at me and grinned. “My parents are going to be so happy.”

“We’re terrible friends,” Virgil said.

“The worst,” Cozy agreed.

“We literally just let a pregnant woman cook us dinner while we sat around and talked,” Roman added.

“She told me I was doing it wrong,” Virgil said. “I tried to help.”

I was supine on the couch, my lids drooping in exhaustion, but a smile spread across my face. “I derive a great deal of joy from cooking for people I care about.”

It turned out dinner was a smaller party than anticipated. Jazz and Homer were too busy seducing each other to want to spend time with anyone else and Brielle’s excuse had been cryptic and mysterious. My antenna was up that she’d met a man and didn’t want her brothers to know, and being a loyal friend, I didn’t tell them my thoughts.

Roman and Cozy hadn’t been able to take their eyes off each other all night. At some point, the staring at one anotherhad turned into talking, then into teasing, and finally into open flirting.

“You guys cleaned up the kitchen,” I said. “For that I’m grateful. Nothing worse than cooking and then also having to do the dishes.”

“When does Savage get back in town?” Virgil asked.

“A week to ten days,” I said. “I want to get my license before he gets back and settle into my new apartment.”

“New apartment?” Roman asked. “Where are you moving to?”

“Brooklyn offered us the apartment over the bakery,” I said with a smile. “She’s having it deep cleaned and then she said I could move in.”

“Shouldn’t take a lot of time,” Virgil said. “You don’t own very much.”

I glared at him.

“What?” he demanded. “You don’t. This place came furnished.”

“And Brooklyn’s place comes furnished too.” I shrugged. “It’ll definitely make moving easy.”

“Savage sent her flowers,” Cozy stated. “The marigolds.”

“No way,” Roman said.

“Way,” I said with a laugh. “Aren’t they gorgeous?”

“Gorgeous,” Roman repeated. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

“Right? Savage was so unlikely to take a wife,” Virgil quipped. “But I like you guys together.”

“I’m not his wife,” I stated. “But I am his Old Lady.”

“What?” Roman asked in shock. “When the hell did that happen?”

“Several days ago. A week, maybe. I don’t know. Time is a blur right now,” I said.

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