Page 105 of Keeping it Real

The sound of relief in his voice made her chest feel slightly lighter.Their relationship had been forever altered when his parents died.She was no longer the zany aunt who spoiled him rotten when she visited.Now she was his primary caregiver who doled out discipline.It seemed he was coming around to the new order of things.

Sheridan gave him a big squeeze.There would likely be more bumps in the road—especially where Alek was concerned.They’d get through them together, though.She’d gotten the Cobert men through rough patches like this before.

“I’m fine,” she reassured him.“Better now that I’ve had a hug from you.”

Finn’s teeth chattered.“It-it’s colder out h-here than in the w-water.”

“You boys have another half hour to play,” Claire said.“But when it’s time to go up and shower, I don’t want to hear any arguing.”

“Yes, ma’am,” both boys shouted right before Finn splashed them with a cannonball.

Grace whimpered.

“Why don’t you take her up?I’ll keep an eye on the Junior Mayhem,” Sheridan offered.

Claire glanced back warily at the other WAGs, several of whom were gathering up their stuff and heading inside.“Are you sure?”

“Of course.You’ve had them all morning.I can handle the boys.And everyone else.Go.”

The other woman didn’t need to be asked twice.She slipped her feet into her flip-flops and gathered up her pool bag.“Their towels are here.Oh, and Finn’s phone is underneath them.They’ve already FaceTimed Hattie.”She lowered her voice.“Between you and me, I think the staff is going to be sad to lose their fifteen minutes of fame when that dog goes home.”

“Sloane is still posting Finn’s videos?”Sheridan had really hoped that nonsense would die down.

Claire scooped up Grace.“The woman hasn’t met an algorithm she can’t master.And right now, Finn’s dog is her gravy train.I overheard Lori talking to the publicity staff earlier.They would love to replicate even a smidge of Sloane’s success with the Mayhem’s account.”

A groggy Grace wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck.

“You’re sure you’re good keeping an eye on them?”Claire asked again.

Sheridan reached for Finn’s phone.“No worries.I’m going to catch up on the videos Sloane has been posting about our Hattie.”

Dog videos are the perfect prescription for battling despair, aren’t they?

The other WAGs were all hurrying upstairs, too, leaving Sheridan and the boys with the pool to themselves.She settled in the chaise, letting the sun’s rays warm her skin while she scrolled through Finn’s phone.As she swiped over the icons, her finger was drawn to the long list of photo albums.The one labeled “Monk” had been deleted, thank goodness.Curiosity got the better of her, and she clicked on the album bearing her name.

She was surprised that among the photos there were also several videos.

“Huh.”

She tapped on one.It was dated six months ago.Her breath caught when Jamie’s smiling face popped up on the screen.

“Hey, Sheri,” he said as if he was standing right in front of her.

Joy exploded in her lungs.

“You’re always razzing me that I don’t communicate with you enough.Or that my penmanship sucks.So I’ve come up with the best solution.”

He spread his arms wide, and she recognized his small office at the bar.

“Ta-da!It’s an hour after closing.The one time of day when I have a few minutes to myself.It takes me a while to come down from being on all night, which is why I’m still here working.Payroll is a bitch with half the servers trading off shifts.”He groaned.“I don’t know how Dad made this look so easy.”

His big smile was back.Sheridan grinned along with him.

“Who knew our dad was a magician, right?”He swiped at his face.“I miss the big guy.Shit.Now I’m getting maudlin.This is a stupid idea.”

“No!”she cried when the screen went black.

Tears spilled from her eyes as she frantically pressed her lips to the phone.

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