Page 61 of Mr. Almost

I lead Livvy over to her chair and pull it out.

“Thank you,” she murmurs as she sits.

“You’re welcome,” I tell her as I take my seat next to her at the head of the table.

“Everyone, this is my best friend, Chloe,” Livvy tells the guys.

“Max.” he says, dipping his head toward her.

Eli lifts his chin. “Eli.”

Brantley still looks a bit salty, but he turns on his most-charming smile like he does with all women. Guess he’s decided she’s not the enemy anymore.

Standing, he leans over to shake her hand, only he pulls it to his lips, kissing the back of it. “I’m Brantley.”

Chloe’s nose wrinkles as she pulls her hand free of his. “Ew, are you a serial killer?”

Everyone laughs as Brantley balks.

“A serial killer? You think I look like a serial killer?” he demands.

“The most notorious serial killers were good-looking, well-dressed, and educated men. You fit the bill,” Chloe tells him.

“No, I’m not a serial killer,” he says, eyes wide as he shakes his head.

Chloe shrugs. “Hey, I had to check. A girl can never be too careful.”

Max frowns as he looks at Chloe. “Is this really a conversation we should be having with a small child in the room?”

“Oh, you poor, sweet soul. Trust me, Little’s has heard far worse,” Chloe says empathetically.

Olivia turns toward me and rests her hand on my arm. “She has manners and is house-trained. I swear.”

I laugh as I take in the chaos of the room. This isn’t how I imagined our first family dinner going, but I wouldn’t change it. In fact, I can’t wait to do it all over again, and we’ve barely gotten started.

Chapter

Twelve

OLIVIA

“No,really he was a rock star, and I had no idea,” Tristen says with wide eyes.

I laugh. “Are you sure he wasn’t just pulling your leg?”

“I’m positive! I pulled up the band’s Wikipedia page and everything. He’s there.”

“He could be a look-alike.”

Tristen groans. “I’m serious, Liv. He’s part of the band, and he was so freaking sweet.”

“I hope you have a good time with him then.”

She smiles. “Me too. I have concerns, but I’m more hopeful than anything else.”

“Hope is a good thing,” I admit, thinking about how I have been hopeful as well.

Every day with Mason, I hope that it’s real. That it’s not as fragile as I feel like it is most days.

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