Page 90 of Under the Mistletoe
The Wallis kids were hoping to see you. Any chance you could come join us for breakfast at my in-laws’? We’re all here.
All?
As if her friend had read her mind, another text popped up.
Hannah
Sorry. Should have said that better. All but Logan.
Devin
Is it ready now? I would need at least twenty minutes to get ready. #stillinbed
Hannah
#jealous. That is fine. It is more of a buffet approach to breakfast and people eat as they are ready. See you soon.
A strange mix of relief and sorrow swirled through Devin. Her gaze flicked back to her scrawled writing on the mirror, and she drew in a deep breath—and the truth. She wasn’t in this alone.
Devin tossed some clothes on, pulled her hair back in a long braid, and sent a message that she was on her way. She couldn’t dwell on Astryn’s scene any longer.
Twenty minutes later as she poured a helping of syrup on her pancakes, she still had no idea of how to fix it. Alani and Tyce had just finished up when she arrived, but Easton was still pushing his breakfast around his plate.
Finally, he looked up. “I’m sorry I let the sheep out and ruined your event.”
“I forgive you. I’m sorry you’re hurting. Do you miss the Barlows?”
His brow wrinkled. “No. I think they wanted to like us, they just never did. It was like they were pretending. I’m glad we’re here, I just…”
“What?”
“Why did Logan leave without saying goodbye? I thoughthewasn’t pretending.”
“He wasn’t.” Her frustration for Logan rose again. “He cares about you a lot. I’m sure he’ll come back and visit sometime.”
Easton shrugged and carried his plate to the sink. He had just left the room when Liam broke the silence. “We agree that my brother is being an idiot.”
“Liam.” His mom bopped him on the head.
“What?” He rubbed the top of his brown mop. “We talked about it.”
She took in each face. Of course they had already read today’s scene.
“I just hate that he’s throwing everything away.” Devin’s voice quivered. “I’m not talking about us. He’s throwing away his career. You can’t let him do that.”
“We tried to tell him that yesterday.” Luke snagged another pancake.
“You saw him?” She sat up a little taller.
His mom released a deep sigh and passed the blueberries. “We all drove up yesterday to his cabin, but he can be very?—”
“Stubborn.” Liam took a bite of his bacon. “Pigheaded. A dumb?—”
“Determined.” His mom sent him another look. “But he wrote the final chapter and won’t be talked out of it.”
“You’ve read it?” Her fork dropped to her plate as the reality hummed through her skin. He wasn’t still deciding his next step, he’d already decided. Her gaze traveled around the table, but all eyes shifted down. They had all read it. She wiped her mouth on a napkin. “Let me read it.”
“We can’t.” Liam winced. “He made us all promise when we saw him yesterday not to interfere.”
