Page 61 of Chasin' Cole

“I’m not much of a cook,” I remind her.

“Hush,” she chastises me. “You make the world’s best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches according to your niece.”

“She does!” Annabeth agrees.

Brock hands Annabeth her plate and then pulls a chair out for this wife. Lacey stands on her tippy toes to give him a quick peck on the lips before she sits down in the chair beside me.

"Hey Jordan," Lacey beams at the blond-haired boy sittin' across from us. "You take Rose up on her offer to teach you how to ride yet?"

Brock chuckles as he gets comfy beside his wife, drapin' his arm over the back of her chair.

"I'm still thinking about it," Jordan tells her. “I’ve been busy with work and Rose has been busy, too.”’

"She's a mean teacher," Brock warns.

“The meanest,” Annabeth crosses her arms over her chest. “She never lets anyone have any fun.”

I shoot him a death glare before lookin' back at Jordan. "Not mean. I just like to make sure everyone learns how to rideproperly." My gaze flits to Annabeth. “And safely.”

"She's still mean," Annabeth shrugs. “But she did teach me how to ride Sunflower. That's my horse. She’s kind of fickle. Just like Rose.”

"Good to know," Jordan nods his shaggy head.

“I’m not fickle,” I mumble under my breath.

"So," Lacey slips her blond hair over her shoulder, "what are everyone's plans for New Years?"

"I'll be paintin' cabinets," I answer before takin' a bite of Blanche's mac n' cheese. “And maybe installin’ new doors on the barn.”

"I'm heading home for a few days," Jordan supplies. "My family’s tradition is to watch the ball drop at Times Square."

"Oh!" Lacey claps her hands together. "That sounds so fun! We rented a cabin in Branson for the night. We thought it might be nice to get away. We love the ranch, but sometimes we like to take a break from all the work."

"Thanks for invitin' me," I stare at her pointedly.

"Well, Rose," Lacey clears her throat, "the whole reason I was asking what everyone's plans are is because I was going to invite you."

Oh.

Sorry, Lace.

After a beat, she adds, "And you, too, Jordan."

"We should tell her—" Brock starts, but Lacey cuts him off.

"The offer is open," Lacey interjects. "You're more than welcome to join us if you'd like. But if both of you are too busy, we understand."

"What are you two hidin'?" I exhale heavily. “You only act this weird when you’re hidin’ somethin’.”

"We're not hiding anything," Lacey scratches her nose.

"You aren't all that great at lyin'," I snort.

"It's true," Jordan agrees. "Lacey, you're a terrible liar. Thank you for the invite, though. But my mom would never forgive me if I didn't show for New Year’s."

"What about you, Rose?" Lacey gives me a scary-lookin' grin.

"Stop grinnin' like that and I'll go." I let out a tired breath.

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