Page 73 of Butter My Biscuit

The room grows quiet, and when I look around, everyone’s eyes are on me.

“What are you all lookin’ at?”

Then, I glance at Colt, who shakes his head. If he didn’t tell then, I’m fine.

“She’s fantastic,” I say, playing it cool. “I asked her to join us today, but she had plans to go to her dad’s.”

London snickers. “I saw her leaving your place this mornin’ when I was headed here.”

“Doesn’t mean anything. Can we at least go through one family dinner without someone bringing her up? Like, just one. That would be great. Nothing has changed, okay? You’ll be the first ones to know if it does.”

“Except the fact that you two kissed in Houston.”

I groan and roll my eyes. “It was a joke, and she puked right afterward. Did she tell you that?”

Kinsley’s brows furrow. “No. Kinda left that part out.”

“Proof that none of you knows what you’re talking about. Now, please, can we stop?”

“Yeah, y’all drop it. We don’t gossip in this household,” Mom interrupts, though she’s not completely innocent. She and Kathy, Grace’s mother, have been pairing us together for years, not that I minded.

Sterling bursts out into laughter. “Yeah, right.”

Dad clears his throat, and we’re still talking over each other. So, he whistles, and we shut up. “All right, kids. It’s time to eat and stuff your pie holes!”

Chairs scoot under the table, and the ten of us line up like we’re walking through a buffet line. Colt stands behind me, and I turn to him.

“Thank you,” I mutter.

“You owe me one,” he says.

“Of course I do.”

“Y’all don’t forget about the plans at the bed-and-breakfast on New Year’s Eve,” Summer announces to the room when she sets a sweet bun on her plate.

“It’s going to be the party of the century,” Kinsley says.

I glance over at Hayden, who stays completely neutral in his expression, even though I know his secret.

My parents must know, too, because Hayden would never ask Kinsley without my father’s approval. I see how easily they keep secrets. They’re all too sly.

* * *

“Almost ready?” I ask Grace, leaning on the doorway of her room.

She spritzes herself with vanilla body spray, pins her bangs out of her face, then turns to me. Grace is wearing an emerald-green V-neck top that shows a sliver of side boob. It’s tight around her waist, but the sparkly green skirt flares at her hips. The dark eye shadow makes her brown eyes pop, and I want nothing more than to slide my mouth across her red lips. But I decided, tonight, I won’t make the first move. She’ll have to initiate it because she’s the one concerned about things changing.

And if she doesn’t? Well, it was good while it lasted. But I have no doubts when it comes to us.

“How do I look?” She twirls around, placing a hand in her pocket.

“Like you’re wearing my favorite color.”

She doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t have to. I know it’s just for me. It always is when she’s dressed in green.

I take a few steps forward, wrapping my arm around her waist. “You look gorgeous.”

“I noticed you were wearing my favorite suit,” she whispers, placing her palms on my chest. Her gaze slides up to mine. “The navy makes your eyes look darker.”

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