Page 52 of Don't Fall For Your Brother's Best Friend

My mother beams. “Griffin is such a good man.”

I try not to look too affected by her words. Like we haven’t seen each other naked. “Sure,” I say, absentmindedly. “He’s nice.”

My mother’s obviously not buying it, but she doesn’t press the matter for which I’m thankful for. “Hartford and Paxton should be here soon.” My mother appears almost giddy at the idea of them showing up.

I park a hand on my hip. “What’s really going on?”

My mother can’t contain her excitement. “I’m not telling you much, all I know is Hartford and Paxton have an announcement.”

My heart picks up in my chest. “You think Paxton proposed?”

My mother swats me with a towel. “I don’t know. Hopefully it’s that and not him telling us he knocked her up.”

I laugh lightly. “It’s not like Hartford is some one-night stand. He loves her. They obviously belong together.” I’m so happy for my brother.

“I know.” My mother almost looks like she could cry at any moment. “Honestly, I’d be over the moon if Hartford’s got a bun in the oven.”

We can’t finish our conversation because my brothers, Callum and Shepherd, enter the kitchen. They both kiss our mother on the cheek, glance around the kitchen looking for scraps, and say their hellos.

“How’s the party planning going for the mayor’s thing?” Callum asks me, always all business.

“No, absolutely not,” our mother scolds. “No business talk today.”

Callum rolls his eyes, but continues looking at me, waiting for my response.

“I’m all over it. The party will be amazing. Mayor Reeves is going to get a small article in the local paper about the brewery this week, before the event. I already sent him all the promotional material.”

Shepherd wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Have I ever told you that you’re my favorite sister?”

“I’m your only sister.”

He steps away from me, grabbing a slice of an apple Mom’s cutting to prepare the apple pie and pops it into his mouth. “Still my favorite.”

I laugh as Hartford and Paxton waltz into the kitchen. After everyone’s said their hellos, Hartford steps up closer to me. “I heard a secret about you,” she sing-songs, and my heart nearly plummets into my stomach.

“Secret?” I ask as Griffin decides at this very moment to walk into the kitchen. “What secret?”

Griffin’s eyes meet mine, and my heart thumps wildly in my chest. “Hey,” he whispers to me first before he gets torn away by Callum and Shep.

I can’t even say hey back, because I return my attention back to Hartford. “What secret?”

“I heard somebody’s making a name for herself as the head party planner at Atta Boy.”

A sense of relief washes over me. Phew. I can breathe.

“Oh, right,” I say, trying my best to smile. “Yes.”

“Is the party in here?” Lake says, holding Willow’s hand.

After everyone has said hello, and a few of the people, Griffin included, have left the kitchen, I’m left standing with my mother, Willow, and Hartford.

“Wonder when Millie’s coming?” Hartford says, checking the time on her phone. “I can’t believe her and Brock just started dating.”

“I don’t think they’re technically dating. I think Brock is using the words, ‘seeing each other’,” I say, using air-quotes.

Tripp walks into the kitchen, and spots that it’s just us girls in here and immediately walks right back out.

“What was all that about?” Hartford asks.