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"That is true," I said, and then Chase pinched my ass.
"Hey!" I pushed back lightly, straight into his crotch.
He growled. "You can't be on anyone's side but mine."
I grinned. "Duly noted."
Chapter Twenty-Three
Hannah
The first floor smelled delicious, like vanilla and chocolate. We went directly to the second floor. It was much cleaner than before, and there were no boxes. There were three different rooms, and we went into the one with the open door. There was a rustic kitchen along one wall with an island in front of it, a tray with brownies on top.
“They’re delicious,” Bruce said, already eating one as we all reached for a plate and a brownie.
"Grandma," Jeremy's voice came from downstairs.
"We're upstairs,” she called loudly.
“I smell sweets," Jeremy exclaimed. He darted right toward the tray without saying anything to anyone.
Susan put a brownie on a plate, and he immediately bit into it.
“Morning, family,” Duncan said, stepping into the room.
"Congratulations, you’ve arrived just in time to get a brownie and do no work," Knox said.
Duncan laughed. “I know. Great timing.”
As he reached for a brownie, I turned to Jeremy.
"Hey, buddy. I've got a surprise for you." I dragged the bag across the kitchen island and handed it to him.
His eyes went wide. He even ignored the second brownie Susan put on his plate.
"This is for me?"
"Yes.”
He immediately looked in the bag. "This isgreat! Oh my God, I can’t wait to get home and play the game.”
"What do we say?" Duncan asked.
"Thank you so much."
He gave me a wholehearted hug that I returned, kissing the top of his head. I loved his little arms around me so much. I instinctively glanced at Chase. His eyes were soft, and so were Susan's.
“It seemed fitting to bake brownies here,” Susan said. Turning to me, she added, "It was a tradition to stay here on Friday evening after closing the store. And I’d treat everyone to brownies after they finished their homework."
"Now she's rewarding us for breaking our backs. Thatisfitting," Knox said.
“I love traditions like this,” I said.
“What’s your favorite tradition with your family?” Susan asked.
“Let me think.... Oh, I know. Once a year, we gathered in Ms. Adams's greenhouse next door to Gran's inn. She has the most amazing plants, and she repotted those that needed it. It was a big event. My mom, sister, grandmother, and I never missed it. Mom and Blair even visited for the occasion after they moved away.”
A pang of sadness washed over me. This year would be the first time we’d do it without Gran. We’d skipped it last year.