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“You know Grandma was serious,” Stone tells me. “She has your books. She has for a while. My mom told me she took one from the library bookshelf there without realizing it was yours, since she didn’t know about you. She said it was amazing, but itwason Grandma’s shelf.”

That floors me a bit. “How does she always know everything? And just when you think she’ll go one way, she completely flips all that on its head and shocks the shit out of you.”

“She’s Octavia Abbott-Fritz,” Katy, Owen, Wren, Kenna, Sorel, and Stone all say at once.

“I suppose that sort of does explain it,” Tinsley agrees. “Your grandma is one of my favorite people, and she does seem to know everything that’s happening even when we don’t. And never, not once, has she judged me or anyone.”

I let that sit for a minute. Tinsley is right. My family is like that. The people in this room are like that. And I didn’t trust them. I didn’t put faith in my family, my grandmother especially, and yet she stood up for me anyway. This weekend is Sorel’s baby shower at my grandparents’ compound, so I’ll get to talk to my grandmother then. I owe her a hug and an apology.

“I think this calls for champagne.” Tinsley jumps up.

“And food!” Katy exclaims. “I’m freaking starving and I need to take my shot, so can we get our ordering on?”

Katy is a type-1 diabetic and takes her food very seriously.

“Yes.” Wren gets to her feet too. “I’m on ordering, you get the champagne.”

“What about the kids?” Owen asks, glancing toward the playroom Mason put together for when his and Sorel’s son is born. She’s due in a few weeks.

“I’m sure they’ll eat too,” Estlin deadpans, leaning against Owen, who kisses her forehead. “I mean, have you met Rory? That girl does not miss a meal.”

“Same with Willow,” Bennett chimes in.

“Yeah, Fen is a big eater as well.”

“Aw, how cute are you that you’re talking about your future stepson like that.”

My cheeks turn into fireballs at Wren’s half-tease.

“Have you seen that kid?” Tinsley says. “He’s the cutest.”

“He totally is.” Sorel holds up her hand in acknowledgment. “I’m on it. Wren and I will order for everyone. No drinks for me, obviously.” She points to her large belly. “But I will eat all the food. Especially pizza. With pepperoni. Oh, and tacos and nachos. We need those too.”

Mason rubs Sorel’s belly and kisses it, reluctantly letting her climb off his lap so she can go check on the kids, though we can hear them and see them on the video app Mason has set up. Rory is all over Fen and Willow, but that room is completely safe for them.

Tinsley runs out toward her apartment, and we catch voices echoing from the entrance. Tinsley’s excited voice and Loomis’s accented tones. My heart performs a series of complicated gymnastics in my chest, and I stand without realizing it, smoothing down my dress. Then he’s there, framed in thedoorway. His black shirt is rolled up to the elbows showing off his colorful ink with his hair slightly mussed as though he’s been running his hands through it. His eyes seek mine as if drawn by a magnet, and the corner of his mouth lifts in that half-smile that still, after weeks together, makes my knees buckle like little bitches.

“Sorry I’m late,” he says to the room, but his gaze doesn’t leave mine. “Had to make a bit of a public announcement.”

“Subtle, Powell,” Stone teases. “Very subtle, though I think all the women approved of your tactic.”

“That’s precisely what I was going for.” Loomis gives him a bow and then crosses the room toward me. Everyone seems to fade into the background as his hands find my waist. Without any preamble, his head dips, and his lips fuse with mine. His kiss is bold and demanding as he slips his tongue inside my mouth as if he has zero fucks to give for our audience.

I kiss him back with equal ardor until the hoots and hollers andget a roomovertake us. We part with a laugh and a smile.

“Missed you,” he murmurs against my lips. The smell of his cologne, sandalwood and something citrusy envelopes me, and I sigh. “Did you watch?”

“Watch what?”

He grunts, but there is no stopping his smile.

“As if any of us could tear ourselves away,” Sorel interjects. “Kenna was practically vibrating the entire time.”

“Hey! Like you weren’t.”

“I totally was.”

Loomis just laughs, one hand rising to cup my cheek. His thumb traces my lower lip and I can’t wait till later and we’re alone.