6117f253c506f by KC Wells

Author:KC Wells
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-08-13T09:35:31.368019+00:00

Part 4

Joel kissed Carrie on the cheek, then shook hands with Eric. “Good to see you again.” Laura gave him one of her fly-by hugs before diving to the floor to pet Bramble. Joel rolled his eyes. “She doesn’t come here to see me.”

“I can hear you, y’know,” Laura retorted. Then she went right back to rubbing Bramble’s tummy while he lay on his back, all four paws in the air.

“Thanks for the invitation.” Eric gazed at the interior. “This is a really cute house.”

“We like it.”

Finn laughed. “And we’ll like it right up to the point where I finish building our dream house.”

Eric’s eyes widened. “Ooh. Are there plans? Can I see them?”

“Sure.” Finn glanced at Joel. “If I can tear them away from Joel. You’ll have to excuse the watermarks. He keeps drooling over them.”

“I do not,” Joel declared indignantly.

“Nate won’t be long,” Carrie told them. “And he’s bringing a friend from college. Actually, I think it’s one of his roommates.”

Joel flashed Finn a look, then pointed to the back door. “Megan and Lynne are out there, examining the new deck and complaining that this is the first time they’ve seen it.” He met Eric’s gaze. “Have you met my sister?”

Eric’s eyes twinkled. “No, but I’ve definitely heard a lot about her.”

“It’s all true, every word,” Finn whispered.

“Why are you whispering?” Joel demanded.

Finn arched his eyebrows. “Because I like my balls where they are, thank you very much.”

Joel laughed. He noticed the large white box Carrie had placed on the table. “Oh. Tell me you baked him a cake.”

“Of course, and before you ask, it’s chocolate, because duh, this is Nate.”

Finn pointed to the countertop. “Go help yourselves to something to drink. We’ve got everything. And I do mean everything. I’m sure Joel was expecting at least fifty people to show up today.”

“Can I take Bramble out back?” Laura asked.

“Why don’t you all go out there, and we’ll bring Nate and his guest when they arrive,” Joel suggested.

That was all it took to have Laura running toward the back door, Bramble at her heels, and Carrie and Eric following.

When they were outside, Finn arched his eyebrows. “So how do we play this when he gets here?”

“We act dumb. Carter doesn’t need to know Nate has been talking about him. And we don’t assume anything, you got that?” Joel narrowed his gaze.

“I got it.” Finn cocked his head toward the door. “I hear a car. I think the birthday boy is here.”

Without a word, Joel headed out onto the front porch. Nate was getting out of the car, and with him was a tall, slim guy with short blond hair.

He brought Carter. Joel hoped this meant what he thought it did.

“Hey. Your mom and the rest of the gang just got here.” He waited for introductions.

“Dad, this is Carter. He’s a friend.”

Joel held out his hand. “Then he’s welcome here.” They shook. “I’m Joel, okay?”

“Good to meet you.” Carter appeared relaxed, whereas Nate was a little… bouncy.

“Come on in. I’ll introduce you to Finn.

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