Page 60 of Untroubled Heart

MUM:

Thank you, sweetheart. I will. Please give Westley and Maevyn my best. And give my granddaughter a kiss for me.

“Knock-knock!” Westley calls as he opens the door to my house. I send a heart emoji to Mum, then set my phone down on the kitchen bench.

Technically, this is Westley’s house, but he doesn’t sleep here. For all intents and purposes, he lives next door with Maevyn and Aurora.

“I came with the goods,” Maevyn says as she walks past West with a shopping bag in hand, the sound of bottles clinking together. “And I don’t mean my boyfriend.”

“Eww, you’re not allowed to join girls’ night if you’re just going to thirst over my brother the whole time.”

“I shall keep my thirsting to a minimum.” Maevyn grins as she kisses my cheek.

Westley’s already pulled Navie from her playmat. She smiles as she tugs at his beard, and he pretends to eat her hands.

“Is her bag ready?” West asks, joining Maevyn and me in the kitchen.

“By the front door.” I nod. “She just had a feed. There’s two bottles in the cold pocket for the night, and I just pumped another for the morning, but I’ll come grab her later when I’m sure I’ll be trading you for someone who causes much more trouble.” I grin at Maevyn, who’s standing in the kitchen, midway through pulling bottles from her bag, but stopped to look at my brother with hearts in her eyes. Actually, it’s hearts in one eye and something I will not give a name to in the other.

“Okay, get out.” I push on his shoulder, turning him around and ushering him to the door. “I need Maevyn coherent as I unleash my problems, not drunk on lust for you.”

“Problems? What problems?” Ah, shit.

“No, not problems.” I shake my head. “I just mean, like, gossip and girl talk. This is a sacred bonding experience, West. Now off you go.”

“Okay, fine. I’m leaving.” He huffs as he swings Navie’s nappy bag onto his shoulder. “Trickster, get your arse over here and kiss me first.”

“Don’t get bossy with me, Thief. You know I love it.”

I mentally gag as I take Navie from West, saying my own goodbye to my daughter while ignoring the mini makeout session happening behind me.

“Hello!” Liv walks through the front door, a cooler bag on her shoulder, which I’m hoping means she brought something delicious from the bakery with her.

“Thank God!” I pull her the rest of the way inside as West and Maevyn break apart.

“Hey, Liv.” West smiles as he takes Navie back from me, settling her on his hip.

Liv unzips her bag and pulls out a small, blue pastry box. “Hey, West. I had some of your favourites left over.”

West gasps playfully as he looks through the clear window on top, no doubt spying some of Liv’s beignets.

“Thank you.” He kisses Liv’s cheek, then mine. “Have fun.”

When he closes the door behind him, I let out a breath that I think I’ve been holding since the second I kissed Mason this morning.

“Right. No time for chit chat,” I say, looking between Maeyvn and Liv like I mean business. “I need alcohol and advice in that order.”

I march into the kitchen, pulling the rest of the drinks from Maevyn’s bag. There’s a bottle of ginger beer and apple juice for mixers, a bag of limes, plus some vodka, prosecco, and strawberry gin.

“Place your orders, ladies. Moscow mule or a gin fizz?” Maevyn takes over.

“Ohhh, gin fizz for me, please.” Liv hops onto a barstool as she pulls containers from her own bag and starts arranging various treats on a wooden tray she’s also brought along.

“Give me the vodka,” I say.

“Okay, spill,” Maevyn says as she starts slicing limes. “What’s this trouble you speak of? I don’t believe the little fib you told your brother.”

“Trouble?” Liv asks. “Is it Derek?”