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Rose let out a strangled laugh, covering her mouth. I just shook my head, fighting a grin.

“We literally just became boyfriend and girlfriend,” I told Wren, crouching slightly so we were eye level. “We haven’t even been together for a full hour.”

“Yeah, but dad says when you know, you know,” Wren argued, planting her hands on her hips. “And I know you love Rose because you look at her like Granger looks at bacon.”

Rose made another weird sound, somewhere between a laugh and a groan.

I dragged a hand down my face. “Okay, first of all, Granger is a dog, Wrenny.”

“Exactly.” She huffed. “And dogs don’t lie.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Kid had a point.

Rose finally composed herself enough to crouch down beside me, giving Wren a serious look. “Listen, kiddo, I promise, if there’s ever a wedding, you will be the first to know.”

Wren narrowed her eyes. “Pinkie promise?”

Rose sighed, holding up her pinkie. Wren latched on immediately, shaking their fingers dramatically before turning back to me. “And you?”

I held up my pinkie with a smirk. “You really think I’d say no to you?”

She grinned, shaking my pinkie with all the strength her little eight-year-old arm could muster. “Nope.”

With that, she spun on her heel and marched out of the kitchen, mumbling to herself. “Gotta start working on my petal-throwing form…”

As soon as she was out of earshot, Rose groaned and buried her face in my chest. “We are never going to live that down.”

I wrapped my arms around her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Nope.”

She tilted her head up, lips twitching. “And you do kind of look at me like Granger looks at bacon.”

I grinned. “Damn right I do.”

By the time dinner was ready, the whole house smelled like roasted garlic and herbs, and my stomach was growling loud enough for Charlie to give me side-eye.

“Did you even eat today?” he asked, setting a basket of warm rolls on the table.

I shrugged. “Been a busy day.”

Blythe snorted as she settled into her seat. “Yeah, locking you two in a room was exhausting for all of us.”

Rose, who had been in the middle of scooping mashed potatoes onto her plate, shot her a glare. “You act like you were suffering.”

“I was suffering,” Blythe shot back, dead serious. “Do you know how stressful it is watching two stubborn people dance around their feelings? I deserve financial compensation.”

Charlie reached over and rubbed her back sympathetically. “You did good, babe.”

Rose rolled her eyes and focused on her plate, but I caught the faintest hint of pink dusting her cheeks.

Wren, chewing happily on a dinner roll, kicked her feet under the table. “When do I get to start dress shopping for my flower girl dress?”

Rose groaned, dropping her fork. “I promise you’ll be the first to know if there’s ever a wedding.”

Wren beamed. “Yeah, I know. I just wanna be prepared.”

I bit back a laugh as Rose glared at me like this was somehow my fault.

“Can you pass the butter, boyfriend?” she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.