Page 121 of Jay Bird

Mia raised an eyebrow. “Does Jay Bird know you’re neglecting his house?”

“Excuse me. His house has never looked better.”

Mia laughed. “Ah, yes. The landscaping.”

Anna Grace laughed. “I heard about the garden-center incident.”

Willow turned toward Mia. “Does everyone know?”

Mia shrugged. “News travels. That’s our little family for ya.”

Willow shook her head, but she couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. The word family didn’t feel strange anymore.

A month and a half ago, she would have laughed if anyone suggested she would ever feel comfortable surrounded by that many people. Yet somewhere along the way, Mia and Riley had pulled her back into their lives, and the teams had accepted that she and Lily belonged with them, and Jay Bird.

Her smile softened as she thought about Jay Bird. He had become something Willow still wasn’t sure she had the right word for, but home came close.

Mia leaned her hip against the counter. “Look at that face.”

Willow stared at her. “What face?”

“That one.”

“I don’t have a face.”

Anna Grace looked between them. “She definitely has a face.”

“Thank you,” Mia said.

Willow sighed dramatically. “You two are exhausting.”

Mia smiled. “You’re happy.”

The teasing tone disappeared just enough that Willow knew she wasn’t joking anymore.

Willow looked down at the rag in her hands. “I am happy,” she said, the answer coming easily.

Mia’s expression softened. “And I’m happy for you and Lily. Oh, and Jay Bird, too.”

Willow felt a warmth settle in her chest. “Things are good.”

“Just good?” Mia pressed.

Anna Grace suddenly became very interested in organizing a drawer that had already been organized.

“Okay. Really good,” Willow said, a smile spreading across her face.

Mia grinned, and Willow narrowed her eyes.

“Don’t.”

“I haven’t said anything.”

“You don’t have to. Your face is worse than mine.”

Anna Grace pointed at Mia. “Finally. Someone said it.”

Mia ignored her. “So...”