Page 127 of Where We Stay

Fuck.

G hums knowingly beside me. “Exactly.”

* * *

We sit together on my front porch while Aspen runs around the yard like she’s never been outside before.

It’s strangely refreshing, seeing this much life around the cottage.

The sharp ring of a phone cuts through the quiet, and my stomach drops before I realize the sound isn’t coming from mine.

Dean notices.

His hand closes gently over mine. “It’s mine.”

I nod, forcing my shoulders to relax.

Dean gives my hand a quick squeeze before stepping inside to answer the call.

A few minutes later, he returns and drops onto the porch swing beside me, pressing a kiss to my hair.

“That was Mom,” he explains. “Dinner at the big house Friday.”

I look over at him. “Okay?”

“You’re coming.”

I blink. “Was that an invitation?”

“More of a statement,” Dean replies.

“Dean.”

“Blair.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you asking me to meet your family?”

“You’ve already met half of them.”

“That is not the same thing, and you know it,” I argue, fighting a laugh.

Dean shrugs, entirely too casual. “They’ll like you.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

His expression softens.

“I want you there,” he says. “Will you come?”

Something warm unfurls in my chest.

“Yeah,” I answer. “I’ll come.”

Dean smiles and threads his fingers through mine.

Well.

I guess dinner with the Ashfords is happening.