“I’d love you to.”

“Okay, I’ll go, then.”

“Cool, but since you won’t move in with me, you and Angie can come over for dinner and a movie tonight.”

She let out a long breath. “Benji, I haven’t even told her about us yet.”

“Perfect time. We can do it together.”

He was so ready, so confident. If he had his way, they would come and never leave. It was really sweet and she loved how much he wanted them there, but shouldn’t they, like, love each other before all that? It just seemed kind of crazy. No matter how great and amazing it sounded, she had to keep her head about this.

She had to be smart.

“Benji,” she whined and he shook his head.

“Plus, I want to hang out with her before I leave. Starting Monday, I’m gone for almost two weeks.”

She made a disgruntled face. He was leaving? Wait, she knew this. Jayden was leaving, too. “Boo.”

“Yeah. So, tell me, what’s your favorite food?”

She gave him a look. “I love all food.”

“No, you have a favorite. What is it?”

She let out a breath. He wasn’t going to take a no, plus, Angie would really like to see him before he left. But that meant Lucy really needed to tell Angie. She was leaving for Rick’s the following day, and Lucy was sure he was going to bitch about Benji in front of her. He was just a dick that way, but she wanted Angie to hear it from her. It just worried her. What if she didn’t take it well? Who was she kidding? Angie would probably pee her pants with excitement.

She loved Benji.

The problem was, if she told Angie, it was real. Her family knowing was one thing, but Angie knowing—that was real. She was doing this, she was trying, and there was no turning back. A part of her was still hesitant for good reason. Her track record in love was nonexistent, and she didn’t like heartache. Plus, it all seemed too damned good to be true. Great guy who loves kids, who enjoys a lot of the same things she does, and just clicks with her? Yeah, that didn’t happen to Lucy Sinclair. No, her life was hard, but with him…

It wasn’t.

Clearing her throat, she shrugged. “I actually love chicken potpies the way my mom makes them.”

“My specialty,” he said simply, and her face twisted in disbelief.

“What? You cook?”

“Duh, I’m an alcoholic who did nothing before you. Of course, I learned to cook.” She made a noise of appreciation and he grinned. “Still so against moving in?”

She laughed. “Hush. I gotta go,” she said, pulling into the parking lot. “I’ll call you later.”

“Okay, babe, have fun,” he said and she smiled before pushing end and getting her phone. She begged the butterflies to stop going crazy in her gut before she got out and went to work.

With Benji loud and clear in her mind.

Before she could reach the building, though, her phone chimed with a text.

It was the dreaded group text with her brothers.

Jace: Rumor is Lucy is getting laid, by a real boy. Like a boyfriend.

Jude: That’s what I heard.

Jayden: That’s what I know. I saw them after they made out like little high schoolers at our niece’s game.

Jude: Wow. I’m speechless.

Jace: Like, real life? She really kissed a guy? It wasn’t a girl?

Jayden: Nope, real dude. Superawesome dude too.

Lucy: Really, guys? Go find something else to do other than talk about my love life.

Jace: She doesn’t deny it!

Jude: Holy crap, our Lucy is growing up!

Lucy: I hate you all.

Jace: Man, he must be brave.

Jude: Right? I’m surprised you haven’t eaten him alive yet.

Jayden: I think she tries but he puts her in her place. He’s awesome, guys, really.

Jude: He better be.

Jace: Yeah, only the best for our sister.

Jayden: Agreed

Jude: Yup.

Lucy: Okay, maybe I love you guys.

They weren’t really that bad, she decided as her heart warmed. She did deserve the best, and while admitting that Benji may be the best scared her, she was leaning toward that. He was great and he was so patient, but Rick still weighed heavy on her heart. He hadn’t spoken to her since Saturday, even with her texting him to confirm a time for pickup. It wasn’t like him to ignore her. Even if it was just a sly remark, he always answered. But all she got was silence.

It made her crazy nervous.

But then, thinking about what her brothers said and the fact that Benji would have dinner for her when she got to his house, she couldn’t help but grin. Tucking her phone in her purse, she walked into the building. But once she was inside, the grin was gone and the stress was eating her alive. All the orders she had made for the job, with a company she had been using since she started her business, had resulted in their sending the wrong thing. And they couldn’t get anything out for a week because most of it was on back order now.

“I understand mistakes, but this is a colossal one. I placed this order two weeks ago. You said I was good, but you sent the wrong items.” Lucy said sternly, her body shaking with anger.

“We understand, but the person who took your order was new and ordered the wrong thing.”

“I get that, but you need to make this right. I have to have this job done by this weekend. I want my product by tomorrow. You have to fix this, or I will be finding a new distributor.”

“It won’t happen by tomorrow.”