Well, hells bells.

Elli sighed as she pulled into the parking spot beside his truck and climbed out. She walked up the stairs to his condo and knocked. Shea open the door with a grin; he was wearing a pair of jeans with a Rolling Stones tee and a black hat.

Yummy, as always.

“There’s my girl,” he said, pulling her against him to kiss her senseless.

“Hey, you,” she said against his mouth as he held her tightly against him.

“Come on in for a minute, I need you to do me a favor.”

“Sure,” she answered as she followed him in, “Hey, do I look okay? I brought a dress just in case.”

“Yeah, you look great. It’s casual, babe.”

“Good,” she said as she followed him into the kitchen. He went to the island and turned around with a piece of paper and a key.

“Grace is really busy this time of year with Halloween and crap. She usually waters my plants and makes sure the condo is good when I’m gone. I was wondering if you could do it for me?”

Elli nodded, taking the key and piece of paper with the code to the condo and door from him, “Sure.”

“Great. Thanks, babe. Next month will be crazy and with me not being here much, I need your help.”

“No problem.”

“Great, ready?”

“Yup,” Elli said with a grin as he took her hand. They left, getting into his truck and driving over to Grace’s house. They talked about the week ahead and what Elli had planned, which was a bunch of weddings.

“Well, if you get tired, babe, you can stay at the condo. I don’t mind.”

“Oh, I don’t know.”

“It’s fine. If you had planned on staying with Harper, why not just stay at my house? At least my bed will stay warm.”

“I do love your bed,” she said with a grin. He smiled back at her as he pulled into Grace’s driveway. They got out of the car and walked up to the house, hand in hand. Shea opened the door and went inside. Grace came out of the kitchen with Amelia on her hip and a grin on her face.

“Hey, guys!” She gushed before she kissed Shea’s cheek, and gave Elli a sideways hug.

“How are you, Elli?” she asked as Shea took Amelia, kissing her loudly on the cheek.

“I’m great, and you?”

“Wonderful. Come on, come meet my husband,” she said, walking towards the kitchen. Elli and Shea followed, just as Ryan came barreling down the hall, screaming for his Unky.

“Unky!!” he yelled, jumping up and down.

“Hey, bud,” Shea said, picking him up and holding him in his other arm while still holding Amelia.

“Unky, I played hockey with Daddy this afternoon. I won.”

“That’s my nephew,” Shea said as he ruffled Ryan’s hair, while the four-year-old protested. With that, Ryan was back down the hall, slamming his door when he reached his destination.

“Ryan James Justice! I told you about that slamming!” Grace yelled, causing Shea to cringe.

“Sorry, Mom!” Elli smiled as Grace shook her head.

“Jesus, Grace, you sound just like mom,” Shea said as he walked past her into the kitchen. Grace looked over at Elli, exasperated.

“Do you have brothers?”

“Yes, and a sister.”

“Jesus, do you ever want to kill them?”

“All the time,” Elli answered simply, making Grace laugh.

“I like you Elli, you’re a good girl.” Elli smiled as she followed Grace into the kitchen. Shea stood at the island beside James with Amelia still on his hip. Elli had seen him at Shea’s party, but never met him. He was a good looking guy with big brown eyes, brownish blondish hair, high cheek bones, and a pointed nose. While he was cute, Elli thought that someone as beautiful as Grace could have definitely found somebody more attractive, but who was she to judge? Shea Adler was her boyfriend; it was like beauty and the beast.

Elli was the beast.

“Hey Elli, this is my brother-in-law, James. James, this is my girlfriend, Elli Fisher.”

The room went quiet as Grace and James looked back at Shea, then at Elli.

“Hold on, what did you say?” James asked, as Grace asked, “Did you just say girlfriend?”

Elli blushed deep red, looking down at the floor until she heard Shea’s booming laugh.

“Yes, I said girlfriend, because she is.”

“When did this happen?” Grace asked, still looking confused.

“Thursday,” Shea answered, kissing Amelia’s cheek and putting her down. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Shea, I think the last girlfriend you had was Alyson Jacobs, in 12th grade. I’m sorry if I’m a little shocked,” Grace said, leaning against James. Shea smiled, and then looked back at Elli. She just shrugged her shoulders, not knowing what to say or do.

“Wow,” Grace said, shaking her head. Then she smiled, “Well, come on, let’s eat.”

After that, it was easy. Grace was amazing, but Elli had already known that. James was funny, but serious at the same time. He would get so mad when Shea and Grace teamed up against him, and they did it a lot. It would be about the kids or Ryan’s hockey or Amelia doing dance. Anything James said, Shea and Grace went against it. It was really funny, especially when James’ face would turn beet red. Elli was laughing so hard, she couldn’t breathe.

“Oh, you just wait, Elli. Grace is nice to you now, just like Shea was to me when we were just dating. But as soon as you guys get married, it all goes to hell and you’re an outsider to the Shea and Grace show.”