The moment the words slipped from my lips, I immediately regretted them and tried to apologize, but no sound came out.

“Let’s… um… get to work. Then we can grab your car and check out the rental.”

I spent an hour analyzing all the numbers for Sunny Brook Farms. There was a large lump sum withdrawn recently, which gave me pause, but I knew none of that was my business. Clearly, they were in the black and doing well. I did not need to question what they spent their money on.

I glanced over at Aspen a few times, enraptured by the way she pursed her lips and twisted her hair as she compared multiple data points on the screen. It looked like a mashup for line charts, but she seemed to know what she was looking for.

“Any luck?” she asked, spinning around in her chair, catching me red-handed while staring at her profile.

“Yeah. I’ve typed up a few areas where you could tighten dollars by saving on delivery fees, all by changing the purchase date of some items. It may take a few of weeks, but in the long run, you’d have a couple thousand extra.

“Now, I also researched a few new manufacturers for your ancillary items, and some look like they offer steeper discounts for bulk ordering than the ones you’ve used in the past.”

“Can I see?” Aspen pulled her chair closer to mine and leaned over my arm, getting a better look at the document and the information I pulled.

“It’s all there for you to review with your father, but I think with these changes, you could make it work.”

She twisted her head to glance over her shoulder, bringing our mouths mere inches apart.

“Thank you,” she murmured, her eyes darting down to my lips, then back up again, before she righted herself.

“You’re welcome,” I squeaked like I was going through puberty. Clearing my throat, I asked, “How was it for you… with the data, I mean?”

“It was… satisfactory. I think what I’m looking for is there.”

For a moment, I didn’t think she was referring to the data.

A startled gasp sounded from across the room, and both Aspen and I jumped in our chairs. Her sister, Alex, stood at the threshold, looking like she’d seen a ghost.

With her eyes narrowed and pinned on me, she sneered as she asked me, “What are you doing here?”

Before I had the chance to answer, Aspen stood from her seat and shut down her computer. “Shut it, Alex. Owen was helping me with something.”

“Right. Just like he helped himself to the bottle of ketchup in middle school and convinced everyone you had your period and bled through your clothes?”

Oh shit. I’d forgotten about that stunt in the sixth grade. It had been a prank I saw in a movie at the time and thought it was harmless fun. I was too naïve at that age to know what a period even was.

Aspen got her payback though. During the championship baseball game for the all-star team, she lined the locker-room bench with brown furniture polish, which left me with a huge brown stain on my white baseball pants. Right on my ass. Actually, that was a genius move on her part.

“Alex, we were both eleven years old. Didn’t we all do stupid things at that age?”

“Sure, but that was malicious.”

I watched as Aspen shrugged and turned her back to her sister.

“You need to leave, Owen Ramsey,” Alex protested, and I stood from the office chair and shut down the laptop I’d been using.

“No, he doesn’t. He’s with me, Alex, and I don’t need to ask your permission. You’ve never given two shits about what happened to me before. I don’t understand why you care now. I’m telling you it’s water under the bridge, so let it go.”

Her sister’s cheeks reddened at Aspen’s defense.

“Look, I’m just trying to—”

“If I wanted your advice, I’d ask for it. Besides, Owen and I are…” She paused and looked over at me with wide eyes.

“Dating,” I interjected.

“Dating?” Alex repeated in shock.

Aspen turned back to face her sister, hip cocked and fist resting on the curve. “Yes, dating. Is it so hard to believe that someone might be interested in me? I realize I’m not as pretty as the rest of you, but still.”

“That’s not what I meant. I just…. This is a surprise. That’s all. He’s only been home for two days and was supposed to get married right before.”

“And he stayed with me last night.”

I could feel the tension growing in the room, and it was not something I wanted to be a part of. Sisterly quarrels weren’t necessarily my forte, having been an only child myself.

“I think maybe we need some clarification. Yes, I was supposed to get married. My ex cheating was the best thing that’s probably ever happened to me. Aspen and I have kept in touch since she tried to run me off at Frannie’s wedding. Animosity turned into friendship. And when I came home yesterday, she was there, and we decided to try something new.”

I felt both Alex and Aspen’s eyes on me as I wove the lie. In my head, it seemed probable enough, but as the words left my lips, I second-guessed myself.

“Mommy,” two young voices called out on repeat, bringing all the attention away from me.

Just as the voices stopped, two little girls popped around the corner and collided with Alex’s legs. They looked nothing like Alex, but I’d clearly heard them call her Mommy.

“Aunt Aspen!” they cheered as they darted into the room and ran in our direction.

Alex must have noticed my curiosity, which did not play well into our scheme. After a year, I would’ve surely heard about two nieces at this point.

I tried thinking back to any and all conversations I’d had with my mother over the years, and I only vaguely recalled Alex eloping last year.

Taking a chance, I looked at the little girls and turned on my charm. “These must be your stepdaughters. Hi, I’m Owen.”

They giggled at my outstretched hand, and I crouched down in front of them, bringing me to their eye level.

“I’m Eloise,” the one with cute pink glasses said as she gently shook my hand.

Nearly pushing her sister out of the way, the other girl with haphazard braids falling on either side of her head grabbed my hand and shook it with gusto. “And I’m Molly. Our dad said you play baseball. He doesn’t like your team, but he likes you.”

News of my return had traveled fast, it seemed.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that.”

“What are you doing with our Aunt Aspen?”

Aspen gripped my arm and pulled me toward the opening. “We were just leaving, actually. He’s going to be staying at Aunt Rory’s house for a few months.”

“Yay!” the girls cheered as if I was their new best friend.