Avery got up from her spot and her tiny feet padded down the hall to the bathroom. 

I pulled the dish out of the oven, closed the door, then switched the knob to off. Sage set some heat-resistant mats on the table, so I placed the dish on top of them as she set plates and utensils out.

“That’s a lot of sauce,” Sage pointed out as she eyed the enchiladas.

I smirked, coming up behind her as she rounded the table to wrap my arms around her waist. My nose nuzzled her neck as goosebumps crawled up her skin. 

“I could give you some special sauce,” I mumbled.

Despite her grin, she tried to pry my hands from around her. “Please do not tell me you just compared enchilada sauce to that.”

I chuckled, but it was cut short by Avery saying, “That’s a big enchilada!” as she came into the dining area.

Sage’s cheeks turned a deep shade of red as I unwrapped my arms from around her. I stepped to the side of her, keeping one hand on her lower back, and cleared my throat.

“It’s a bunch of enchiladas,” I corrected. I wasn’t sure if she thought the entire dish was just a single one.

Avery took her seat at the head of the table and I dropped my hand to Sage’s ass, giving it a quick pinch before I slid into my own chair. 

She pursed her lips, shooting me a glare as she sat down.

“So, Avery. Do you know the cowboy blessing?” I asked.

“No. What’s that?”

Sage watched the two of us talk as I said, “Well, it’s this saying some people do before dinner.” I didn’t do this all that often, but with Avery’s interest in the ranch, I thought she might like it.

“What’s the saying?”

I set my napkin on my lap. “May your belly never grumble, may your heart never ache. May your horse never stumble, may your cinch never break.”

Her smile grew as I spoke. “Is that what all cowboys say?”

Sage reached forward to grab the spatula so she could dish Avery up a portion.

“Some of them,” I told her. 

“Is that what you and my mama are gonna say now?” she asked.

“If I’m here, sure,” I replied.

“Aren’t you dating my mama?”

The enchilada balanced on the spatula toppled on top of the others as Sage’s hand fumbled. “What?” Sage asked, surprised at the question.

“You guys are always touching and doing yucky stuff,” Avery said.

I bit my lip to hide my smile as I looked to Sage on this one. I really wasn’t sure how to tread on this.

“Well, Aves—” Sage started.

“You don’t have to keep it a secret, you know,” Avery stated.

Sage gathered herself and finished dishing Avery’s food up, then glanced at me before saying, “We’re dating.”

Avery used her fork to tear a bite of enchilada off instead of cutting it. “Okay.”

Sage reached over with her fork and knife, cutting her food for her. “Are you okay with that?”

Avery nodded as she chewed.

I braced myself for more, but nothing happened. No questions, no tears. She just watched her mom cut her food, then dug in once she was done. Sage and I stared at her for a minute, both expecting her to say something, but she didn’t.

After a deep inhale, Sage set her fork and knife on the edge of her plate and dished up her own food, then handed me the spatula.

We all ate as Avery told us about all the gifts she hoped to get tomorrow, and as I chewed and drank and listened, it hit me.

They were becoming my family.

And I didn’t want it any other way.

34

Sage

Giggles and conversation flowed through my small backyard as kids ran past mingling parents. Everyone had started arriving early based off Avery’s instruction to get here an hour before the invitation stated, which was unbeknownst to me as I opened the door to the first guest a little over forty-five minutes ago.

Callan had helped me set up the decorations last night, so at least that was taken care of, but cookies still needed to be iced, the cake still needed candles, the food hadn’t arrived yet, and my helping hands were doing the best they could to offer me assistance with all of it. Pudding was locked in Avery’s room down the hall and she was aware that she wasn’t supposed to go in there until after the party, yet I couldn’t help but glance down that way every few minutes to be sure no one was letting the cat out. The last thing I needed today, on top of everything else, was the cat getting loose again. Thankfully, we’d passed our Food Safety Inspection at the cafe with flying colors, so that was off my shoulders in time for the party. 

My hair was thrown in a messy ponytail, matching my stained apron, as I’d been in the middle of the cookies when her first friend arrived.

Some of the parents had stayed, but others had dropped their kid and left, which meant everyone was under my supervision, along with the eyes of whatever other adults were here. Adults including Brandy, Oakley, and Lettie, but I wasn’t very confident in their ability to keep things under control because last I’d heard, Brandy was egging someone on to climb the tree in the middle of the backyard.

That was just what I needed—a kid to fall off a branch and end up with a broken arm.

“Is that icing meant for the cookies or you?” Callan’s voice filled the air as I used my shoulder to brush a rogue piece of hair out of my face.

I looked down at my apron, then back to the cookie I was currently mutilating with my shaky hands and runny icing. Nothing was going to plan.

“The cookies,” I mumbled.

I didn’t have time to spare a glance at Callan. Today had to be perfect for Avery. 

“Hey,” Callan said. The sound of a gift bag crinkling filled my ears as he set his present down. Then he rounded the counter and grabbed the piping bag from me.

“I need to finish these,” I told him, but reluctantly let him take the bag anyway. It was sticky and covered in edible glitter.

“They’re not going to come out the way you want if you keep rushing,” he stated, as if that wasn’t obvious.