Jeff’s phone beeped, and he groaned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ellie’s best friend, Ari, is what’s wrong. She’s convinced Ellie they have to go to Port A for spring break.”
“Is the best friend off-limits?” Josh asked with a chuckle.
When I looked in the rea
rview mirror, I couldn’t help but notice Jeff glare at Josh when he mentioned Ellie’s best friend.
“Yes, motherfucker, she’s off-limits too.”
Josh held up his hands again. “Fine, you don’t have to bite my damn head off. Shit, you’re touchy.”
“Yeah, well, when it comes to my sister, you know I am. That is the whole reason I haven’t brought Ellie around y’all.”
Josh and I exchanged looks. It seemed to me, and I was pretty sure to Josh as well, that Jeff got more upset with the mention of the best friend than with Ellie.
“Speaking of Port A, are your parents going to let us stay at their place again this year?” I asked Josh.
“Yep. They said the place is ours if we want it.”
It seemed a little stupid to have us staying at a huge house and Ellie and her friend staying somewhere else, but I knew if I suggested they stay at the house with us, Jeff would blow a fuse, so I let it go.
The white ranch house came into view, and my heart soared.
“There’s the house,” I said. My heart nearly exploded at the sight before me. I had loved this ranch for as long as I could remember. Ever since I was little, I knew it would be mine someday.
Throwing the truck into park, we piled out just as Grams and Gramps were walking out onto the porch.
“Drew! Boys!” Grams called out as she headed my way for a hug. I wrapped her up gently in my arms and pulled her in.
“Grams,” I whispered before setting her back down and kissing her on the cheek.
“I’ve missed you. It’s been a few weeks since you’ve come to see us,” she replied with a wink.
Gramps shook Jeff’s and Josh’s hands before reaching for mine. With one shake, he pulled me for a hug.
“Good to see you, Drew.”
I clapped his back. “You too, Gramps. We were all needing to get out here and get our hands dirty, so I hope you’ve got work for us to do.”
“Hell, yeah, I do. Already told Drake you boys were heading down for the weekend. We’ve been talking about cutting the east pasture up in two sections, so I hope you boys are ready to put up some fence.”
Jeff gave Grams a kiss on the cheek, then said, “I’m ready to work, as long as Grams has some of those chicken dumplings on hand.”
“It just got added to the menu. Now you boys go on in and get settled. I’ll fix some tea and a snack before ya head on out. You’ll need your energy, I’m sure.”
“Don’t be spoilin’ ’em with food, Emma, before they head on out.”
“Nonsense; look at them. They’re huge boys, and they need food for energy.”
I laughed as we made our way into the house, and Grams went straight to the kitchen as we headed up to the bedrooms upstairs.
“Did y’all bring work gloves?” I asked before I stepped into my room.
Jeff and Josh both looked at me like I had just asked the dumbest question ever.