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"Thank you I was so shocked He brought me flowers, cooked me dinner, poured wine and even made dessert He wrote me a terrible poeot down on one knee and asked ht ever I swooned Okay, I don’t really knohat swooning is, but I felt a little weak in the knees Is that swooning?"

Tara laughed "Sounds like swooning to ree Who knew rinned "I did He’s always le rose to work, or texting e, but there’s nothing like having someone in your corner, you know?"

"Yes," Tara said "ItEven after all these years, Mick will still callIt means so much to me And he alrote ht?" Aain It was so cute to see the stain of blush on her cheeks "Actually, yes"

"Flynn does that, too It makes my heart melt"

Mia had no idea what that was like The few relationships she’d had hadn’t worked out Not that she was all broken up about it since she hadn’t put her whole heart into those guys anyway She’d never had that all-consu about Which was fine She had her career to consume her That was her love It was all she needed

Maybe souy like Nathan When she was ready to fall in love Because if she was ready, she’d want someone like him Hot, smart, funny, considerate

Which reminded her

"So next week is Nathan’s birthday," Mia said

Tara nodded "Yes, it is"

"Are you going to be in town still? I’d love to throw him a birthday party"

"That’s a wonderful idea And we could arrange to stay a little longer What did you have inafter so I want to have a big blowout party for him Invite all his friends and any family that would be available to come Since you’re in toe could always do it earlier"

"His birthday is just a couple of days after I planned to leave I could adjust my schedule And maybe invite a few other family members I know they’d love to come"

"I could do the food," Amelia said

Mia looked at her "I couldn’t ask you to do that"

"Why not? Flynn loves a good party and I know he’d pitch in and help e to take the day off"

"That would be wonderful," Mia said "Thank you, Ae the clubhouse at gie and I work on that"

Now Mia was excited "This is awesorinned "Isn’t it better that way?"

"I think so," Auy?"

"Not nearly often enough," Tara said "We’ll leave that part up to you, Mia"

"I can handle that"

They finalized what plans they could Then As in the kitchen

Mia and Tara went back inside Nathan, Flynn and Mick were still huddled around the table

Nathan had watched Mia co football, but a part of his brain had been reserved for Mia And when she’d left, hewithin hie in their dynamic Sure, he’d always been happy to see her whenever they were together But so was different now

Noanted to put his hands on her, to pull her down onto his lap and kiss her and touch her

"Okay," Tara said "Breaking up the shoptalk"

Mick slipped his arm around Tara’s waist "Hey, I’m retired"

Tara slid into the chair next to Mick "Babe, youto be in the ga to be hts about the Sabers as well as our co his brain"

Mick leaned back "You don’t need ot this all under control, don’t you, kid?"

All that war about Mia suddenly dissipated Nathan sucked in a breath, trying to cal pulse "You know I do"

"Yeah, we all know it, too," Flynn said "This is gonna be one hell of a season"