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“Presents!” Stacey gathered everyone around the table where Taylor opened ames

Finally, he arrived at our gift “From both of you?”

“Yeah” My skin heated It was a very established-couple thing to do, ether

“It was a team effort,” Derrick explained “I had the idea, but Arthur hunted it down and made it happen”

“Nice wrapping job” Mom winked at me

“Oh e open “It’s Derrick’s car! But Legos! Vince and Seth are going to be so jealous”

He hopped around the roorin on his face It had taken so, but I’d found a model version of Derrick’s car that Taylor could build

“That’s until you’re old enough for driving lessons” Derrick ruffled his hair My heart squeezed hard So much want bubbled up in rab Derrick’s hand under the table, hope he knehat he meant to me

Eventually the party died down, kids carted away by tired parents, and Mo up the leftovers

“You want a beer?” Oliver asked “You’re both welcome to crash here if you don’t want to deal with traffic”

“Nah” Derrick darted his gaze to me “We have”

“Plans,” I supplied Derrick wasn’t getting out of talking todown on Oliver’s fa we both needed

“I see” Oliver chuckled “Suppose I should go all big brother and—”

“Please don’t” I laughed, but also I really didn’t want a lecture for either of us

“Okay Okay Be safe And don’t be strangers The kids love you”

I supposed that was his staed backslapping hugs