Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 133

CHAPTER 84-1

Sunday mornings at Lawson Customs had started to develop its own rhythm, and for once, there was nothing threatening about it.

I woke in the packhouse to the smell of coffee drifting through the house and instead of immediately wondering who was outside or checking the street from the window, I stayed in bed for another few minutes while I listened to everyone moving around downstairs.

Someone laughed, a door slammed and a child shouted something that sounded suspiciously like

an accusation.

“If you kicked it over the fence again, you’re getting the ball yourself!” Mason yelled and I smiled into my pillow.

It was ridiculous, noisy, and completely normal so I got up, showered, brushed my teeth and pulled on a pair of denim shorts with one of my old work shirts before heading downstairs. By the time I

reached the yard, the place was already full of people.

The kids had claimed the grass, and a football was flying between them while the adults stood

around talking, drinking coffee and pretending they weren’t keeping score.

One of the younger boys kicked the ball too hard, and it sailed straight over the fence so Mason

pointed at him.

“I told you that was going to happen.” Mason said and the boy grinned.

“You said I was going to miss.” The boy said.

“I said you were going to kick it over the fence.” Mason said.

“That’s basically the same thing.” The boy said.

“It absolutely isn’t.” Mason said and I laughed as I walked toward them and Mason spotted me and

immediately pointed.

“There’s our favourite mechanic.” He said as I stopped.

“Your favourite mechanic?” I asked.

“Definitely.” He said.

Derek walked past carrying a box of drinks, and he snorted.

“Don’t encourage her.” Derek said and Mason grinned.

“Why not? She’s good.” Mason said.

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CHAPTER 84-1

“I’m very good.” I said and Derek looked at me.

“You’re still terrifying.” He said and I placed my hands on my hips.

“Terrifying?” I asked.

“You threatened to throw a wrench at me yesterday.” He said.

“You were annoying me.” I said.

“You threatened me with a wrench.” He said.

“I didn’t throw it.” I said and Derek raised an eyebrow.

“That wasn’t the reassuring argument you thought it was.” He said.

Everyone around us burst into laughter, and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing too. It felt

strange.

Charri

Not the laughter itself, but the fact that I was standing there in the middle of all of them and wasn’t wondering whether I belonged. I just did.

Emma called from the kitchen before I could get too comfortable.

“Paige, I need help!” Emma called out so I turned toward the house.

“What did you do?” I asked.

“I didn’t do anything!” She said and Sophia shouted from behind her.

“She burned the first batch!” Sophia said.

“I did not burn it!” Emma said.

“You absolutely did.” Sophia said and I laughed and headed inside.

The kitchen was already a disaster, because there were bowls on the counters, vegetables scattered across the chopping board and flour dusting one side of the bench.

“What are we making?” I asked.

“Everything.” Emma said.

“That’s not an answer.” I said.

“We’re making dinner.” She said and I looked at the amount of food covering the kitchen.

“It’s the morning.” I said.

“We need to prepare early so we can just cook tonight.” Emma said.

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CHAPTER 84-1

“For twenty people?” I asked.

“Maybe.” She said and Sophia handed me a knife.

“Can you chop these?” Sophia asked and I took it.

“Sure.” I said.

Within minutes, we were working together, and the kitchen became its own little world. Emma

prepared the sauce while Sophia mixed ingredients, and I chopped vegetables while listening to

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