“Love at first sight? How sweet!” Mandy coos, clasping a hand over her heart.

I shake my head and say, “We’re not together.”

“Yet,” Jessie adds with a suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows.

Mandy shakes her head. “I thought you said Devin was bringing his girlfriend for dinner?” she asks Becs.

“No, I said he’s bringing his future girlfriend.” Becs winks at Jessie, who gives her a high-five across the table.

“Bet your ass, sister,” Jessie adds, and I have to choke back a laugh. The balls on this woman. “Oh, sorry, Mandy. My mom’d skin me alive if she heard me cuss at the dinner table.”

“Then I guess we shouldn’t tell her,” Mandy answers. “So, what does it mean to be Devin’s future girlfriend?”

Jessie steeples her fingers in front of her and squints. “Right now, it consists mostly of growls, grunts and frustration.”

“So just like being his actual girlfriend!” Becs titters.

“Enough,” I howl.

Rob takes pity on me and changes the subject. “She’s put a lot of effort into developing those plans for the shop I showed you.”

Mandy sets her hand on top of Jessie’s. “Thank you so much for that, dear. You don’t know how worried I am about him going back to work these days. All that stress and those long hours.” Mandy gets a bit choked up and I stare down at my meatloaf.

“This system should help with both of those.” Jessie squeezes Mandy’s hand and smiles.

“If it works,” I hear myself add before I can stop it.

Jessie turns to glare at me and Mandy’s lips slip into a pout.

“Why wouldn’t it work?” Mandy asks.

“Don’t listen to him,” Jessie reassures her. “Devin thinks all change is bound to lead to disaster. He’d still be chiseling invoices into cave walls if he had his way.”

Becs snorts and I shoot her a warning glare. She sticks her tongue out at me. I get no respect in this house.

“It’s complicated. We’re simple. Won’t work,” I answer.

“More complicated than rebuilding an engine?” Jessie quips. Touché.

“That’s different.”

“No. It’s not, Negative Nancy. It just takes dedication and persistence. Two things I happen to excel at.” I can’t help but think she’s talking about something else. “I can be just as stubborn as you.”

“It’s a risk. An expensive one.”

“And worth it. You’ve gotta risk it for the biscuit. Gotta spend money to make money.”

Rob hums at my side and I know I’m fighting a losing battle.

“I’ve thought about it quite a bit, and I think we’re worth the investment,” Rob declares. I grumble. Jessie squeals. “If the projections are even half as good as Jessie thinks they will be, it’ll be worth it. Plus, it might free up some of your evenings, Dev.”

I focus on eating my dinner as fast as possible. The last thing I need in my life right now is Jessica Allen. She’s perky and optimistic and idealistic. All the things I’m not.