“Don’t you have work?” Mason asked.
“Her dad thought my plan was solid. He’s covering.”
“Her dad thought it was a good idea for his daughter get good and drunk?”
“I didn’t put it quite like that.”
Mason laughed. “I’m sure you didn’t.”
“So what’s the plan?” Pia asked.
“Plan?”
“Yes, plan. As in, what are we doing for her?”
Mason and I exchanged a glance.
“Oh my God, the two of you. Never mind. Delaney and I will handle it. Go clean up, both of you. You can’t go to Cole’s ceremony like that. And tell Mae to come over any time after six.”
I saluted her. “Yes, ma’am. You really are the best.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Pia shooed us out of the kitchen. Mason snatched his sandwich first, and I snagged one last chip. Thankfully, my back was to Pia so she couldn’t see me smiling.
I wasn’t sure what came next—hell, I barely knew what I wanted tomorrow to look like.
But with Mae back in town and no ring on her finger, for the first time in a long time, something felt… possible.
6
MAE
“Thanks for picking me up.”
I jumped in Beck’s faded blue pickup before he could open my door, which I knew he would do. It had been a habit of his since that day he’d asked my father why he still opened the car door for my mother. We were ten or so, a few years before his parents moved outside of town.
“I was just thinking of when you asked my dad why he still opened the car door for my mom.”
Beck waved to Maggie, the owner of a local restaurant who lived across the street. He looked in his rearview mirror as we started down the street.
“He said it made her smile.” Beck pulled his truck to the side of the street. Slamming it in park, he jumped out. “Be right back.”
What the heck?
I turned around in my seat to see what was going on. Beck was helping Maggie load something into her van. He disappeared into her house and came out with his arms loaded. I was about to get out and help when Maggie gave him a hug, and Beck jogged back to me.
“Sorry about that.”
“What’s Maggie up to?”
“The Big Easy is hosting a graduation party tonight and one of her ovens crapped out so she made some of the dishes at home. Smelled really good. Now I want jambalaya.”
I laughed. “Funny thing to crave for someone who doesn’t like seafood.”
“She makes it with just sausage and chicken for me.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course she does.” Beck had women of all ages running circles to please him. Nothing had changed there. Not that I blamed them. He had always been the hottest guy in Cedar Falls. Some of my friends argued that honor went to Parker or Mason, but there was no contest in my eyes.
“Do you find it strange,” I asked as we headed to Heritage Hill, “that the hottest guys in Cedar Falls all became best buddies?”
