Gracie grinned and hopped up from her seat. “I’ll bring the platters.”
“I’ll help,” I said, needing a moment to compose myself.
I went to the kitchen with Gracie to help plate the cupcakes. I got on the step stool and reached for one of theplatters on top of the cabinets, but I dropped my hand and pressed it to my back.
“You okay?” Gracie asked.
“Yeah,” I said as I rubbed the spot just off to the side of my spine. “Twinge. Sat too long in one spot.”
We brought the cupcakes back to the den. I set one platter on the end table between Hadley and Salem.
“Such service,” Hadley teased as she picked up a cupcake with green frosting.
“How’s the house construction coming along?” Eloise asked Hadley as she bit into a cupcake.
“Slow,” Hadley said.
“Costs twice as much and takes three times as long as you think,” Muddy said. “That’s the rule for construction.”
“I feel like that was for me, too,” I said with a smile.
“That’s right, the bookstore,” Eloise said. “When is that moving forward?”
“I have a meeting at the bank this coming Thursday,” I remarked. “So really, that will determine when I can start.”
“It’s going to be beautiful,” Hadley said. “I can’t wait to see it.”
“What are you naming the bookstore?” Eloise asked.
“I don’t know yet,” I admitted.
Nerves of anxiety boiled in my belly.
“So, what’s going on in town tonight?” Wyn asked with a glance at me.
Thank you,I mouthed.
She winked.
“Karaoke at the Copper Mule,” Salem said.
“We’re going, right?” Wyn asked. “We have to go.”
“Of course we have to go,” Salem said. “It’s the only time we can get Poet to do tequila shots.”
“Tequila shots are the only way I’d ever consider karaoke,” I replied.
“You have to sing!” Hadley said.
I shook my head. “I don’thaveto sing.”
“You’re singing,” Salem commanded. “You have the best voice out of all of us.”
“You sing?” Muddy asked me.
“Not on purpose,” I muttered. “And being the best voice out of all of us isn’t saying much.”
“Don’t be modest,” Wyn said. “You have a great voice.”
