I impulsively hugged her, my arms tightening around her.
“You’ll be okay,” she whispered.
And I knew she wasn’t talking about the bookstore.
“Hey, Poet! Congratulations!”
My hand was on the doorknob of Sweet Teeth. I turned and saw Brooks’ brother jog across the street toward me.
“I just heard the news,” Archer said with a wide grin. “And I couldn’t be happier for you. And for Brooks.”
“How did you know?” I asked, my mind whirling.
He frowned. “What do you mean how did I know? Brooks told me.”
“Brooks?”
“Yeah. He told me this morning that he popped the question last night and you said yes.”
I swallowed and my foggy brain finally cleared. “Oh. Oh,right.” I forced a smile to my lips. “Thank you.”
He scanned my face with curious eyes. “Are you okay? You look pale.”
“I’m always pale.”
The door to the bakery opened, causing me to jump back, startled. I moved off to the side to allow the customers to exit.
“Bandit? Oh my God, what thehellare you doing here!”
I looked away from Archer to stare at the man who’d just called him Bandit.
“Smoke!” Archer yelled in excitement.
The two men embraced quickly, and the man named Smoke pulled back and slapped him on the back.
There was a heavily pregnant woman with him—she and I exchanged confused glances but otherwise said nothing.
“What are you doing in Huckleberry Hill?” Smoke asked Archer.
“I work at Elk Ridge—farrier,” Archer explained. “You?”
Smoke wrapped an arm around the woman standing next to him. “Get the fuck out. Logan’s parents and brothers are currently building a house at Elk Ridge.”
My eyes widened. “You’re John and Stella’s daughter?”
The young woman who looked to be about my age smiled. “Yeah. You know them?”
I nodded.
“We’re up for a visit from Waco,” Smoke explained. “Before the baby comes.”
“Congrats, man,” Archer said.
Smoke’s gaze turned to me, and he waited.
“Oh, sorry,” Archer said with a rueful smile. “This is Poet.”
“Your Old Lady?” Smoke asked with an assuming smile.
