Marco shrugged. “All I know is what I heard, and what I heard is that he’s a cutie pie who’s real sweet and quiet. Now, Gage made it pretty clear this guy’s not as hot as Knox, but then again, Knox was sitting right there, and Gage knows where his bread is buttered. A man’s morally obligated to downplay the relative hotness of every other eligible man in the vicinity when the love of his life is in the room. It’s one of those compromises folks make when they commit to each other.”
“Wait just a minute.” Drew narrowed his eyes. “The other day when we heard that Jayd Rollins’ song on the radio and I asked you if he was better-looking than me…”
“Anyway, Hawk,” Marco said quickly. “If you want me to get the guy’s number?—”
“Marco.” Drew looked affronted. “Next, you’ll be saying Jayd’s a better guitar player than I am!”
Marco shot him a guilty look, and Drew gasped.
“Uh, thanks anyway, but I’ve got the situation taken care of,” I said, hoping to extricate myself from an awkward conversation before it got worse.
When two pairs of eyes turned to me, cards forgotten on the table, I realized I’d fully intricated myself into that awkward conversation instead.
“Is that so? Care to tell us who the lucky fella is?” Drew asked, acting ridiculously casual. He lowered his voice. “You can trust us to be discreet.”
“’Course you can. We’re the verysoulsof discretion,” Marco agreed solemnly.
“Sure you are. Both of you can expect dictionaries in your Christmas stockings this year.” I seasoned my tomatoes and slapped the bread together. “Because those words don’t mean what you think they mean.”
Marco narrowed his eyes. “Spill your tea, boy.”
“No, thanks.” I took a big bite of my sandwich, which, handily enough, made speech impossible.
My uncle and his partner made significant eye contact before both turned to look at me again.
“Well,Ithink you should hold out for Jack,” Drew said. “He’s a sweet potato, and he cares about you.”
I choked on a crumb of bread. Had Drew heard about my proposition? Had Jack told Webb who told Drew? No. I couldn’t imagine that scenario.
“You mean… JackWyatt?” I croaked, like the Hollow was littered with Jacks who cared about me.
Thankfully, they didn’t laugh.
“Why not? All the best lovers start out as friends. Plus, Jack’s a great cook, he’s good at bocce, and he’s handsome—nearlyas handsome as your uncle, the love of my life,” Marco added gamely.
Drew rolled his eyes and kicked Marco under the table. “Most importantly, Jack’s whole attention is on you whenever you walk in a room. Been that way for years.”
“And why wouldn’t it be?” Marco demanded. “Our Hawkins is the bee’s knees. The heart and soul of the Hollow.”
I shook my head. I definitely wasn’t that. “I’ll consider it, but only since you made such a compelling argument,” I told the two of them. They exchanged a smirk so self-satisfied, and I couldn’t help adding, “Maybe I’ll show up at his place naked tonight after the Pye Day Potluck and see what happens.”
“What?” Drew exclaimed. “Hawk, honey, that might be a little too?—”
“Don’t worry,” I soothed. “I’ll tell him I have my uncles’ blessings for him to consummate our relationship. I’m sure he’ll be very moved.” I patted Drew on the shoulder and gave Marco a wink before putting my plate in the sink and heading for the back door. “And I won’t say a word to anyone about your genital shrinkage, Uncle Drew.”
I left them both staring at my back, slack-jawed.
Nosy, meddling fuckers.
I couldn’t possibly love them more.
If I’d been looking forwardto flirting with Jack at work, it was only because I’d forgotten just how slammed the restaurant was this time of year. From the minute I arrived until the moment I left again a few hours later, I was run off my feet. How Jack had even been able to take time off the day before to come see me on the mountain was beyond comprehension.
There were a few times during the rush when I caught Jack’s smile turned in my direction, and those moments were enough to make my heart bang against my chest like a prisoner whacking his tin cup against the cell bars, demanding to be let free. To say I was excited for tonight was to understate the truthmassively.
But first, we had to get through the Pye Day festivities.
Crys looped her arm through mine as we walked to the green in the middle of town. “You know most people celebrate Pi Day in March, right? Like, 3-14, the first few numbers of pi?”
