Page 52 of Bailey

Bailey reached for the cup first. “I want to see what they have,” she said. “They have one of those machines where you can mix flavors.”

He smiled at her and led the way back down the hall. “I’ll get utensils and napkins and everything for my coffee.”

They re-emerged into the main part of the store together, Bailey’s focus on the fountain machine and silverware station nearby. She started tapping on the electronic screen to learn her options, while Reeves picked up spoons, knives, and forks bundled together in napkins, and then huffed out his displeasure.

“They don’t have real cream,” he said.

“I bet you can ask for it.” She finally decided on a concoction of grape soda and lemonade, and had just tapped in the combo when a woman said, “Bailey, hey.”

She knew Joey’s voice instantly, because she’d known Joelle Young since she was a little girl. Her pulse ricocheted through her body as she turned toward the pale blonde young woman, who also held an empty soda cup and had a handsome, dark-haired man at her side.

“Hey, Joey,” Bailey said, her voice falsely bright.

Reeves glanced over to Bailey, something hooded in his expression. Joey looked at him, and then back to Bailey.

“You remember my husband, Adam Harmon?” Joey linked her arm through the man next to her, and they both beamed at her.

“Of course.” Bailey stepped forward and gave Joey a tight squeeze. “It’s so good to see you.”

“I didn’t get to talk to you at the wedding. It was very busy,” Joey said. “And I wasn’t feeling well.” She glanced at Adam, who likewise smiled as Bailey shook his hand.

“I’m not sure we’ve formally met,” he said.

“I don’t think so,” Bailey said. “I just moved back to town.”

“Of course, I know about you.” Adam gave a hearty chuckle. “OJ and Bryce both talk about you constantly.”

Bailey’s eyebrows shot up, and she noticed the way Joey’s arm in Adam’s tightened.

“Maybe OJ,” Joey said. “He talks about everyone, all the time.”

Adam seemed to pick up the hint, and of course he did, because he managed country music stars for a living, and before that had been the orchestrator of Harry Young’s massively successful career.

“Where are you guys sitting?” Joey asked. “Maybe we could squeeze in with you.”

There wasn’t anyone in the restaurant, so no squeezing would be strictly necessary. Bailey also didn’t want to share a table with them and racked her brain as to a reason why.

“I think they want to be alone,” Adam said quietly. “And we do too.”

Joey looked at him and smiled softly. “Right.” She looked back to Bailey. “We’re celebrating.”

“Oh?”

Joey’s cheeks took on a hint of pinkness. “Yeah, we’ve told the whole Young family, and video-called Adam’s parents, and we just told my mom and Grandma last night.” She beamed up at Adam, and he moved his arm to tuck her right against his side. “Adam and I are having a baby in September.”

A healthy amount of surprise cut through Bailey, and she wasn’t sure why. Adam and Joey were doing what people did—they got married and had babies and built families. She managed to put a smile on her face, and the clinical part of her that could remove her emotions from any situation kicked into gear.

“That’s fantastic, Joey.” She stepped in to the woman and hugged her again. “Congratulations.”

Reeves finally turned around, and both Adam and Joey looked at him.

“This is my boyfriend, Reeves,” Bailey said. “And we do kind of want to just be by ourselves. We got a table in the back room and everything.” She nodded in that direction, and Joey followed the gesture.

“I didn’t know this place had a back room.”

“We’re just getting our food to go,” Adam said. “I think we were going to drive somewhere and watch the sunset. Right, Roo?”

“Oh, right,” Joey said. “I totally forgot we were doing that. We can’t eat together anyway.”