Page 108 of Love Felt Like This

“So,” I echo.

“Well, come on, she’s gorgeous,” Royce says.

Poe crosses one knee over the other. “Please tell me there’s something happening outside of pretend.”

“Of course not,” I answer.

Poe scoffs. “With her looking like that? If it were me, I couldn’t keep my hands away.”

“You better try.”

He smirks. “Getting possessive of her, big guy?”

“Anyway, how’s our girl?” Royce asks, changing the subject. “I’d like to see Ava before you guys leave.”

“I bet she talks about her uncles all the time,” Poe says.

“She only knows limited words, man,” Royce adds. “But…she’s at least said ‘Roy-Roy,’ right?”

Poe shoves him. “Hey, I’m the best uncle. She’s saying ‘Oh,’ if she’s saying anyone’s name.”

“She can pronounce her Ps now,” I say.

Poe’s face falls. “So she can say ‘Poe’? We’re missing so much.”

I smile. “Stop by and see her. I’m sure she misses you guys.”

Royce elbows me. “Hey. Sounds like you’re doing the dad thing really good out there.”

I shrug, but it doesn’t feel as nonchalant as it should. “The mountains aren’t so bad.”

“Griffin Harvey.” A different voice flows from behind me. A drawling tone, filled with self-importance. Beau, in all his sauntering glory, moseys over to our table. On his arm is a stunning blonde. Not as gorgeous as his ex, though—my date.

“Funny you’re here,” he says. “Heard you left LA.”

“Yeah, I went somewhere else for the winter.”

“Take Bev with you?”

“I followed her, actually.”

“To Elk Grove?” he guesses. When I don’t answer, he stiffens. “That old place?” He chokes out a forced laugh.

“I’m meeting my future in-laws.”

His lips pull back in a sneer. He’s far too easy to tick off.

My bandmates’ eyes ping-pong between us. Poe sips his drink, slurping obnoxiously into the silence.

“How are the Larks?” Beau asks. “Rob still miss me?”

“Y’know, you haven’t really come up.”

“Uncle Greg still weird?”

He thinks he’s being slick, drawing me into a fight. Trying to push buttons.

“Still making wonderful cakes,” I answer instead.