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“Mom—”
“Ah-ah. Hush. I know you’re worried about seeing Everett again, but honey, that boy has been livin’ his life without you, and you’re both grown adults. You can handle one night of socializin’.”
“Two, if you count the reunion,” I muttered.
“Even better.”
Not to me.
But I didn’t say that to my momma. I knew better. Sighing, I gave in. “All right, Friday night family get-together it is. Can’t wait.”
“That’s my girl. Let me know when you’re comin’, and I’ll fix up your room so you’ll have fresh sheets and all. Is Paisley stayin’ here, too? I assume Riley will be at the B&B.”
“Yes, he and his manager will stay at the B&B, but I’m not sure about Paisley yet. We’re drivin’ in on Wednesday and we’ll probably head home on Monday.”
I might not want to be seen around town with Riley for those publicity-stunt dates, but after so long since I’d been home, I wanted to stay for the weekend even if we didn’t leave my parents’ house much.
“Sounds good. Love you.”
“Love you too, Momma.”
I disconnected the call, then closed my eyes, willing myself not to stress about this trip to Charlotte Oaks. We’d be in and out. I’d do the publicity thing like the small-town girl I was, then zip on out before anything got too messy.
It would be fine. Wouldn’t it?
3
EVERETT
“You in here, Everett?” my brother Jackson asked.
I called out to him from underneath Mrs. McClusky’s old sedan. “Under the blue one.”
Footsteps approached, then stopped near my feet. Jackson kicked my boot. “Did ya hear?”
I had a feeling I already knew what he was asking about, but I played dumb as I turned my wrench. “Hear what?”
“Our hometown superstar’s coming back for your reunion.”
“Is she now?” I asked, keeping my voice casual.
Yep. Knew it. And of course I’d heard. The whole dang town buzzed with the news. So much so that I was pretty sure I’d heard the mayor asking his assistant how soon they could get a Welcome Back banner made so they could string it across Main Street. It’d be just peachy.
“Is that going to be a problem for you?” Jackson asked warily.
“Why would it be a problem for me?”
He chuckled. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because everyone thought you two were gonna get hitched once upon a time?”
“Don’t remind me.” I slid out from under the car, knowing my brother wouldn’t let this go easily and there was no way I’d be able to concentrate on what I was doing with him jabbering on about my past with Laney. Regret filled me from my boots to the tops of my ears, and suddenly my blue mechanic’s jumpsuit felt tight and constricting on my skin.
“Have you talked to her since the last time she was here?” he asked, crossing his arms over his wide chest.
“Nope.”
“Did you try?”
I shrugged. “Nope.”
