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My thumb hovered over the replay button.
“Maybe you need a drink first.”
“Do you have a keg of wine?”
She grinned. “I have kegs of exceptional hard cider.”
“I’m partial to red wine.”
“Not after we’re done with you. Though I will miss my wine.”
“Not good for business to be seen drinking wine?”
“No, I’m a red wine girl too. Or I used to be. Won’t be for at least the next seven months or so. Or however long the little Viking I’m carrying will take to cook.”
I blinked. “A baby?”
“Yep.”
“Well, I guess that’s two congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
I clicked off the phone without watching. I’d do that in the privacy of my room at The Lodge.
Rising, I handed her back her phone.
“You’re not going to watch?”
“One bout of existential dread is enough for one afternoon.”
“It’s not that bad.” She frowned as she put her phone away.
“Tell that to my mother. Optics mean everything.”
She wrinkled her nose. “That’s even worse than my mother.”
“There was a reason I wasn’t in a hurry to go home. Laverne just gave me an excuse to stay here for an extra week.”
“I wondered how you got roped into helping at The Lodge. Then again, when it comes to Laverne, we all end up doing what she wants.”
“I volunteered.”
“First mistake.”
I was beginning to agree. “And that’s why I came here. Laverne mentioned we could borrow some chairs and tables, or you would know where to source them.”
“We?You’re all in already.” She shook her head. “Laverne has a way, that’s for sure.”
“I didn’t expect to see Beckett when I got here. Then the Kain thing.” I sagged against the counter. “Now I’m rethinking all of it.”
“Speaking of Kain, I wanted to talk to you about that too.”
I blew out a breath, unsure exactly where this line of question was headed. “Okay.”
“Look, Ronan is his best friend. I know exactly who he is. And I know he’s still not dealing with his crap with his dad.”
Relief washed over me. I didn’t have to lie. “No, he’s not.”
