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Clay winked at Tori before he shrugged at her mom. “Well, sorry to beat you to it, I’m sure you’ll think of something else. Let’s just say that old truck has sentimental value to all of us.”
Tori nodded. “It does and thank you.” She met her mom’s gaze. “Sorry, but he’s right.” She moved closer to Xander and slipped her arm around his waist. “I feel as though our life together began in that truck.”
Xander leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “It did.”
~ ~ ~
Tori made big eyes at Xander as they left her mom and Clay to talk with Marianne and her sister, Chris, who had just arrived with her man, Seymour Davenport.
“I didn’t see that one coming, did you?” he asked.
“I didn’t. That’s so kind of him.” Tori looked back over her shoulder. “Although, I can’t imagine what Mom’s going to come up with now.”
He laughed. “She’ll come up with something, and we’ll thank her, no matter what it is.”
“I think Jade will thank us for getting back behind the bar with her,” said Tori.
“She’s good. Damon arrived a little while ago, and he offered to help out since we’re even busier than we expected. That’s why I was able to come over to join you guys.”
“Yeah, but still. I want to get back there and help. You should probably do the rounds and say hello to people as well. I’ve done my bit of socializing for now.”
Xander couldn’t help watching her as she made her way back behind the bar. He might have been worried about her working there when they first came up with this idea, but he had no concerns anymore. She held her own just as well as Jade and Damon, she just did it in a quieter way. The customers all responded well to her; she made people happy without even trying.
As he watched, he noticed that Jade was chatting to a girl sitting at the end of the bar near her station. He grinned when he figured out that she must be Ally. He might have claimed that he didn’t want to get involved in the matchmaking business, but how much harm could there be in introducing Carson and Brock to the two of them?
When he reached the table where the two guys were sitting with Autumn and Matt, he grinned at them. He didn’t get a chance to greet them though before Autumn asked, “What was Clay up to?”
He grinned. “I’ll let him tell you about that.” He didn’t know them all that well yet, but he’d already figured out the dynamic of that group. No way did he want to be the one who got in the middle of it all by telling Autumn that Clay had given the truck away.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What’s he up to?”
He held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “I’m staying out of it.” He turned to Carson and Brock. “Do you guys want to come over to the bar?”
He thought he might have to explain his reasoning, but they got straight to their feet.
Autumn laughed. “That’s right, run while you can. But I’m warning you, we’re leaving at noon tomorrow. If you’re not at the airport when the plane’s ready to take off, we will go without you, and you can find your own way home.”
Carson grinned at Xander. “She loves us, really.”
“I do,” said Autumn, “but that doesn’t mean I’ll put up with your shit.”
Matt laughed. “Believe me, guys, she speaks the truth.”
~ ~ ~
Jade raised her eyebrows at Xander when he approached the bar with Carson and Brock in his wake. She said something to her friend, who turned around and seemed to freeze when she spotted Brock. When Xander looked at him, it seemed that Brock was having the same reaction to her – his stride faltered when he met her gaze – interesting!
Xander didn’t get the chance to make an introduction – Jade beat him to it. He should have known that she wouldn’t need any help.
“Hey. I was wondering how long it’d take you guys to make it to the bar; what can I get you?”
Carson grinned and went to lean on the bar right in front of her. “What would you recommend?”
Brock rolled his eyes at Xander, but Jade just laughed and said, “I’d have to know you better before I could recommend something that might suit you. The first step would be telling you that I’m Jade, and this is Ally.”
She stuck her hand out, but instead of shaking it, Carson brought it up to his lips and kissed the back of it. “It’s a pleasure.”
Brock nodded at Ally. “Carson here doesn’t need any introduction; everyone knows who he is. I’m Brock.”
