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Once they’re done outlining their full itinerary, Birdy lifts her wineglass and straightens the green Christmas bow nestled in her hair.“Here’s to my man landing a ho-ho-hole in one in every hotel we stop in!”
Sebastian hauls her in for a kiss as the rest of us raise our glasses to whoop and holler.
My phone lights up in the middle of the celebration, and I glance at the text.
“Holy shit!A plea!”I look up to see everyone staring at me, so I hold out my phone like that explains everything.“Richie’s prosecutor just texted.He accepted a guilty plea for his many crimes.Vindication!”
CJ’s the first to screech in victory, and everybody else joins in, even Birdy and Sebastian, who don’t know the story.
“Ten years!”My god, Canadian justice feels good.“It’ll be entered tomorrow.Fingers crossed for no early release on account of good behavior.”
“To bad behavior!”Hollis yells, and we all clink and drink.
“While we’re toasting…” Gabe leans forward to look at Hollis, who gives awhat the hell shrug.That was apparently the permission he was looking for because Gabe clears his throat and says, “I’m proud to announce that next year, HG Landscape will finally live up to its name.”
Darby’s gasp fills the room.“For real?Jonesy, you’re finally joining the business!”
He flushes bright red, an almost bashful smile spreading across his face.“I gave Darryl my two weeks at work today.”
She squeals and runs to hug him as Gabe lifts his glass.“To Jonesy!”
“To Jonesy!”we all scream back.
Well, they all scream it.I bite my lip and wish I didn’t want so badly to be the one who got to hug him.
Eighteen
Jonesy
I’m a mess of nerves as I pull up in front of Liv’s on Tuesday morning.
She’s giving me a second chance.Not at anything romantic, which is fine.That’s the way it has to be.I’m thrilled that she’s willing to spend any time with me, period.Our relationship, whatever that may look like now, is resting in my palm, as delicate as rose petals and as easily crushed.
Fuck, I don’t want to crush it.
My hand’s on the release to hop out of the truck and knock on her front door, but she beats me to it, stepping onto the porch and floating down the stairs with a sunny smile directed at me.
“Good morning!”She climbs into the cab before I can get around to open the door for her.
“Morning!”I exclaim.“Wow, it’s cold.Can you believe the cold?I have the heater up on high so if you get hot, let me know.Or if you’re cold, I can adjust it.”
Oh my god, shut uppppp.I’m famously good at talking to women, but Liv makes my tongue feel too big for my mouth, and my hands are clumsy as I gesture at the coffee in the cup holder at her knee.
“I got you your favorite.”
“Scorched from the bottom of the pot at the gas station?”She picks it up and takes a long slurp.“Perrrrrrrfect.”
I laugh and nudge a bakery bag in her direction.“Also this.”
She hums in delight and breaks off a chunk of the red-and-green sprinkle-topped donut she finds inside.While she’s chewing, she breaks off another section and offers it to me.
“I got that for you,” I tell her.
“Yep.And I’m happy to share.”
I know she is.She’s everything good.As sweet as that bite of donut and as fun as the sprinkles on top.
My eyes drift to the temptation between her fingers.I’m still getting used to the idea that I don’t have to keep my body in pristine Luke condition, and the longer she holds that donut bite out, the more I waver.
