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“Lu?” I ask.
A tall guy with long-ish hair and thick scruff appears at my elbow. “Riley’s girlfriend.”
“Don’t jinx me, y’all,” Riley protests. “She’s not my girlfriendyet,but I’m working on it.”
Tuck and the tall guy roll their eyes as they go in for another bro hug.
I still can’t believe Tuck is a hugger. I mean, thinkingabout his interactions with Katie, yeah, I guess he can be affectionate. But with me, he’s been ice cold.
Except when he lifted me into the air. And when made me coffee, and dinner, and then provided some much-needed therapy on his dick I mean deck...
“This is Abel,” Tuck says. “He and Riley and I grew up together in South Port.”
Abel shakes my hand. He’s friendly enough, but I notice he keeps glancing over Tuck’s shoulder. Feels like he’s looking for someone. Maybe someone who would come with Tuck? Katie?
“She ain’t here yet,” Riley says, reading my thoughts.
Abel runs a hand over his scruff. “Who?”
“Don’t play dumb with me.”
“Quit, y’all,” Tuck says, that warning tone in his voice again. “Maren, let’s go. We’ll do the flowers or whatever.”
I follow Tuck into the kitchen. There are even more people in here, most of them gathered around an island covered in coffee-cups and boxes of donuts. I watch, pulse thrumming, as Tuck greets each and every person, stopping to ask about Brad’s mom, Mrs. Underwood’s daughters, and the status of Janet’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis. He gets hugs in return. It’s obvious he’s a well-respected member of the community here.
It’s also obvious everyone has a crush on him. Men and women. Even the eight-year-old girl he waves to blushes.
“Hi, Tuck,” she says shyly.
He smiles. “Hi, Ana. I heard you’re doing great with your new puppy.”
“He’s cute, yeah. We named him Pete.”
“Be sure to help your mama out and walk Pete every day, okay?”
“Okay.”
Seriously, could he get any cuter?
Could Tuck be any sweeter or more thoughtful or moreunlike the grumpy robot who met me at the door that first day at his house?
Everyone asks about Katie, which Tuck uses as a pivot to introduce me.
“This turnout is incredible,” I say, feeling warm and fuzzy from the excess of friendliness in the room. Tuck’s included. “Is the whole town here, or?—”
“The whole town, yes.” A pretty older woman with shoulder-length blonde hair smiles at me. “Harbour Village is a special place. I’m Marianne, by the way, Coop and Goldie’s wedding planner.”
“Oh! Great. We’re supposed to find you and help with flowers.”
She drops an enormous jumble of shimmery material in Tuck’s arms. “Do y’all actually mind helping to hang this? I was thinking it could go in the living room, where the ceremony will be. There’s a ladder right over there if you need it, and my guys have already installed some hooks in the walls and ceiling.”
I look at Tuck. Tuck looks back.
“We’re on it,” I say.
Tuck looks skeptical. “We are?”
“I’m not afraid of heights. Are you?”
