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The entire lot of us cheers with joy, with Lyla Nell cheering the loudest. It takes several minutes for us to remotely settle down.
“I’m so proud of you,” Lottie says, wrapping her arms around Evie.
“So am I,” Everett says.
“Lyla Nell and I are proud of you, too,” I say as we join in on the group hug.
“So when are you packing your bags?” Carlotta steps in close. “Asking for a friend who wants to rent out your room.”
Lottie shakes her head. “Nobody is renting out Evie’s room.”
“I’m staying in it,” Evie says. “Like I said at the beginning of the year, if I get into AU, I’m going to commute. I don’t want to miss a minute of Lyla Nell’s life. Besides, I’m still getting used to having a great family around all the time. My family.”
Every last one of us coos in unison.
Cormack waddles this way and hooks an arm to mine.
“Come on, Big Boss. I want to introduce you to all of my friends.”
I give a stern glance around the room in search of my brother, but of course, there’s no sign of him.
Cormack is about to cart us off when Jed steps over and wraps an arm around both Sam and Meg.
“Hey,” I bark over at him. “Who do you think you are playing these two women like fiddles?”
A cheesy laugh strums from him. “I believe you and your two wives are the ones playing the loudest music around here.”
Both Sam and Meg laugh at that one.
“Wonderful,” I mutter just as my phone buzzes in my pocket and Lyla Nell fights me for it as I pluck it out.
It’s a text from Ivy.
You’d better head down to the station. The narcotics task force is holding an emergency meeting. They think they’ve nailed down another perp in the drug bust that took place a couple of weeks back.
I look up at Lottie and Everett.
There’s no way I’m saying a word until an arrest is made.
“I’m sorry, Cormack,” I say, handing Lyla Nell to Lottie and giving them both a kiss on the cheek. “It looks as if I’m needed down in Ashford.”
One murder suspect down, one drug pusher to go.
This might just be a banner night after all.
EVERETT
No sooner does Noah take off from the party after a mysterious message he received than my phone buzzes as well.
I saw Noah glance at his phone, then watched as his eyes doubled in size.
Whatever is going on in Ashford must be big. But I’m proud of him for keeping it to himself.
Lemon doesn’t need the stress. She almost lost her life tonight. And I’m going to make sure she doesn’t get into that situation ever again.
I cherish her life more than I do my own. I’d give my life in an effort for her to keep the one she has.
I wasn’t completely truthful about why I was late. As I was getting into my truck, I got a message from that woman I once dated in HR. She let me know there is no Regina Pacheco working as a clerk down at the courthouse.
