“Hey you!” Quinn calls, and I look up to see her waving us toward a big table in the back. The man next to her with his arm around her chair looks just like the Tate I remember. On her other side sits the unmistakable Maverick Davis. He isn’t smiling like Quinn’s husband, but he doesn’t look like the grumpy teenager I remember either. And finally, my eyes land on Leigh, curled into his side, her hand on top of his resting against her belly.
“Hey y’all. I’m Lucy Hazel!”
“Any relation to Luke Hazel?” Maverick rumbles, looking away from his wife’s belly and at my best friend.
“Only the best twin brother a girl could ever have.”
“Good man,” he responds, looking back down to resume his study, his big palm moving around Leigh’s belly a little.
“The best,” Lucy agrees. She looks over at Tate. “Hi! You’re the lady doctor. Taking new patients? Hate my gyno.” She thrusts her hand out. Only she would think that asking a man when she first meets him if he can take a look at her vagina is acceptable.
“Uh, yeah. Call the office?” he responds, a little unsure, but he takes her hand anyway.
“Will do!”
“You’re a happy one!” Quinn giggles.
“Life’s too short to be anything but.”
“Pull up a seat. Jana can get y’all whatever you want.”
Taking a deep breath, I smell a certain sugary confection that makes me smile, memories of a whole other kind of high making my cheeks heat. “Got any apple pie?”
“Does she have apple pie? It’s only always here since Clay can’t get enough of the gross stuff,” Quinn hoots. “Just missed my big brother, too. He got a call about a problem with one of his pregnant horses, so he had to head back to the ranch.”
“All he does is work,” Leigh adds.
“He’s running the ranch now,” Quinn tells me, and I know exactly how much weight that comment holds. Something even half the size of the Davis ranch would be hard work.
“That’s got to be something. Does his wife help?”
Quinn looks at Lucy like she has two heads. Her question wasn’t one that merits that kind of reaction, so I look over to make sure my best friend isn’t picking her nose or something, but she’s just smiling like normal.
“Clay’s allergic to relationships. I don’t think he’s been in one in at least four years, maybe longer. He got a little serious once with a total bitch, but thankfully that didn’t last. Since then, nothin’.”
“Relationships aren’t for everyone,” I mumble, thinking about my own issues with them, though I can’t imagine someone like Clay would still be single. He was the most beautiful man I had ever seen when I was coming around with Quinn and Leigh.
I look up and meet Maverick’s eyes across the table. He’s studying me with such an intensity, I blush and look down. He’s always been intense, but when he focuses on you like that, you would swear he can read your every thought.
The rest of the night continues, and before I know it the room around us has cleared out and Jana Fox, the gray-haired woman I saw when I entered, who I’ve learned is the PieHole’s manager, has long since said her good-byes. I ate two slices of the best apple pie I’ve ever had in my life, and enjoyed one of the best evenings I’ve had in years.
God, I missed being home. More than I realized. Now, being near these people again, I can feel that pull stronger than ever.
5
CAROLINE
“Speak to a Girl” by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
“You stupid fuckin’ bitch!”
I flinch, knowing what’s coming before John grabs my biceps in a rough and painful grip.
He pulls me forward, my head snapping back. He’s getting worse. The thought filters through my mind and I know, I know next time might be the time that he doesn’t stop at just hitting me a little. It’s been escalating over the years, but the past few he hasn’t stopped at just the verbal abuse, manhandling me more and more roughly each time I do something that pissed him off until that doesn’t even seem like enough for him. Even if it’s just moving through our house, I never know what’s going to set him off.
“I’m sorry, John!” I cry, holding my hands up in front of my face in case this is that time he doesn’t stop.
“Fuckin’ disgusting,” he spits, giving me a shake before pushing me from him. I stumble but don’t fall. “I asked for a Bud and you bring me this cheap off-brand shit. Go to the store and get my fuckin’ Bud or you’ll find out what it’s like to be sorry.”