“King’s Corners,” Dad responded. “You play?”
“I’m a bit addicted to cards, but I haven’t played that game before.”
Andie sat down across from him, and while Dad was explaining how to play, Fallon and I moved off to make the margaritas. When the blender was going, she whispered, “Sorry, I didn’t know how to get out of it without blowing your cover.”
“It’s fine. We’ll just consider it a girls’ night.” I shrugged.
“She’s already got plans forming and several dates in mind,” Fallon told me with a little grimace.
“As long as she doesn’t spend any money or ask me to hand over a deposit, she can do whatever she wants.”
When we got back to the table, Dad had set up a new game for the four of us.
Only Andie and I had tequila in our margaritas—Dad was still recovering, and Fallon claimed she needed to drive—but by the time we’d been at the game for a few hours, it was clear that, even tipsy, Andie was a ruthless player. Dad was tickled, acting like a proud teacher every time she went out with a bang.
When his laughter filled the kitchen, the tension and heartache of the last few days eased away once again, and I was suddenly very grateful my friends had shown up.
After Andie trounced us several more times, Dad called it quits.
“That’s it for me. I’ve created a monster.” He winked at Andie. “I need some rest, and the three of you have girl things to discuss.”
He kissed me on the cheek, hugged Fallon, and patted Andie on the shoulder before heading down the hall.
When Andie shuffled the deck one-handed and started to deal another round, Fallon groaned. “No more! I had no clue you were such acard shark.”
The humor on Andie’s face faded, and a faraway look came over her. “I haven’t played in a really long time.” She purposefully changed the subject. “So, what time of year were you thinking of for the wedding?”
I swallowed the rest of my margarita. I’d need more alcohol to get through this discussion. When I went to retrieve the pitcher, the room spun a bit, and a warning screamed through me. I was dangerously close to drunk, meaning I was too far away from the clear head I needed while staying with Beckett, but I ignored caution and poured myself another glass.
After all, I’d earned this drunk with the week I’d had.
“I’m not ready to set a date, Andie. This”—I waved my hand around the house—“is already more than I can handle at the moment.”
Andie straightened her perfect bun. She looked like she was ready to walk into a business meeting with her silk tank and pressed slacks. Even her shoes were business-worthy little peep-toed heels. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen Andie in jeans and a T-shirt.
“I want to make sure your wedding is perfect. Everything you dreamed,” she insisted. “And next year, our weekends are nearly full, and the year after that is booking up fast.”
I took another sip of the margarita, disregarding the way my heart panged at the idea of having a dream wedding with Beckett. “We don’t need a big venue. It’s not like either Beckett or I have a huge family that’ll show up. We could hold the wedding here in the backyard if we needed to.” Beckett just had him and his dad. No grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins had ever come around. And my parents had both been only children. My grandparents on both sides had all passed when I was little, well before my mom had died.
“You do have family,” Andie insisted, startling me. “Just think about the crew at the fire station and the hospital staff. You add in their plus-ones and Fallon’s family, and you’re going to need a bigger space than the backyard.”
It hit me hard how right she was. Beckett and I had made families for ourselves. I wasn’t sure the hospital staff were people I could count on, but Fallon and her family absolutely were.
But thinking about putting together a big wedding, even just to keep up the pretense, made my head hurt. Maybe the way Fallon and Parker had done it, eloping in Vegas and then throwing a celebration months later, was the better way to go. Way less pressure.
“Just put me down for whatever date is available and let me know.” Andie’s mouth dropped open, and I asked, “What?”
“I was sure you were going to keep putting me off. I was sure youweren’t really engaged.”
“What? Why?”
“Most of the town is talking about it. While everyone knew you two were friends—good friends, maybe even friends-with-benefits kind of friends—you’ve never been openly affectionate. No one’s caught you kissing. And now, with the mumblings about the chief retiring and the city council wanting a married man in the position, everyone has been wondering if that’s why you two decided to get hitched.” As if realizing what she’d just spilled out, Andie blushed. “I’m sorry.” She looked down at the empty margarita glass. “I shouldn’t have drunk so much. It makes me say things I’d normally filter.”
My cheeks flushed at the idea of people talking about Beckett and me being friends with benefits and nothing more. I was pretty sure Delilah was the source of the gossip, but if Andie had heard the rumor, it meant the entire town had heard the same thing. It meant Beckett and I would have to do a lot more to convince Nattingly and the city council that our relationship was real.
The entire idea of it made the alcohol I’d drunk churn uncomfortably.
“That’s just Delilah being nasty,” I said. “Just like the notes she’s been leaving us.”