Page 53 of Next to You

“I’m not wrecked. I don’t want to rush her is all.” I slid into a chair at the table. “I don’t want to fuck this up.”

“That’s understandable, even smart,” Hunter said. “Being stuck with someone is extreme. Maybe that’s why you’re so—” He waved a hand up and down. “Messed up.”

“I’m fine. I swear.” It was a lie. I was not fine, but they didn’t need to know that.

Deacon sipped his beer as he watched me. It was obvious he was trying to figure out what I was not saying out loud. “Did you know Grandma and Grandpa only knew each other for five days before they got married?”

“Really?” My head whipped to his because I did not know that. They were married for nearly fifty years, happy together until he died.

“Yeah, and they didn’t even know each other before they got together, like you and Lucy do. Love at first sight is a real thing. I believe in it.”

“I—why does this make me feel like I’m stupid for being here right now?”

“Because you have somewhere better to be.” Hunter laughed.

“Is that Spencer Cassidy and his band of hottie brothers I see?”

Collectively, we spun around to see two of Lucy’s half-sisters headed our way—the oldest two—Paige and Piper.

Paige’s ex-husband owned this place, so I was surprised to see her here.

“Evening, ladies,” Hunter drawled. Paige was his age; they’d gone all through school together.

“Hey, Hunter. Did you guys hear the news? I got this dump in the divorce. It’s officially mine now.”

She pulled up a chair and took a fry from the platter in the middle of the table.

“Congratulations?” Hunter chuckled. “Help yourself. Can I buy you a beer?”

“Nope. But this is on the house.” She tapped our table as she scanned the crowd with ice in her eyes. “My house,she muttered before refocusing back on Hunter. “Can I getyouanother beer? You three are the only ones here who are not shooting daggers at me with your eyeballs. It’s appreciated.” The pride in her eyes almost hid the hurt in her expression.

“We’re fine. Thank you.” He held his unopened bottle out to her. “You look like you could use this.”

She took it, popped the top off, and then took a huge gulp before setting it on the table with a beleaguered sigh. “Thanks.”

“Come on, Paige. It’ll be okay—” Piper rested a hand on her shoulder before turning to me. “How are you doing, Spencer? We just left Lucy’s place.”

“I’m good—” My mouth hung open at least ten questions about Lucy butted up against themselves, trying to find their way out.

“Lucy isgood, too.” Piper leaned in conspiratorially, bumping my shoulder with hers before sitting next to me. “Something about the look on your face told me you’d want to know.”

“He’s got it bad,” Hunter smirked. “Hasn’t said a word about it, though.”

Paige pushed the beer bottle across the table to him with a bold stare. He took it and finished it off, tipping its mouth toward her in a silent toast. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“Well.” Piper cleared her throat. “Lucy wasn’t talking either. She had nothing much to say about what had to be an eventful few days. Isn’t that weird?”

“Nothing at all?” I asked, my breath quickening at the mere thought of hearing any kind of news about her. “Uh, so what did she say?”

She met my eyes. “Just that you were a total gentleman.”

“One of the few left in town,” Paige answered me, but it seemed like she only had eyes for Hunter tonight because since she got here, they hadn’t looked away from each other for more than a few seconds.

What the hell was I still doing here?

My hand drifted over my phone in my pocket as I contemplated texting her. Or maybe I should call her. What if I just drove over and stopped by?

“Do it,” Paige told me with sharp eyes.

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