Page 112 of Make Her Mine

I grin at TJ. He is a big guy who has the reputation for being a major grump. Then I smile at Hope, his sunshiny, sweet wife. I love the fact that Margot is not only a perfect mix of the two of them in looks, but also in personality.

“Aren’t we a little old for you to be checking up on where Margot sleeps, TJ? Especially by asking her friends instead of just asking her?” I tease.

TJ shakes his head. “We did ask her.”

“Well then my answer is whatever Margot said,” I say with a laugh.

“Come on,” TJ says. “Tell us what you know about Margot and Graham.”

I notice how Adrianne leans in slightly.

“What makes you think I know anything?”

“You’re best friends with both of them,” Hope says, her eyes bright. “You know we would be thrilled if they’re dating. Just tell us a little bit. Is there something going on?”

“I’m not saying a word,” I tell them. “Margot will tell you when there’s something you need to know.”

“That’s not a no there’s nothing going on,” TJ points out.

I laugh and quickly get up and claim a new chair next to Jefferson and closer to my mom.

“But you do know something right?” Adrianne asks.

“I know that this has been a really fun festival week for a lot of us,” I say diplomatically.

“Not for Zach Nelson,” Mason comments.

His dry sense of humor is so much like Jefferson’s, I laugh out loud.

“I didn’t say it’s been fun for everyone,” I tell him with a grin.

“If you want someone to spill their guts, buy this guy a few tequila shots,” my dad tells TJ, pointing at Jefferson. “Maybe he knows something about his brother and your daughter.”

Jefferson groans. “Scott, give me a break.”

My dad laughs. “You’ve been around all of us long enough to know that it’s very hard to live things down.”

“Shots? That Scott knows about?” Mason asks his son. “What happened?”

I jump in. “He just had some fun down at the Come Again with the guys last night. I had to go pick him up and drive him home.”

“Typically seeing the sheriff after too many tequila shots isn’t a great thing,” TJ says.

“Oh, it was a great thing,” my dad says. “Tequila is like truth serum with this guy.”

Jefferson just groans again, then turns to me. “You ready to go yet?”

I laugh and start to reply, but Mason asks my dad, “What was he so truthful about?”

“That he wants to marry Harlow.”

He just says it. Just like that. Out loud to all of his friends. Including Jefferson’s parents. Like they’re discussing the weather.

And they all take the news with about the same level of surprise as they would if my dad had said it’s going to be sunny and ninety tomorrow: they nod and smile as if the information is exactly what they expected to hear.

Jefferson sighs. I sigh.

Then we look at each other and grin.

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