Page 61 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“You look different,” Henry said.

“He wasn’t always this handsome, then?” Zoe asked, and there was laughter in her voice as she stepped back to stand beside JD.

He felt her hand touch his back, and in that moment, he’d never wanted anything more. She was a friend, even if there was all this other stuff between them. Zoe was letting him know she was there at his side. The thought was a humbling one.

Dukes were people who loved deeply and had friendships that lasted a lifetime.

“He was certainly the popular Hopper, Ms. Duke,” Henry said with the practiced charm they’d both learned in school and from their father. “And I’m sorry again for any misunderstanding yesterday.”

“What misunderstanding?” JD demanded.

“Just Zoe,” she said, “and don’t worry about it.”

“Why are you here, Henry?”

“Tell me this guy is your brother.” Sawyer Duke arrived next. “Because he has your nose.”

“I am.” Henry stuck out his hand again. “Henry Hopper,” he added.

“That’s a mouthful. Name’s Sawyer, Henry.” He pumped his brother’s hand. “I have the distinguished honor of being your brother’s BFF.”

“BFF? Really?” JD asked.

“Ally asked me who my BFF was, and we came up with you,” Sawyer said with a smirk. “I guess that means you’re stuck with me.”

Why did that make his chest feel warm? Right then, when his emotions were all over the place, he had two Dukes claiming him.

“How long has it been since you saw your bro, Henry?” Sawyer asked.

“Years.”

“Long overdue, then, is my guess,” Zoe said.

“And then some,” her brother muttered.

“Not everyone lives life like an episode of7th Heaven, Dukes,” JD said.

“I loved that show,” Zoe said.

“Me too,” Henry agreed, which surprised JD.

“So why are you here?” Sawyer asked, not moving an inch until he had that reason. “Hope it’s not to upset this guy. We’ve kind of grown used to him around.”

More heat bloomed in his chest.

“It’s all good. You Dukes get about your business,” JD said. He’d start crying soon.

“Hey, JD, Delores told me she wants Jessie to color her hair again, but it was only two weeks ago when she did it last time. You need to tell her it’s gonna fall out if she doesn’t back off,” Cill said arriving next, with a child on one hip. She then handed the little girl to JD.

“I’m Cill.” She shook Henry’s hand. “His best employee.”

“We all know that for a lie,” Nina said, arriving next with another one of Cill’s kids in hand. “You’re cute,” she then said to Henry, who was now looking a bit stunned. His eyes were on JD, who was moving from side to side with Ruby draped over his shoulder.

Until that moment, he’d not realized just how much he’d changed. But seeing himself through his brother’s eyes, surrounded by his people and holding a child, he saw it.

Lyntacky was like that. You walked in thinking you’d find a small town, and what you got was this vortex of well-meaning, invasive people who claimed and molded you or threw you out again.

“I’m Nina, his actual best employee,” she said, nodding to JD.

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