Page 92 of Lavender Lake
“Just making conversation.” She slid the spatula underneath the first pancake and put it on a plate. “Hey, will you bring me the paper? It’s on the kitchen table.”
“Sure.” I went to the kitchen table and looked at the newspaper. “Oh. My. God.”
“You’re so photogenic,” she said. “Even when you’re bitch-slapping Amber Winston.”
“Oh my God!”I screeched this time as I picked up the paper and brought it closer to my face. “I’m on the front page of the Huckleberry Hill Crier!”
“The story is continued on page three,” Muddy said.
I groaned and slapped my face with the paper.
“So, you want to tell me about last night?” Muddy asked as she brought me a plate of pancakes.
“You already know! Just like the rest of town, apparently.”
“I have the Crier’s point of view, but we all know journalistic integrity doesn’t exist anymore and they’re just trying to sell papers.”
“All five of them?” I said, my tone snarky.
She took the paper from me. “Eat. And talk.”
“Okay, but you can’t tell Hadley,” I said.
“It was about Hadley, wasn’t it? Why you slapped that little tart?”
“I didn’t slap her.”
“No, you’re right. You punched her in the eye. I texted Lucy to let me know when she sees her. I want to know how bad it is.”
“Amber’s vain. She won’t go out until the black eye disappears.”
The front door opened, and a moment later, Hadley, Declan and Cas walked in.
Declan grinned at me. “Hi ya.”
I pointed at him. “You know.”
“Of course I know. Wade texted me.”
“Us. Texted us,” Hadley said.
I groaned.
“Know what?” Cas asked.
Muddy handed him the paper. He opened it, glanced at it, looked at me, and then he said, “God, you’re so damn photogenic.”
“He made a statement,” I snapped at Hadley. “Wade made a fucking statement!”
“You know what calms me down when I’m mad?” Hadley asked.
“What?” I demanded.
She picked up the baby goat sitting on her lap and set it on mine. Tempest didn’t seem to care that her resting spot had changed. She snuggled down and stuck her head beneath my arm and tried to burrow.
My gaze softened.
“Told ya. Nothing like holding a baby goat to make you happy,” Hadley said.
