“Sounds low-key. I like it.” Daddy turned and walked out of my room.
I slowly stood up and walked over to my suitcase. I was finished packing, but I couldn’t bring myself to close and zip it up. I laid Emma on top and turned to face Will.
“You’re bringing Emma?”
I felt my cheeks heat as I slowly nodded. “Yeah. If I thought I could bring Banjo, he would be ready to go in the trailer.”
Will walked up to me and pulled me into his arms. He leaned down and kissed my lips tenderly. “You ready for dinner? I’m sure everyone is probably almost there by now.”
I nodded my head and reached for his hand.
The entire way to the restaurant, neither of us spoke. It was as if we were simply enjoying the presence of each other.
Will pulled up and put his truck in park. He took a deep breath, sighed, and got out before walking to my side. I began to wonder why he’d sighed.
What is he thinking about?
He’d seemed so distracted over the last week, like something had been weighing on his mind, and he couldn’t share it.
He reached for my hand and smiled the smile that melted my panties every single time.
When we walked into the restaurant, I saw everyone sitting at a giant round table. Colt and Luke were lost in conversation. Maegan and Lauren were laughing while looking at something on Lauren’s phone. Grace, who seemed like a new person, was talking to Libby and Taylor.
Our little group…
We were only friends because our parents were all best friends, and somehow, we’d managed to become a tight group. My mother had said that we might even be tighter than their group. I had laughed because all our parents were tight, very tight. They never fought with each other—at least, not that I knew of. They loved each other unconditionally, and I’d seen my mother leave in the dead of night just to be with one of them.
Yeah, our little group is just the same. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for any of them, and I knew they felt the same way.
Will started walking toward the table, and Luke looked up and smiled. He and Colt both stood up. I loved how my brother, Luke, and Will always stood up when a girl either walked up to a table or got up to leave. They had for sure been raised the right way.
“Alex, you look beautiful,” Luke said with a smile.
I grinned. “Liar.”