Page 92 of Talk About… History

I ignored the teasing. It felt like we were truly at a turning point, reaching the final top of the mountain and seeing everything we had accomplished. I spent weeks dedicating every free moment that I wasn’t with my pack to making sure these platforms took off. It was a full-time job in itself—posting, responding to comments, watching trends, making notes. I loved it, and this was only the beginning.

Hopefully when they saw the changes in our crowd, other businesses would reach out wanting help, too. Plus, if Maverick and the guys truly wanted to start up the Artisan Fair, then I could help with the PR team for that as well.

There were so many possibilities from here, though Whitaker Brews was going to be the top for me. The better it did, the better life we could make for Mama and for each other.

“Don’t you have plans? Please keep them before you cry,” Cameron teased as he pulled me in for a hug. “You deserve a break, you’ve been working too hard. You’re freaking Mama out.”

“Shut up,” I laughed.

Nash walked past, adding in his two cents. “She has been telling us to keep an eye on you.”

It was weird having all this attention on me again, but I couldn’t fault them for looking out for me like they always had. Not when I was essentially doing the same.

“I’d better text the pack to let them know my plans,” I said, turning to Sidney. “What are we doing for girls’ night?”

“Mariana down at her pottery shop is doing a pottery and wine night.”

“You had me at wine,” I teased. “Sounds perfect.”

It was better than a crowded club where we’d have to shout to hear each other over the music.

“Right? I’m going to make a reservation and get a hold of the girls. You tell your pack. Go team!” She clapped her hands before diving back into her phone.

I pulled mine out to text the guys, not wanting to make them wait for me.

Avery: I know I’ve been gone all day, but Sidney wants a girls’ night. There’s a wine and pottery night in town we’re going to go to.

Cohen: You don’t have to justify it, we just appreciate the heads-up.

Avery: Working on it. How’s Glenn?

Ford: Smooth subject change.

Avery: Shut up, Ford.

I bit back a laugh at the teasing. Now that we’d all settled into our new normal, we teased each other more, laughed easier, and the awkward moments were fewer and farther in between. Moving in would come after our weekend out, but for now, I was content.

Ford: Ouch.

Cohen: Behave, you two. Glenn is good. He actually got good news from his lawyer that she hadn’t been able to access his funds… though she tried. Evil bitch.

Avery: Glad she didn’t clean his accounts out.

Cohen: He’s looking at real estate in town today, so we were going to be late for dinner anyway.

Arden: I’m setting up for our interviewers tomorrow, so I’ll be late, too.

Mason: I’ve got a job lead. I’ll be out until after dinner.

Ford: Aw, I’m all alone.

Cohen: I’ll come keep you company later.

Ford: Promises, promises.

“It looks like your good doctor is letting Hailey go early. Everybody will be here in about twenty minutes. Any preference on dinner?”

“I’m up for whatever,” I admitted. “I just like food.”

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