Page 74 of Quiet Beautiful Things

I zoom in on the photo. It’s Maisy’s new birth certificate. And it lists Blake Montana as the father.

Me: Wow! I’m so happy for you.

Blake: Hopefully the next step will be changing her name. Listen, I thought instead of our regular session at my house you could join us for a celebration. I was thinking Donovan’s.

Okay. Wow. Two invitations by two hot men. To the very same place. Yup, Calloway Creek is definitely a small town.

It’s probably not a good idea, having a meal out with Blake and Maisy. It’s been my goal not to send her the wrong signals. She’s finally settling in with him. They’re becoming a family. Sharing a meal with me might be confusing.

Why, then, do my fingers seem to take matters into their own hands and text him back before my brain can protest?

Me: Sounds great. What time?

~ ~ ~

I walk up to the pub thinking this was exactly what I needed today, something to keep my mind off Sierra and her mom. It’s been too long, and I know it. If they aren’t home by tomorrow, I’ll have no choice but to go to the authorities. Sierra is flying out of the country on Friday. Surely she needs time to prepare. If she’s not back, it’s because there was a problem. And not the flat tire kind of problem. The life and death kind.

Entering the restaurant, I do a visual sweep, happy I don’t see Seth. That might have been all kinds of awkward. But then a different awkwardness slams into me when I see Blake and Maisy sitting at a large table with family and friends.

So Blakewasn’tasking you on a date.

This thing with Sierra has me misreading all kinds of signals. Of course he’d want to celebrate this with more than just me. Heck, inviting me could have been an afterthought.

Maisy sees me and her mouth opens. She must have squealed or something as everyone at the table stops what they’re doing, looks at her, sees her looking over here, and then all eyes are on me.

It doesn’t escape me that Sarah and Allie share an amused look when they see me approach.

Allie hops up and offers me her chair which is directly across from Blake’s. I’m introduced to several people I hadn’t met before: Cooper Calloway and his wife, Serenity. Dax Cruz. And a bunch of Montana cousins, along with Blake’s aunt and uncle. The last person I meet is Lissa, Lucas’s fiancée.

I get my phone out.

Me: Tell Lissa congratulations on her upcoming nuptials.

When Blake relays the message, Lissa turns to me. “You should come.”

Not sure I read her lips correctly, I flash Blake an expression of uncertainty.

Blake: It seems you’ve been invited to the wedding.

“Me?” I point to myself. “Why?”

Blake: I think she assumes we’re dating. I think a lot of people here assume that, El.

Oh?I look around to see most people watching me. I sign, “I guess you should—”

A hand touches my knee under the table.

Blake: I should, what? Tell them they’re wrong? Come on, go with me. It’ll be fun. The event of the year.

Lissa says something to Blake, but her head is turned away, so I don’t pick it up. But I do pick up his response. “Ellie says thanks for the invite and she’ll be happy to go.”

I kick him under the table. “Seriously?” I sign.

He responds with a cocky smile.

I roll my eyes.

Allie grabs my attention and starts signing, showing off her new ASL skills. I’m impressed by how much she’s learned.

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