Page 104 of Loud Unspoken Memories

“I am.” I glance at Charlie, still thinking how unbelievable it is that I’ll be his sole parent from here on out.

“And you have a little boy?”

I point to him. “Charlie is three.”

“Does he have any brothers or sisters?”

Sorrow blazes a trail to my heart. “I had a daughter, but she passed away when she was a week old.”

Instantly, Allie’s eyes fill with tears as she has some sort of visceral reaction to my admission. Mia takes her handand I swear something passes between them. Both seem very empathetic. I can’t help thinking the three of us would be great friends. If circumstances were different, that is.

“I’m so sorry,” Mia says, reaching over to put her other hand on mine.

“I’ve made my peace with it. But I still miss her every day.”

Allie stares at me, wiping a tear. “You’re even more perfect for Dallas than I thought.”

I sigh. “Would you mind if we don’t talk about him?”

“Hold the fucking phone,” Mia exclaims, digging her fingers into Allie’s forearm. “Who in the ever-loving hotness is that?”

Allie’s and my eyes follow the direction of her gaze to where Asher is standing at the bar talking to Lucas and one of the Calloway brothers, cousins, or… I don’t even know.

“Don’t even think about it,” Allie says. “I saw him first.”

“Really?” I say, giving them both a look.

“It’s a small town,” Allie says. “It’s not often we get fresh meat here.”

I almost choke on my lemonade. “Oh my god, can you please not refer to my brother as fresh meat?”

“Your brother?” Mia asks, her eyes finally back inside her head and looking at me now.

“Okay, Marti, give us the rundown,” Allie says. “I didn’t see a ring. And based on the look he gave me in the car earlier, he’s either totally eligible, or he’s a cheating snake.”

Mia bounces excitedly in her seat. “Did he give you fuck-me eyes? Oh, please tell me you’re going to have a hot one-nighter with the gorgeous older stranger.” She turns to me. “How old is he anyway?”

I shake my head. My brother is handsome—that I know. And more times than I can count, I’ve been asked to facilitate an introduction or even a blind date. But come on, he’s notthathot. NotDallashot.

Is he?

Ewwww… just no. I can’t even look at him that way. He’s the guy who used to hold me down and fart on my face. But that was back when times were easier, long before Dad died and Asher became much more than my brother. He became my guardian. My protector.

And now I’m thinking of theotherman who has taken on that title. Geesh, can I not go two minutes without thinking of Dallas Montana?

“Asher is thirty-nine,” I say. “He’s not married. He has a daughter.”

“This keeps getting better and better,” Allie says. “Hot single dad. Older guy. And very eligible.”

I rub and hand across my brow because Isodo not want to be talking about this.

“Widowed or divorced?” Mia asks.

“Neither. Bug—that’s what we call her, her real name is Darla—never had a mom in the picture. The woman who gave birth to her didn’t want her and signed away her rights. Asher had a real battle on his hands trying to keep her from terminating the pregnancy.”

The two women across from me each put a hand to their hearts.

I roll my eyes at all the swooning. “Hewasmarried once, though. But she had five miscarriages, and it really did a number on both of them, so much so that they couldn’t make it work.”

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