Page 152 of On The Rocks

And I took them all.

“I love both of you idiots.”

“Thank God.” Griffin rolled off me until we were side by side on the rug. “I was trying to wait you out.”

I turned my head and smiled at him. “Maybe you should be renamed Elmer.”

The dog popped up and circled around both of us to crawl between us.

“No, he still wins.” We both laughed, then he reached over and cupped my face. “But you’re right. I’m not going anywhere. I told you already—you are stuck with us.”

“Yeah, I’m getting used to that.”

Griffin rolled up to a sitting position, then he groaned and got to his feet. “The floor sucks.”

“Because you’re old.”

He bent down and scooped me up, tossing me over his shoulder. “I’ll show you old.”

Suddenly, we had all the energy in the world.

And Elmer sighed as he settled down beside us in bed, his eyes firmly shut.

Chapter 31

Griffin

You Live On An Orchard?

Iwas whistling as I took Elmer out for his morning constitution.

The grass had a touch of frost on it from the overnight. Central New York was as mercurial as the woman I was going to marry.

Yep. I was definitely going to marry her.

If she thoughtI love youwas enough for me, she was sorely mistaken. However, it was one step at a time, especially with this woman.

I checked my phone for messages. Nothing from Beckett yet, but there were a number of emails I had to deal with for the summer concerts. I replied to an email from Bridger, apologizing that I’d disappeared after his set.

Could that have been another thing in this ridiculous turn of events that had been happening around us? Or just a coincidence?

Whatever it was, I had definitely flaked when it came to locking him down for the summer lineup. May was right around the corner. The first show would be for Memorial Day weekend.

I had a lock on at least two acts, but I needed to bug Laverne and see if we could get Oblivion, or part of Oblivion, or maybeeven Ian Kagan for one of the bigger attractions. With the taproom in limbo, I might need to get more creative.

As I finished my email, a text from Baron came up.

Baron:

Where the hell are you? You live on the orchard?

I sure do. Calling.

“Yo.”

“What the hell are you doing in New York?”

“I’ll be there in four minutes. If my GPS isn’t lying.”

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