Page 92 of Wicked Pickle

“Sherman and Diesel’s dad were talking shit about his bar, and he got pissed. He took off.”

She frowns but takes up walking again. “What did they say?”

“They acted like they were going to change it or make sure it was running smoothly. I don’t remember exactly. Diesel got upset and left the wedding.”

“Have you seen him since?”

How much to tell her? “Yeah. Marietta and I went back to the bar. She’s really into it.”

“Really? So, you saw Diesel again?”

What is she fishing for? Bailey has been my friend for ages, but this is the first time I’ve felt like I should hold something back. “We did. Both he and his brother Merrick were working, just like the first time.”

“And they didn’t talk to the Pickles any more than the one conversation?”

Something about her questions worries me. Bailey is too interested. Too invested. I slow down as we approach the humanities buildings, all stone pillars, the opposite of the glass ones we’re leaving behind.

I explain the best I can without saying more than Diesel might want me to. “It wasn’t exactly a conversation. They were acting like Diesel and Merrick couldn’t run a business. I don’t blame them for being mad.”

Bailey stops again. “You’re on their side?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” My anger rises, and I’m starting to suspect that Bailey had some other motive for going to the Leaky Skull during her bachelorette. I decide to ask her straight out. “Why did we end up at Diesel’s bar that night?”

“I threw up, remember?” She glances away and takes off at a brisk pace.

I follow her. “Pretty convenient, winding up at your husband’s missing cousin’s bar.”

She won’t look at me. “Are you saying I threw up on purpose?”

“I don’t know. It’s a big coincidence. And Diesel doesn’t know any wine bar out there. It’s like we were driving to nowhere.”

“Well, there is one. The Wild Grape. Look it up.”

“We could have gone anywhere in Miami, but we rode way out there.”

We’ve reached the steps of our building. Bailey pauses by the door. “I didn’t throw up on purpose. But yes, I did have an idea that their bar was out there somewhere. I thought it might be fun to stop by, get an eyeball on this missing cousin. Then we ended up there.”

I’ve known Bailey a long time, and I don’t think she’d lie. “How did you know where it was?”

Bailey adjusts her backpack on her shoulder. “We did some digging when we started addressing invitations. We knew thebrothers had opened a bar, and we suspected it was in Florida. We cross-referenced their letters, their tours of duty, their likely discharge date, and took a guess about where they were based on real estate sales. The Leaky Skull was the only new business that fit the timeline.”

Shit. She figured it out.

“Why didn’t their dad find them?”

“They assumed the brothers would settle near where they were from. It was Rhett who remembered how they talked so fondly about their Florida trips.”

So, the brothers were outed due to the wedding. “Are you going to tell the Pickles about the bar?”

“That depends on this conversation.”

Shit. “And?”

“Symphony, surely you know the importance of family. You got stuck in the system without anyone adopting you.”

My face grows hot. “I know the importance of escapingbadfamily, if that’s what you mean.” Tears smart my eyes. “You can’tmakesomeone want you.”

“But the Pickles are so great. I promise I only have their best interest at heart.” Bailey tries to hug me, but I resist.

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