Page 11 of Just One of the Groomsmen
“You’re gonna get the cops called on you,” she warned.
“Not if I have a lookout…” Nonna eyed her in a way that meant she’d chosen her partner in crime.
Between the bridal shower at the fancy restaurant and the drinks that’d followed—lucky her, she was the DD and couldn’t numb the sense of not belonging with alcohol—she was done with tonight.
Honestly, she’d mostly dropped by to get her yoga pants, because the rest of hers were dirty.
She was also hoping to sneak the dress she had on to Nonna, who was a miracle worker when it came to stains. She prayed OxiClean (something she was out of at home, big surprise) and a simple wash would make the fact that she’d climbed under a car earlier undetectable.
What with needing a favor and the determined set of her grandmother’s jaw, Addie didn’t have a lot of options. “Let me change real quick and grab my hat. If we get caught, I’m so telling everyone it was your idea.”
Nonna Lucia beamed at her, obviously pleased with getting her way, even though it couldn’t have come as a surprise, considering how often Addie caved to her. “Grab the extra flowers on the back porch, too, love. I was afraid I have to make two trips.”
When Addie came back downstairs, T-shirt and her comfy, rediscovered overalls on and her ponytail threaded through her baseball cap, she heard voices. As she stepped into the entryway, she saw Nonna greet Tucker in her typical Italian fashion, one kiss to his cheek. Sometimes Addie got three or four.
When Nonna first moved in with them after Addie’s paternal grandfather died, it took people in town a while to get used to it—that and her accent, which several people mistakenly assumed was German—but now they all happily provided their cheeks, just like Tucker did.
His hair was longer than it’d been all those months ago when Shep announced his engagement, and he hadn’t bothered slicking it into place. His face was scruffy, too.
When he’d stopped to help with their car trouble situation, she’d been extra self-conscious about being in a dress, too focused on herself to notice, but something was definitely up with him.
“Hey,” she said.
“Why you no tell me he was moving back to town?” Nonna asked, aiming the question her way.
Addie looked at him, her spidey senses going into overdrive. “You’re moving back?”
“I am. I saw my car was here and thought I’d come give you the news, but your grandma got it out of me first. She started scolding me for leaving in the first place and I caved.”
“Caving in to her demands is going around.” Addie placed her hand on her grandma’s shoulder. “Nonna, maybe we can plant flowers another time?”
Right now, she wanted to find out what was going on with Tucker.
Nonna adamantly shook her head. “No. They out of town right now, so it’s our only chance.”
While Addie had tried to keep her words on the legal deniability side of the line, clearly her grandmother didn’t practice the same caution.
“You’re doing what now?” Tucker asked, one eyebrow arching as he glanced at Addison—she quickly feigned innocence.
“You’re a lawyer now, right?” Nonna asked, and he gave a noncommittal head-wobble before saying he was.
“Addison and I are going to go plant flowers in our neighbors’ ugly yard—it’s unbearable, all those bland woodchips and no color.”
Addie pressed her lips together to hold back her laughter. “This is what I do for fun since you left. Break the law with my grandmother. Trespassing tonight, then grand larceny tomorrow.” She turned to her grandma. “Did we plan on knocking over the liquor store this Friday or the next?”
Tucker chuckled, and happiness warmed her insides.
It was good to hear that familiar laugh, the same one that usually preceded hijinks of their own. “Well, I’m not sure you should be telling me all this. Although you seem to be dressed for it. You went from imposter in a dress to farmer in a flash.”
She stuck her tongue out at him. “Very funny. And for the record, I tried not to confess what we were up to, but Nonna’s never been the best at secrets.”
Addie nudged her with her elbow, and her grandmother’s mouth dropped.
“It’s not secrets. All this is attorney-client privilege.”
Tucker shook his head and let out a long exhale. “I’m afraid that only applies if you pay me.”
Nonna shifted her flowers to one hip, dug two dollars out of her pocket, and thrust them at Tucker. “Here’s your retainer.”
