Page 31 of Over the Moon

“Don’t get a big head. It’s just that I enjoy helping people,” I said, glancing down at my phone to see the time.

“You got to be somewhere? Do you want me to give you a ride home?” he asked, as we’d taken his truck from his house over here.

“No. I’m good. I’ve got a meeting with Randall, and I could use the walk after slipping around on the ice,” I said, as we pushed outside, and he paused in the parking lot. “Good job today. I’ll see you later.”

I held my hand up and waved because I needed some distance there.

We were getting too close, and it was a big red flag.

And I steered clear of red flags.

My father and I had always done Sunday dinners, but dinner at the Chadwicks’ was next level.

Dinner with my dad was conversations about hockey, school, and my grandparents.

But dinner at Clark’s parents’ house was quite possibly the most entertaining experience of my life.

The Chadwicks made you feel like you belonged there, and that wasn’t a familiar feeling for me.

“I’m so happy you could join us,” Ellie, Clark’s mom, said. “We’ve heard so much about you.”

“Thank you for having me.” I passed the salad to Clark, who sat to my right. Lulu was on my left, and she handed me the basket of warm rolls.

“Your father must be awfully proud of you working with the team now,” Keaton asked. He and Ellie were the kind of parents you saw on a TV sitcom. They were funny and sweet, and you could see how much they adored their children.

I’d met all the brothers, Easton, Bridger, and Rafe, as well as his cousin, Axel, at pickleball, and tonight was my first time meeting Axel’s brother Archer, and his little girl, Melody. Lulu, Henley, and I had become fast friends. I’ve played pickleball with them four times now, and I had a lot of fun with both of them.

Isabelle and Carlisle were Archer and Axel’s parents, and they lived next door.

This family could be on a reality show, because they were hilarious, and they played off one another so well.

“How close are you with Emilia Taylor?” Bridger grumped from across the table.

He was the toughest read in the bunch.

He didn’t give much away, and he seemed pissed off most of the time.

“I love Emilia. I rent her guest cottage, and she’s been a great friend since I moved to town.”

“That’s all I needed to know,” he said, before glancing around the table as if he’d just proven his point.

Emilia had mentioned that he was particularly cold to her and that there were some issues with the Chadwicks regarding her parents’ newspaper, but I didn’t realize how serious this was.

Bridger’s gaze found mine, looking at me like I just admitted I was best friends with Satan himself.

It pissed me off.

Emilia was kind to her core.

“Ignore him,” Clark said. “He’s got it in his head that Emilia has it out for us.”

“It’s not in my head—it’s actually written in ink, genius,” he snapped at his brother, and the table erupted in laughter.

“You don’t even know that she has anything to do with it,” Henley and Lulu said at the same time, and then turned and high-fived one another for it.

“Eloise.” Bridger directed his question to me. “Let me ask you something.”

“Okay.” I cleared my throat and dabbed my mouth with my napkin.

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