Page 83 of Silver Sanctuary
“This place is so cute! I don’t think I’ve been to Lark Lake before, even as a kid.” Lacy wrapped her arm through Mae’s as they walked into their brunch spot that morning. She’d gotten the full rundown on the Lucky Duck’s lake-side location from the girls on the drive over. And, as promised, she let Nash know where they were going.
What she hadn’t been expecting from the name alone was the venue they’d arrived at. It looked like something out of a fairytale. A beautiful white building surrounded by climbing vines that not only climbed the restaurant, but also weaved their way through the trellis-lined walkway. Behind the building, Lacy could see the stunning lake, with a dock large enough for patrons to stroll down.
There was this sudden pull in her heart to have Nash and Embrie with her.
“Let’s get inside! They have the most delicious mimosas!” Mae laughed as they made their way down the path.
“You only say that because they put like one splash of orange juice in and the rest is alcohol.” Sloane rolled her eyes, and Lacy couldn’t help but smile. She loved seeing these glimpses of Sloane, carefree and goofy.
“How else should a mimosa be made, Sloane?”
The teasing continued as they made their way to their table. It was at the back of the restaurant, which meant there was a direct view out over the lake. The way the sunlight bounced off the gentle waves was mesmerizing, and Lacy found herself wondering what it would be like to bring her family there one day. Would they need a little highchair soon like Gunner was settling Sage into at the table next to them?
“Earth to Lacy.”
Her face snapped away from the window, the realization that all her friends were sitting at the table now while she still stood making the apples of her cheeks blaze.
“Sorry. Got lost in a daydream.”
“About that dreamy husband of yours?” Mae winked.
“About him. About the future,” she admitted.
“Eee!” Lily squealed. “You two are so cute together. And I’m still not over those vows! My goodness, it was like you were both trying to see who could make us cry harder!”
“I’m still pinching myself that this beautiful life is mine now. I know there’s still so much up in the air with Embrie and her custody, but I really feel like it’s going to work out. For the first time in my life, I have so many incredible people standing by my side, offering so much support. I’m so thankful.”
She would have continued, spilling her heart out for the girls to hear, if the waiter hadn’t interrupted a moment later to take their orders. Sage giggled in her chair as Gunner sang her a song, but Lacy couldn’t take her eyes off Lily, who was focused on her husband and daughter.
“Never, ever, in my life did I think I’d see Gunner singing in public to his daughter. But damn, it really does something for my ovaries.” Mae held her mimosa up to Lily and the two of them laughed as their glasses clinked.
Sloane took a sip of her tea and looked across the table at Mae. “So, are you going to finally spill about why you organized this brunch?”
“Can’t a girl just want to spend some time with her best friends?” Mae sighed.
“She can.” Sloane nodded. “But since you called me sobbing on the phone last night, and didn’t spill any information then, I’m gonna need you to, now.”
Mae’s eyes closed for a second before they popped open, her gaze locked on the stemware in front of her. “I did really just want to have a nice brunch all together. But I can’t… Stone wants to end things between us.”
A clatter from the table beside them had all their heads moving to see what happened. Gunner was picking back uphis knife to cut more of Sage’s french toast up when he looked at Mae.
“You need me to talk some sense into him? It’s about time someone did. You two have been sneaking around for such a long time, it’s giving me heart palpitations,” Gunner groaned, rubbing at his chest.
“No, dad. Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got things covered.”
“Why does he want to break up?” Sloane’s question echoed exactly what Lacy had been wondering.
“He thinks he’s protecting me. Because he still feels weird about sleeping with his best friend’s little sister.”
“He could just man up and tell Hawk. I mean, I can see Hawk getting in a right hook, but you’re worth that, at the very least.” Lily shrugged her shoulders before sipping her drink.
“Trust me. I’ve tried so many times to get him to see that my brother won’t have a problem with the two of us being together. I think he just wants an excuse. Because first it was worrying about how Hawk would handle things, and now he says he’s letting me go so I can find someone who will be able to give me what I want. A ring. A baby. A promise of forever. Apparently, if he goes back to school like he wants to, it can’t be him doing those things. I don’t know. I’m not this woman—I’m not. And I hate that right now I feel so desperate for him to see the potential in us that I see.”
“Maybe you need to walk away. Show him what he’s missing?” Lily advocated.
“If I don’t fight for us, who will?” The women sat in silence. “It’s always been this intense push and pull between us—that’s what made it so fun in the beginning. But he’s never come right out and pushed me away like this before. The other night he had this really bad?—”
“Mae, I’m so sorry to interrupt, but Lacy,” Lily whispered, “is that your mom looking over here at us?”
