Page 70 of Forever in the Country

HAYDEN: Awww!

SORREN: Does that get me out of the hug?

HAYDEN: Not a chance.

“Seriously, why are you still here?”Tanner asks as he walks in the front door of Vetted Paws.

“I—”

“I don’t want to hear it. You have shit to do—admin stuff can wait.”

“Everything okay?” I ask as I pocket my phone and stand.

“What? Yeah. I’m fine—everything’s fine.”

“Unsolicited dick pics got you flustered again?”

He blushes. “I am not flustered. I just know you don’t need to be here.”

We stare at each other before I finally relent. He’s right so I grab my keys before heading toward the parking lot. I have one stop to make before I can see Rhea, and even though it feels unnecessary, I need to do it.

For me.

SORREN: Meet me at the garage in ten.

HANK: I work here so…

OTTO: Oh I can’t wait

CASE: Opening side bets for this announcement

WAYLON: On my way

Silencing my phone,I get in the car and drive the short distance to The Rusty Fender. The white building with black bay doors sits on Main Street in the heart of Clementine Creek.

We’d all worked here growing up, and seeing Hank as the new owner fills me with pride for my friend and brother. He’s worked damn hard to put the past behind him, and I need to do the same.

Parking, I climb out and feel sweat already dotting my skin. The sun down here is brutal and today is no different.

“There he is,” Otto yells as I step inside the air-conditioned space. Case tries to school his expression and Waylon tries to hide his face behind a water bottle. Hank looks almost bored until our eyes meet.

I already hate the buildup.

“I’m dating your sister,” I say without preamble and begin a silent countdown in my head.

I don’t make it tothree.

Hank smirks, Otto pauses with his drink halfway to his mouth, Case’s eyes go wide, and Waylon grins like a motherfucker.

And then all hell breaks loose as Otto doubles over laughing and Case punches Otto in the arm while Hank and Waylon both pull money from their wallets and drop it on the desk in front of Otto.

“I knew it!” Otto says as he pulls a piece of paper from his wallet and slaps it on the island. “More than a year, dramatic reveal, did it on his own.”

I should really hate them for betting on my relationship with Rhea, but I’d bet on most of theirs too.

“It’s serious, right?” Waylon asks as Otto tucks his winnings into his pocket.

“Yes.”

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