Page 182 of Eight Years Gone

Colton shrugged. “I worked with them at the car dealership. They were grabbing some auto parts for the garage. We hung out sometimes, but I’m not interested in continuing any sort of friendship. It’ll be fine if I never see them again.”

Jagger picked up the other half of his turkey sandwich, one hundred percent sure Colton was telling the truth. “So, they won’t be regulars here in Preston Valley?”

Colton shook his head. “I like things here just the way they are. I told them I’d come to say hello the next time I was in town, but I didn’t mean it. I don’t see myself heading back to Millsdale anytime soon. Mom’s coming here for Thanksgiving. Then she’s moving to Philly. There’s no real reason to head that way again.”

Jagger exchanged a look with Grace, tossing her a wink and a smile.

She smiled back, clearly relaxing some.

Colton pulled his salad bowl closer as he looked at them. “Amanda might come over for dessert at Aunt Maggie’s if that’s okay. Her parents already said yes.”

Grace smiled at Colton. “We would love to have her.”

Jagger nodded his satisfaction because everything was good, which worked just fine for him. He could do without the stress and worry he remembered Logan bringing to their lives with his constant issues and problems. Colton had had his fair share of crap, but he seemed determined to turn his life around. They couldn’t ask for more than that.

“The more, the merrier,” he said, looking forward to helping Grace and Aunt Mags at the shop tomorrow, then enjoying Thanksgiving Day with his family.

Forty-Seven

Grace sat next to Jagger on the couch in the family room, slightly sleepy and entirely relaxed as she watched Aunt Maggie, Asa, Colton, and Amanda playing Parchisi at the card table that had held dozens of side dishes during the afternoon.

Aunt Maggie and Asa’s old house was mostly quiet now that everyone had left after a loud and busy day. All in all, everything had gone perfectly as family and friends gathered around the massive Thanksgiving table to enjoy a delicious meal.

Jessica had brought Tad, her boyfriend, which had worked out fine. Colton introduced Amanda to the group as they sat down again to enjoy a myriad of different desserts. But the best part of all had been Jagger sitting in the seat next to hers—something he hadn’t done in so long.

She sighed as he hooked his arm tighter around her shoulders, pulling her closer.

He kissed the top of her head. “What are you thinking about?”

She lifted her cheek off his chest, meeting his gaze. “About how lucky I am. About how happy I am that you’re sitting here with me.”

He made a sound in his throat as he nodded. “That’s been my favorite part. Waking up next to you, helping you in the kitchen. Sitting next to you while we enjoyed a hell of a good meal.”

“And things weren’t too awkward with Jessica here.”

Jagger shook his head. “Aunt Mags is a class act. Just like her niece.”

Grace grinned. “I’m glad that you think so.”

“I know so.” Jagger sighed as he crossed his ankles on the coffee table. “You know, we have the next three days off. With Todd and Ruby off to the city with the kids and Aunt Mags closing the shop for a much-deserved break, we can pretty much do anything.”

Grace wrinkled her nose. “Sort of.”

“Inventory,” he said, beating her to it.

She nodded, wrinkling her nose again. “I was thinking about taking care of it tomorrow—just getting it over with so we’ll be ready for business on Monday morning. That way, we can do whatever we want Saturday and Sunday.”

He nodded. “That sounds like a solid plan. I can take care of the groceries and all the other whatnots while you’re counting all of the things.”

She smiled, loving that she had the support of such a wonderful partner. “That would be great. Colton mentioned something about wanting to help when Aunt Maggie and I were talking in the kitchen. Amanda’s doing Black Friday with her mom and aunt in Philly, so his day is free.”

Jagger raised his brow. “I say let him help. It’ll be good for him.”

“I was thinking that, too. Plus, we’ll get done much faster.”

“It sounds like we have a plan. What are you thinking about for Saturday? What should we do?”

She exhaled a breath as she rested back against the cushion again. “I think we should start by lying around in bed all morning.”

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