“Hey.”
“Hey yourself.”
“So you and Murder finally stepping out together. Ink isn’t even dry on the divorce papers and you can’t help yourself.”
“I get that you don’t like me. I don’t particularly care for you either, but what happens between Murder and me is none of your business.” I balance my plate on one hand and dip my hand into the cooler for a beer.
“Maybe not but we look after our own.”
“Then you should already know that he’s a man who gets what he wants. For the past eighteen years that’s been me. It’ll still be me till he says otherwise.”
“Be nice, big sister.” Roane’s Old Lady, Jules joins us, holding her boy Jasper on her hip.
“I’m nice,” Pam says with a grin that tells a different story.
“Right and I’m Santa Claus. Alexa, it’s nice to see you.”
“You too. Your boy sure is growing fast.”
“That he is. Big and strong like his daddy.”
I shoot her a friendly smile. “See you around I suppose.”
“We hope so. Don’t we?” I don’t miss the elbow she shoves into Pam’s rib as I move past them to join Wylla Mae.
Chapter Thirty-one
“So you and Dad seem cozy today.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t play dumb with me. I know when you’re lying.” She smirks and shovels another bite of pasta in her mouth.
“We’ve been talking.”
“Judging by that hickey on your neck you’ve been doing more than talking.?
?
“What?” I gasp, hand flying to my neck.
“Gotcha.” She throws her head back laughing.
“Ugh. You’re grounded.”
“I think I’m too old for that now.”
“We’ll see about that,” I mumble.
“Oh, Mom. Don’t be such a sourpuss. It makes me happy to see you guys together.”
“It does?”
“Yeah. I mean I still have some things I need to work through where the past is concerned, but I watched the two of you as you came around the side of the clubhouse, and well I’ve never seen either of you look so freaking ecstatic. That dark cloud that seemed to hang over Murder’s head is gone.”
“That’s because he finally divorced Ruthie.”
“And he can finally be with the love of his life. That’s what he told me. That you’re the love of his life.”