Sidecar Crush

Bowie, on the other hand, kept rolling his eyes and telling Scarlett and Dev to knock it off, already. That only made Scarlett giggle. Bowie even threatened them with detention, which made us all laugh.

The waitress brought our first pitcher of sangria and I helped pour. Gibson walked in and nodded, but didn’t say much. Just pulled up a chair, turned it around, and straddled it backwards. Jameson tipped his chin to him and Gibson tipped his back. I was so relieved that the two of them were getting along again—even if getting along simply meant Gibson wasn’t glaring at Jameson all the time.

I’d seen Gibson at the unveiling in Charlotte, but I kept up the pretense that I didn’t know he’d been there. I had a feeling there was a softer side under that hard exterior, but he wasn’t about to let anyone see it. As long as there were no more taco food fights, I figured things were probably all right.

“Mornin’, y’all,” Cassidy said as she walked in. She was dressed in street clothes, rather than her deputy uniform, and her dirty blond hair was down. As always, her sister June was with her. June’s darker blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail. They both took off their coats and hung them on the backs of two chairs.

“Mornin’, Cass,” Scarlett said. “And how are two of my favorite girls on this fine Saturday?”

“Can’t complain,” Cassidy said.

Scarlett’s lips curled in a mischievous grin. “Any plans tonight? Hot date, maybe?”

I glanced at Bowie, but he kept his eyes on his sangria.

“Nope,” Cassidy said. “Not unless you count a night at home in my pajamas watchin’ old movies a hot date.”

“If it was with someone, I would,” Scarlett said.

Cassidy just smiled and shook her head. “Men are impossible. No offense to those of the male persuasion at this table.”

“None taken,” Devlin said.

Gibson shrugged. “Nah, you’re right, we are.”

“Least you’re honest,” Cassidy said.

I caught June’s eye. “How’s your fantasy football team doing this year?”

“I’m winning,” June said, her voice flat.

“Good for you,” I said.

“It shouldn’t come as a surprise to my competitors,” June said. “I win every year.”

“That is a fact,” Jameson said. “And the reason none of us play in Juney’s league anymore.”

June didn’t seem fazed by that. But June never seemed fazed by anything.

Jonah came in, pocketing his phone. “Sorry about that. My mom called.”

“How’s your mama doin’?” Scarlett asked.

“She’s fine, I suppose.” Jonah took a seat and poured himself a drink.

“You look like you need that,” Devlin said.

Jonah took a long sip. “She’s just… unhappy with my life choices at the moment.”

Devlin raised his glass. “I feel your pain, brother.”

They clinked glasses.

“I made the mistake of telling her I need to move out of Jameson’s place,” Jonah said. “She thinks I’m homeless or something.”

Jameson had asked me to move in with him, and of course I’d said yes. I’d practically been living there already, but I was thrilled to make it official. We’d told Jonah he was welcome to stay—and really, I wouldn’t have minded a bit—but he’d decided it was time to find a new place to live.

“You could move in with me,” Bowie said. “I have an extra room that’s not being used.”

“You sure?” Jonah asked.

“Yeah, why not?” Bowie said. “I have the space. Besides, I hear you’re a good cook.”

Jonah laughed. “I hear that, too. All right, it’s a deal, then.”

They shook hands to make it official.

“How are the wedding plans coming, Leah Mae?” Scarlett asked.

“It’s going to be so nice,” I said. My dad had asked Betsy Stirling to marry him and I was helping Betsy plan the wedding for next summer. “Simple, but sweet. Y’all are invited, so I hope you’ll come.”

“Of course we will,” Scarlett said. “Wouldn’t miss it.”