Sundae's Best (Briar County 2)

He figured Eugene and Frances were adding to the talk. It had just taken a bit longer to get to him and Deacon because outside of work, they spent most of their time at home. It only confirmed that Deke’s family had to have heard, yet they hadn’t said anything to him…

“Well, whatever the reason, it’s still pretty cool. Deacon doesn’t name ice cream after anyone except his family,” Evie replied. “You guys want a drink? I’ll be back in a minute to take your orders.”

They nodded and each got a Coke before she disappeared. Grady felt Roe’s and Holden’s gazes on him while he looked over the menu. Somehow, he knew they had questions, or at least observations. It was clear from the night when Grady’s Sticky Bourbon was revealed that they were clued in on something going on between him and Deacon, but they hadn’t asked about it. Grady both appreciated that and wished they would. He didn’t want to say anything, didn’t want to out Deacon, but he also had no one to talk to. But again, Holden and Roe knew, and Deacon had been able to see that too.

“How are things going with Deke?” Roe asked.

“Good. We got a dog—well, he got a dog. I just help take care of him. Moose. He’s a handful.” Grady chuckled.

“From Clint?” Holden asked.

“How’d you know?”

“This is Briar County,” Roe said. “Someone saw the two of you together. Apparently, there was a kiss. People like to run their mouths and make assumptions.”

“Damn it.” Grady leaned back. It wasn’t anything he didn’t already know, but hearing it from Roe and Holden made things all the more real. “Patricia’s parents came by the house a couple of days ago. It…wasn’t good. They’re not supportive, and they’re making him feel like he’s somehow done Patricia wrong or lied to her.”

“Shit,” Roe cursed.

“Now I’m worried about his family. They must have heard, so the fact that they haven’t said anything can’t be good, right? And Deke doesn’t plan on spending the holiday with them if they can’t accept us, but it’s two days away, and he hasn’t talked to them. He has to be worried, or he would have. We haven’t talked about what we’re going to do. I sure as shit don’t want him to just sit around with me.” He leaned forward, rested his elbows on the table, and rubbed a hand over his face. “I feel like I’m making a mess of his life. I just want him to have the holiday with his family and not worry about me. Even if they’re okay with it, they don’t know me like that. They can’t want me there. And I just…”

“You love him, and you want him happy. You don’t want him to hurt,” Roe finished for him.

Grady didn’t bother to argue the truth. He hadn’t told Deacon, and he wouldn’t yet. He wanted to make sure Deke was ready before dropping that bombshell. “Sorry. I clearly needed to get all that out.” He’d rambled almost without taking a breath.

“It’s okay. We get it,” Holden replied. “If things don’t work out, you spend the holiday with us at Covington Acres—either just you or you and Deke both.”

Grady had known they would offer and was already shaking his head. “We couldn’t do that. I’m sure Roe’s family doesn’t want two more mouths to feed.”

“Have you met my family?” Roe asked, just as Evie came back. She set their drinks down, and they put their orders in before Roe continued. “Come to the farm. It’ll be good for you both. We’re a big crew that just keeps getting bigger, and we love the hell out of it. My siblings will be there with their spouses and kids. My brother Colby broke up with his girlfriend again—don’t ask. It’s a whole damn thing. Every time he gets serious with a woman, he breaks up with her. Lindsey will be there. She’s dating Larry, a local police officer.”

Holden added, “And Marilee’s bringing her new boyfriend, Ozzy. This will be his first event with the family. My friend Vince was even going to come from Atlanta, but his boyfriend changed his mind.” Holden’s voice was tight toward the end. He undoubtedly wasn’t a fan of the boyfriend.

Roe reached over and squeezed Holden’s hand, then said, “The point is, there are a whole hell of a lot of us, just the way we like it. We’d love two more.”

The truth was, it sounded nice. He’d turned them down at Thanksgiving, but between then and now, Grady felt even more at home in Briar County. In that short time, things had changed so damn much between him and Deacon. Still, he couldn’t make a decision without speaking to Deke. “I’ll talk to Deacon. If I can get him to go home, I think that’s the most important.”