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He clinks with me and I take my first sip. Bryce comes over, wrapping his arm around my waist and swinging our hips to the music.

This is home.

We joke and laugh. At some point Scarlett shows up, and we toast to the miracle of Bryce and tease him about turning forty next year and him and Scarlett finally joining the rest of us in the forty-plus club.

I stop counting my beers. I just want to have fun.

“You’re all coming on Saturday, right?” I pull my darts out of the board.

We’ve moved to the dartboard, Scarlett and me against Bryce and Blake.

“What’s Saturday?” Bryce asks.

“Community clean-up.” I hand my darts to Scarlett and step out of the way. Bryce makes a face.

“I’m working that day,” Blake says.

I cross my arms over my chest, giving the two of them a mom-is-disappointed-with-you glare. “Come on. It’s our job as good citizens to do our part to keep Dogwood Grove clean. Plus, Mayor Anderson wants over a hundred people there.”

Bryce and Blake share a look.

“If it’s for the mayor, then we’re definitely not going,” Blake says.

“Why?”

“She's giving us a hard time with the brewery,” Bryce explains.

“But it’s my job on the line.” I give the two of them a hurt puppy look, but they don’t fall for it.

“How about we play for it?” Scarlett says.

“Yes! If we win, you have to come clean on Saturday.”

“And if we win?” Blake asks, stepping closer to loom over me.

I swallow a lump in my throat, and my ears grow warmer.

“What do you want?” I ask, trying not to let my voice waver.

“You cook us dinner,” Bryce says, raising an eyebrow at Scarlett.

She’s the better cook of the two of us and everyone knows it.

She laughs. “Fine. If you win, the two of you come over to my place, and Amelia and I will cook you dinner.”

“Deal.” Blake extends his hand out to me.

I shake it firmly, hoping that he can’t tell how touching him unsettles me. His hand is warm and strong, and I can’t help but think about Claudia’s words.

Did you see his hands? You just know that he knows how to use them.

I pull my hand away, staring at his chest to avoid his eyes.

It’s Scarlett’s turn to play.

She does a good job lowering our score, but not down to zero.

Bryce goes.