“They assume she must be in desperate need of a husband and get butt-hurt when she tells them she’s not,” Ellery explains.
“Or they hightail it for the hills,” I say. “Ellery thinks I need to have more grown-up fun in my life.” I smile at my best friend. “Turns out you’re not wrong.”
“You need to cancel your plans with me for tomorrow night and spend the evening with Deacon,” Ellery says. “Do you already have a babysitter scheduled?”
“I do, but I want to hang out with you,” I say.
“You’re hanging out with me tonight. Have fun with Deacon. You might not have long before he finds out you have a kid.”
She makes a very good point, and I smile as I finish arranging the snacks. “Thanks, Ellery. You’re a good friend.”
“That’s very sweet,” Lennox says. “Can we play poker now?”
“I’ll sit this one out,” Millie says. “Since I’ve never played before.”
Lennox joins me in staring at Millie in surprise while Ellery shuffles the cards as though everything is normal.
Millie shifts. “I guess Ellery didn’t tell you.”
“Sorry I’m late,” Gentry says as she bustles through my front door and into my kitchen. She sets a bottle of wine on the counter and takes a seat next to Hailey. “There was some drama at the house.”
“Everything okay?” Ellery asks.
Gentry shakes her head. “Not even a little, but I don’t feel like getting into it. Did I miss the first hand?”
“We haven’t started yet,” Hailey says. “Ellery and Millie walked in on Amelia making out with some guy named Deacon.”
Gentry’s brows rise, and she gives me a sly smile. “Really? That’s interesting. Do I know this Deacon?”
“He’s a carpenter who just moved to town,” Ellery says. “That’s all she’ll tell us.”
Gentry’s eyes widen, and her smile grows. “Deacon Sullivan? That’s Levi’s—”
I hold up my hands, palms out. “I don’t want to know. I’m just having fun with Deacon. He doesn’t know about Harper and I want to keep it that way. Don’t tell Levi and don’t tell Deacon anything about me.”
Gentry frowns, glancing over at Ellery, clearly concerned.
“I know,” Ellery says. “It’s never going to work, but Amelia needs some fun, so we’re going to do what we can to make sure she has her fun while she can.”
“How was the wedding?” I ask to change the subject. Gentry’s only recently back from her brother’s wedding in Colorado.
Gentry’s smile is huge. “It was beautiful. My new sister-in-law is amazing. Yuletide is the cutest little town. It was a great trip.”
“How did it go with Levi?” Ellery asks. “Did you two fight the whole time?”
Strangely, Gentry’s cheeks go pink. All she’s ever told us is that she can’t stand Levi, but he won’t take a hint and stop flirting with her. Does she actually like him?
“We managed to be civil,” Gentry says without making eye contact with any of us. “Have you already ante’d?”
“This isn’t over,” Ellery says in a threatening tone, before she smiles and throws her ante into the pot.
We’re halfway through our second hand when my phone dings with a text. My brother’s outside with Harper. He and his wife, Clover, took her out to a local bouncy house and dinner tonight. I’m guessing she’s passed out asleep in their car.
“I’m out for this hand,” I say as I push back my chair and stand. “Harper’s home.”
“Harper?” Millie asks as I leave the kitchen.
“Amelia’s four-year-old daughter,” Ellery says. “She’s adorable.”
