Which, of course, meant there absolutely was something going on.
“Uh-huh,” Whit said. “Just like I ‘tolerate’ Delilah. C’mon, man. What’s the deal? You two got some kind of hate-fucking arrangement? Secret woodland trysts? Should we be checking the Gloam for love nests?”
“Jesus, can you just leave me alone?” Holden said. “Just not interested in that right now…and definitelynotin Flora Hardwick.”
Whit just grinned, undeterred. “Sure, sure. Just sayin’, y’all’ve got that weird animosity thing goin’ on.”
Holden turned toward him, eyes narrowing. “You’re really gonna come for me when Delilah Jessup won’t even give you the time of day unless she’s bleeding or bored?”
Whit blinked, then barked a laugh. “Okay, damn.”
Rhett whistled low. “That was uncalled for.”
“No, he’s got a point,” Whit said, still grinning. “She does call me more often when she needs stitches or when her internet’s down.”
“You ever think maybe she just doesn’t want you to get too comfortable?” Silas said mildly.
“Yeah,” Holden added. “Might be time to accept that the dog-chasing-car thing ain’t gonna work.”
Whit flipped them both off. “Y’all are acting like I’m pining. I’m not pining. I’m just... conveniently located.”
“Like a Waffle House,” Rhett said.
“Exactly,” Silas added. “Open at all hours, bad for your health, and somehow still standing after multiple acts of God.”
That earned a round of laughter, Whit included. But it fizzled out again as the fire crackled low, casting longer shadows against the yard.
Then Silas spoke again, his voice quiet and almost offhand. “June’s pregnant.”
Rhett stilled. Whit sat up straighter. Holden blinked.
“What?” I asked.
Silas nodded, eyes on the flames. “Told me a few days ago. Didn’t want to make a big deal of it until she was sure.”
A silence settled over us.
“Well shit,” Whit said after a long moment. “You’re gonna be a dad?”
Silas shrugged, but the way he did it wasn’t casual. His jaw was tight. “Looks that way.”
Rhett leaned over and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You’re gonna be good at it.”
“You sure?” Silas asked, eyes finally meeting his. “’Cause I’ve got a long list of reasons to think otherwise.”
“We all do,” Rhett said. “But that girl loves you. And you already know what not to do. That’s half the battle.”
“Plus,” I added, “if the kid ends up being a menace, Delilah can teach ’em how to fight dirty, and Noelle’ll get ’em booked on a podcast. Built-in community service.”
Silas huffed out a laugh. “Great. Can’t wait.”
Holden raised his bottle. “To weird love and even weirder kids.”
We clinked bottles, and for a moment, there was nothing but the night around us—stars overhead, fire dying low, and the kind of easy silence that only comes when everything important’s already been said.
Tomorrow, I’d marry the woman who turned my world upside down. Tonight, I had everything I needed right here.
CHAPTER 31
