Hallie puts her hand on my arm. “It happens to me too, you know. I’m just glad he trusts Shelby so much.” She turns and starts walking to church. I follow. “It’s looking awfully real for two people faking it.”
The abrupt change of topic takes me by surprise. Then again, Hallie and I try to always be open and honest with each other. “I think I might be a dumbass for thinking I could ever fake it with Shelby.”
Hallie gives me a knowing smile. It’s the truth. When I think about finding my boy curled up in her arms, the two of them asleep like there’s nowhere else in the world they’d rather be, if I hadn’t been in love with Shelby by then, that would have done it.
“She’s something else,” I say quietly.
“Must be to catch the heart of Dallas Gamble.” Hallie’s tone is dry, but there’s no heat behind it.
She and I are good. Always have been. We agreed we weren’t right for each other, but we made one mighty fine kid together. I’m grateful for her and Bowen. The three of us have made a pretty steady parenting team for Ryder. The addition of Shelby has only made things better.
Now I just have to convince Shelby to give this marriage thing with me a try for real.
“You want to get married in the church?” Hallie asks as we reach the steps.
I rub the back of my neck. “Uh, we haven’t really discussed it yet.”
“Better hurry. The calendar fills up quick!” Norinne pipes in as she approaches, shamelessly listening in to our conversation. If her lipstick gets any brighter, we’ll all have to start wearing sunglasses.
“I always knew you two would get married.” Mrs. Perkins shuffles by, sucking her dentures. “Well, I actually thought Dallas might die of an STD before he reached middle age, but seeing as you didn’t, I knew you’d marry that girl.”
“Jesus,” I mutter under my breath while Hallie cackles.
“Praise the lord!” Mrs. Perkins hollers, then climbs the stairs at a snail’s pace.
Norinne leans in close while we all wait for Mrs. Perkins to clear the stairs. “Don’t look now, but Boyd Kincaid’s behind us. Heard Ridge went over there and ripped him a new one again the other day. Almost came to blows.” Norinne fans her face. “I’d’ve paid good money to see that brother of yours in a tussle.”
Hallie can’t stop laughing. I give her the stink eye, but that just makes her laugh harder. “I’ll be sure to tell Ryder to steer clear of the Kincaid’s property for a bit.”
“For a bit?” Norinne shouts, then lowers her voice when she remembers we’re surrounded by townsfolk who’d love to get a bit of gossip before the service starts. “The Gambles and Kincaids have been feuding for generations! I, for one, have picked the Gambles’ side, just so you know.” She pats my arm like I should thank her for her loyalty in a neighbor dispute that started before I was born. No one in my generation even knows exactly what happened. There are stories that seem highly inflated and perhaps even entirely fabricated, but still the feud remains.
Thankfully, Mrs. Perkins has entered the church, leaving the path clear for us to do the same. I see Shelby sitting in a pew with Ryder next to her, talking her ear off.
“Excuse me,” I mutter, leaving them all to find the one woman I never seem to get sick of.
Ryder smiles when he sees me. I hope that never changes, though I have a feeling the teenage years might test me. He loves attending church and seeing his friends before and after. The way the format is the same every time is a consistency he can thrive on. As for me, the church service gives me an excuse to hold Shelby’s hand, stroke my thumb across her skin, and whisper in her ear.
When we’re dismissed, Ryder gives us a quick hug, then turns to run off to find his siblings. “Don’t go far! Meemaw is making your special dinner!”
“I won’t, Dad!” He doesn’t even look back, but I know he’ll follow directions. This is the routine he needs. Hallie and I agreed to go back to our set schedule, like we do during the school year. I’ll be dropping him off at his mom’s after dinner so he can get settled in for the first day of school tomorrow.
I turn to Shelby and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her close so I can drop a chaste kiss on her lips. Her cheeks go pink at the attention.
“Did I mention you look like the hottest thing since fried chicken?” My gaze drops down her body to take in the blue flowered dress that shows off her curvy waist and flared hips. Don’t even get me started on the cleavage on display. “Dresses on you aren’t fair to the other women in town. Every male eye is on you, Sweetness.”
She blushes harder. “Dally.”
“What? You know it’s true. Your curves are legendary.” I drop my head, so my lips are right by her ear. “And I’m the lucky asshole who gets to take you out of this dress later.”
Shelby pinches the back of my arm, making me squeal like one of Skye’s swine. It’s effective at making me let go of her, though. “For shame, Gamble. You’re in church!”
I thread my fingers through hers—mostly to make sure she doesn’t pinch me again—and tug her toward the aisle. “Never stopped me before.”
I swear I can hear her roll her eyes as she follows behind me. We nod hello and stop briefly a few times to chat with people we know. When we finally make it outside, Ryder’s hugging his mom and stepdad by their car. He comes running over to me and Shelby and climbs into the back seat of my truck.
“Think she made cornbread?” he asks, focused on food, which makes sense. He’s become an empty pit of hunger lately.
I help Shelby up into the truck, leaning over to put her seatbelt on for her. “Of course, Meemaw did, buddy. She knowsit’s your favorite.” Shelby slaps my hands away playfully when I linger a little too long on the part that bisects her breasts. I shoot her a wink and shut her door, before rounding the hood and climbing inside to head to the big house.
