Amber Ridge was in Montana, less than an hour west of Bozeman, and it was Jesse’s hometown, where he’d grown up with his brother and sister. The town he’d just moved back to.
Jesse’s lips twitched. “It’s still your classic small town. No secrets are secrets for long, and everything remains exactly the same. Even the terrible pizza at Burt’s Pizzeria hasn’t changed.”
“I still don’t understand how a place with widely known terrible pizza can stay in business for longer than you’ve been alive,” Antwan said as he lifted his beer for a drink.
Jesse shrugged. “We like Burt, so we band together and make sure he stays in business. I’ve been taking the first of the month.”
“And you eat the pizza?” Lock asked.
“Every scrap of it. It’s terrible. It’s an act of love.”
Callie sighed. “That’s really sweet.”
“You’ve always been too much of a softie,” Antwan said with a laugh.
“That’s how I attract the ladies.”
“Ladies? What ladies?” Lock joked.
“Haha.” Jesse sipped his beer. “Becket and Clara are in Amber Ridge, and so’s Mom, so I’m happy.”
Lock knew that Jesse had missed his mother, brother, and sister.
“What’s Becket doing since he left the SEALs?”
“Fire chief. And from what I understand, a damn good one.”
“Of course he is, because when would a Hayes evernotbe good at something?” Antwan said with an eye roll.
It was true. Jesse had always been the perfectionist in the group.
“You’re right, I’m good at almost everything,” Jesse replied, receiving a shoulder shove from Antwan.
“Modest too,” Antwan scoffed.
As the two continued to banter, Callie lifted her phone and typed something.
Lock slipped an arm around her waist. “Everything okay?”
“I’m trying to get Aspen to come down here tonight. It’s a harder sell than it should be.”
He glanced at the screen to read the text.
Callie: I need proof you’re alive. Either come to Meridian or I’m coming to you.
“We’re making a trip to your place tonight?” Lock asked.
“If we have to.” She set her phone down with a light thump. “I’m sorry, I know tonight’s a celebration because your friends are here.” She looked up at Jesse. “What areyoudoing for work now that you’re home?”
He lowered the beer to the table. “I’m a deputy.”
“Wow, impressive.” Callie smiled
“Thanks. I might need to talk to your brother and get some tips.”
“You’ll be great.” Callie looked at Antwan. “What about you?”
There was a flicker of his brows. “Since leaving the military, I’ve just been having some time off. Finding my feet has been…hard.”
