Laney clears her throat. “Actually, that’s you and me, Dil. Let’s be honest.”
Dilynne huffs out a laugh. “Yeah, you’re right. Men are horrible at making plans and remembering shit.”
Laney nods. “Anyway, Fletcher Adams is my fiancé,” she says, steering us back to the topic at hand.
I snap my fingers. “That’s where I recognize you from! My family loves football. I knew you looked familiar.”
She smiles. “Well, glad you’re not one of the women ready to fight me in the grocery store for taking him off the market.”
“Girl, you locked him down and have his ring on your finger. Be proud of that,” I say, grinning as her smile widens.
“Thanks.”
Dilynne clears her throat. “Yes, Laney and Fletcher are engaged, which her older brother, Rhonan, didn’t exactly love the idea, seeing as he’s also a member of the Blackjack Brotherhood.”
Laney shakes her head, glaring at her best friend. “Why do you call them that?”
Dilynne chuckles, holding her stomach. “Because it’s hilarious.”
“Blackjack Brotherhood?” My eyes bounce between the two women sitting across from me, waiting for more information.
Laney nods. “The four guys started playing blackjack in high school and it’s sort of a tradition they’ve kept going. They try to keep up a monthly game, though they weren’t consistent with it until Fletcher and I got together.” Sighing, she says, “Anyway, I won’t bore you with the details, but let’s just say the guys have all been a little rattled lately—with Henley’s sudden fatherhood on top of everything else.”
“I see.”
Dilynne clears her throat. “Anyway, Laney’s brother is one of the sheriffs in our town and also a single dad.”
I nod in understanding. “Okay, that makes sense. Henley has mentioned that name before.”
“My brother helped him the night that Remy’s mom dropped her off, and he’s the one that suggested Henley hire a nanny.”
“Well, he found one,” I say jokingly, holding my hand in the air, making both of the girls sitting across from me laugh.
“That he did. Which brings us to the last of the four men, Elliot,” Laney says, side-eyeing Dilynne for a beat. “Elliot was supposed to bemarried earlier this summer, but his fiancée ended up leaving before the wedding started and ran off with her boss.”
I cover my mouth. “Oh my God, that’s terrible.”
“Bitch,” Dilynne mutters under her breath. “I knew she couldn’t be trusted, but no one wanted to listen to me,” she continues.
“So just know that when you meet him, his surly attitude has nothing to do with you, okay?” Laney explains.
“Got it.”
“The boys truly are four of the best guys you’ll ever meet, but Elliot’s wedding and everything that transpired after that sort of shook up their friendship.” Laney folds her hands in her lap. “Not to mention Henley finding out he was a dad out of nowhere took everyone by surprise and has made all of us worried.”
“What do you mean?”
Laney turns to Dilynne, giving her a small nod.
“My brother and I didn’t exactly have the best upbringing, and he never wanted kids after what we went through. So, the fact that he was suddenly thrown into parenthood has me worried about him,” Dilynne says, her voice shaking slightly with emotion. “So do me a favor, and let me know if you notice him struggling, okay? I’ve dealt with most of my shit from our childhood because I refused to walk around with a chip on my shoulder forever, but he hasn’t. And I doubt he ever will. Whether he wants to face it or not, it’s only a matter of time before all that shit catches up with him.”
Laney squeezes Dilynne’s shoulder. “He’ll be okay.”
“Yeah, I hope so. At least he has Elodie now. That makes me feel a little better.”
Suddenly a weight comes down on my shoulders. So, not only am I responsible for taking care of Remy, but I’m also on “new dad” watchtoo? And what does Dilynne mean about their upbringing? Now I have even more questions about the man I’m living with.
“Speaking of meeting everyone, did Henley mention the movie night at the winery next week?” Laney adds.
