She had a point. Ever since we started dating and he decided to join his father’s firm, he’d been spending less and less time with me and hardly ever spent time with our group at all.?Not to mention, all of his alleged scheming and plotting probably took up a good chunk of his time.
I wondered, for the first time, what would happen to all of us when Dane and I got married. What would become of the brunches and the wine tastings, the sleepover parties with Sutton and me, and sometimes Charlie, that still lingered into our twenties?
Would we still go to Tybee Island together every Memorial Day weekend? What about the trips to watch Sutton run her marathons or to see one of Charlie’s exhibits when his work got picked up in a different city??
Or what about just getting together because we had nothing better to do and we just wanted to be around each other?
If I was living life like a Wilder, I was going to have days packed so tight with charity work and socializing, I really wouldn’t have time for much else, especially while running the bar, too.?
Sutton slid off the barstool and joined our friends, all sitting around the table covered in poinsettias and cheer, smiling happily at one another and laughing at something my brother said. My heart ached.?
Friendships, especially ones like ours, were always teetering on the edge, vulnerable to the seismic shifts that life threw our way. Weddings, babies, divorces—these milestones were supposed to be beautiful, but they often left scars. Not all relationships had the strength to weather those storms. As I reflected on everything I’d lost, it hit me—my friends were the ones I’d miss the most. The idea of losing them felt like a heavy weight in my chest, a reminder that even the best moments could change everything.
“Magnolia Louise Pruitt, get that sullen sulk off your face and try these gingerbread pancakes before your business partner here inhales them all!” Sutton was keeled over laughing as Lee shoveled three pancakes in his face at one time, choking and gagging.?
As I sat down, everyone was in a roar over it. Lee met my eyes across the table, smiling proudly.?He’d never had to worry about losing anything, not the bar, not our friends, not his family.?
But for me, I had to risk it all just to survive.?
Chapter thirty-four
LEE
“So, have you told her yet?” Charlie lingered in the corner of the bar with me while our friends exchanged gifts and wrapped up the brunch. Everyone had somewhere to be.
Including me.?
“Not yet, no. I’m waiting until everyone clears out. Will you be up there with her tonight? It’s y’all’s first Christmas without Cole and…”?
Charlie nodded, patting my back. “Of course. Sutton made her a whole batch of fried chicken and chocolate chip cookies, and I ordered some side dishes from Treylor Park. I’ll do a big spread and stay the night. She’ll be fine, Lee. We have her, don’t worry.”?
I watched Maggie move around the room, hugging our friends and passing out kisses on the cheek and cheers with her glass. She looked vibrant and happy, but I could tell something was eating at her. It was written all over her face.?
And, as usual, I was the only one who noticed.?
“I’m not doubting your ability to take care of your sister, Charlie. I’m just saying that—”?
“That you love her and you want her to be happy, which is why you’re doing what you’re doing. I know, Lee.”?
What I was doing was not solely contingent on me, but when the offer presented itself, I took it as a sign and ran with it. It was almost like I was sitting on a mound of questions, and when I got the phone call after leaving Charlie’s the day before, they’d all, somewhat, been answered.?
“Will I see you after Christmas? I have to help Jordan and Doyle with a delivery for a big party tonight, so I have to run,” Charlie said somewhat quietly.?
“Yeah, man, you’ll see me. I’ll be by tomorrow. I have some gifts for youtwo and the cat.”?
“Of course you do,” he chuckled. “Alright, brother, see you tomorrow. Merry Christmas, Lee.”?
“Merry Christmas, Charlie.” I watched him glide through the bar and kiss his sister on the cheek. Jordan and Doyle waved over their shoulders before piling out the door, and Sutton followed behind with Charlie and Ryan in tow.?
“Man, Ryan and Sutton, huh?” Maggie locked the door and slipped on her apron, starting work on cleaning up the brunch table.?
“It’s kind of weird, right? Like, they’re a great fit, but they’re not.”?
She smiled softly. “Same could be said of a lot of couples around here, I think.”?
I let out a puff of air and joined her at the table, clearing up dishes and putting the poinsettias back around the bar. Her comment opened the door to a bigger conversation, but I decided to let it ride on the wind.?
That night, there were bigger fish to fry.?
