“Yeah.”
It was then he noticed Archie didn’t look upset or anxious.
In fact, she hadn’t been either all night and they’d beenprepping dinner for at least the last half an hour.
This was because, for Archie, Joany was Joany and she wasthere and what would be from that would be.
Lafayette was whoever Lafayette was and what would come fromthat also would come.
His parents were going to like her, and either she knewthat, or she knew Jag liked her so much, he didn’t care if anyone else did, soshe didn’t have to worry about it.
And she didn’t.
It was the first time he realized how much like his mothershe was.
Keely Black Ironside not only gave zero fucks what anyonethought about her, she understood how cool she was and always would be.
It was just a part of who she was.
And it was a part of who Archie was.
“What’s that look on your face?”she asked.
“Just thinking again about how much of the shit you are.”
“I’m the shit times a thousand.”
Jagger busted out laughing at that.
He also looked around her pad.
She might not care what anyone thought of her, but thisnight meant something to her.
Joke had come with him to bring up the dining room table,and Archie had been right.It looked great in her space.
Now it was set with plates, silverware and wineglasses, andthere was a pretty bouquet of fresh flowers in the middle.
There was another small bunch of fresh flowers on the edgeof her bar.
The place always looked lived-in and funky, but she’dtidied, so now it looked lived-in and funky on purpose, with style and flair.
And he’d seen the inside of the fridge.So he saw that she’dmade a trifle out of passionfruit and meringues that looked like it took herthree hours to put together.
Candles were burning.
She had Ray LaMontagne playing and four types of beer in thefridge.
All of this for his mom.
Hound.
Him.
He recently saw a picture of his mother and father on thenight they met.
He saw the way they were looking at each other.
And Jagger felt that look.
