He then turned to Keely and Hound.
“I’m sorry to intrude.”
Neither said anything.
Finally, back to Archie.“We’ll work this out.”
But she wasn’t backing down.
“Yes, we will, ifyoudo the work.”
His jaw jumped again before he dipped his chin, turned andwalked out the door.
“Swear.To.God.If you don’t get me a goddamncocktail, right…freaking…now, I willscream,” Joany declaredin Lafayette’s direction the minute the door latched.
Jagger pulled Archie around and into his arms, calling,“Hey,” since she was looking at Joany.
She tipped her head back and gave him her gaze.
“I think cocktails are so totally in order,” she announced.
She had tears in her eyes.
He dipped his face closer to hers and whispered, “Baby.”
“Best memories, best memoriesever, bar none, Jag,were when we were all together.I had mom moments with her I treasure.I thinkof them and they hurt at the same time they feelso good.But thebirthdays and Christmases and going to Mile High Stadium to see fireworks onthe Fourth of July all together, those were the best.Because she was at herhappiest, all of us together.I did not lie.She’d hate this.She’dhate it.”
Her nostrils were flaring with the effort it was taking totry to fight the tears, so he cupped the back of her head and pulled her facein his chest.
His phone in his back pocket rang with a call, which wasprobably a robocall because no one ever phoned him.
He ignored it and held Archie close.
“We’re gonna skip,” Lafayette said quietly, sidling closeand taking Joany with him.
“Right, man,” Jagger said.“Nice to meet you.”
Lafayette nodded.
“She needed that,” Joany told him as they passed.
“I know, babe.Go have a drink.Thanks for trying to takeher back,” Jagger replied.
Joany patted Archie and she pulled her face out of his chestto give Joany a weak smile as Lafayette and her moved out.
Jagger’s phone had stopped ringing, but he heard Archie’sthat was in the kitchen start right up.
She ignored it, and even if Jagger didn’t and he thoughtthat was weird, he had to stay with her because she was turning them to hisparents.
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
“No need to be, darlin’,” Keely replied gently.“You want usto take off?We can do this another night.”
“No, no, we have tons of food and I’ll rally, I promise,”Archie said.
“How about we make a deal and Hound and me finish upwhatever needs done in the kitchen, you and Jag chill out with a drink for abit, and we’ll reconvene over dinner.You cool with letting me in yourkitchen?”
“I couldn’t—” Archie started.
