“Thespacelooksincredible,Wren.”
I glance up from where I’m placing playing cards in the center of a table and wipe the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.
Jacob Pierce lets out a low whistle as his gaze bounces around the event hall.
“So you like it?”
“Like it?” He chuckles, stepping closer to me. “I love it.”
Pride spreads warmth through my chest, and I feel my cheeks heat.
“I know most casinos use red, black, and white, but I thought gold, black, and green were a fun spin using our school colors.” My face creases with nerves as I nibble my bottom lip.
“I think it’s great. Besides, it’s a darker green. You should have seen it a few years ago. It looked like a leprechaun got drunk on St. Patrick’s Day and puked gaudy green in the gym.” He shivers, and I cringe.
I shake my head. “That sounds terrible.”
“The glitter. I swear, I was finding it in my car for months.”
My eyes go wide at the visual. “Don’t worry, no glitter is being used.”
“Thank God.” Jacob rests his hands on his hips.
I turn back to the table and continue fanning out playing cards.
Jacob bounces on his feet as an awkward silence falls over us. I risk a glance and find him observing the room.
“Jacob?”
He hums, turning toward me.
“What’s wrong?”
Letting out a soft chuckle, he runs his hand down his face. “That obvious, huh?”
“Is the sky blue?”
He sighs. “I wanted to thank you for your conversation with Abby. I don’t know what all you said, but she came home feeling relieved. There was a lightness radiating off my wife I hadn’t seen in a long time.”
My eyebrows crease in confusion as I rack my memory of what we talked about during our girls’ dinner last week. The only thing I can think of is mentioning the barn I’m remodeling.
“I’m not sure what I could’ve said, but you’re welcome. I’m happy she found some of her spark.”
“I’m not sure what it was either, or hell, it could be you inviting her over and letting her be herself outside of being a mom. As much as she loves being a mom, it’s been a challenge for her.”
“I’m sure it has. There’s a lot of pressure that comes with having children, not to mention having to rediscover who she is again.”
He nods. “I’ve been worried about her. She keeps a lot buried inside that brilliant mind of hers, but I’ve noticed how she spends more time with the animals. Whenever I find her trapped with her thoughts, it’s usually when she’s pouring more attention into the farm. Having you come back to town and encourage her to step away from our home is helping.”
I smile brightly. “I’m happy to have helped.”
“Drummond!” a voice shouts from behind me. “Those better not be real candles.”
I whip my head around to find the culprit.
Digging into the pocket of my workout shorts, I pull out a lighter, flicking the spark wheel and winking at Heath. He tsks, and I smirk before letting the wheel go and extinguishing the flame.
“How irresponsible do you think I am?” I ask as he walks deeper into the room. He reaches a hand out to his cousin as Jacob pulls him in for a one-handed bro hug.
