Nate leaned back beside me, arms crossed, watching the three of them with the easy patience of a man who'd learned when to stay out of the way.
“What happened with Daisy?” He kept his voice casual, but his eyes tracked to Emily for a half-second before coming back to me. “Did you end up finding a home for her?”
“This morning, actually. Cute family. Two kids, fenced yard.”
Something flickered across his face.
“Good,” he said. “That's good.”
“You liked her.”
“Emily would have killed me.”
“I've got plenty of other dogs at the rescue, when you guys are ready.”
“We're not ready yet.” He said it quickly. “Emily's right about the house.”
“Sure.”
A beat of silence.
“What kind of other dogs you got?”
The corner of my mouth twitched.
Evan, who had apparently been listening while pretending not to, leaned forward from the other side of Nate. “You're getting a dog?”
“I'm not getting a dog,” Nate replied.
“You asked about the other dogs,” Evan pointed out.
“I'masking. Can't a guy just ask a question?” He laughed, looking at me. “Don't tell Emily I asked.”
“I don't tell anyone anything,” I said. “It's one of my better qualities.”
Rosie's gasp cut across the table.
“It's almost ten.”
She was still holding my phone, staring at the screen with wide eyes.
“I have to be up at five,” Rosie added.
That got everyone moving. Frank appeared before we'd even flagged him down. Nate settled the tab before anyone could argue, ignoring Emily's protest with the ease of a man who came from money.
Outside, the night air carried the last of the day's warmth, the mountains holding onto it just long enough. Main Street was quiet, a few lights on in windows above the shops, the distant sound of something playing from the brewery two blocks over.
Evan and Abby said their goodbyes first. Abby hugged Rosie, then surprised me by hugging me, too. Evan shook my hand, said something about the porch boards he absolutely meant, and then they were gone, taillights disappearing around the corner.
Nate and Emily headed in the other direction toward her apartment above Spencer Construction. Emily called something back over her shoulder that I didn't catch, but Rosie laughed, so it was probably about me.
And then it was quiet.
Rosie's truck was parked two spots down from mine. She had her keys in her hand but wasn't moving toward it yet.
Neither was I.
I should let her go. She has to be up in seven hours. I'll see her tomorrow.
