Grams sighed. “It’s okay, we’ll be out here, and you boys will be in the house doing what a bunch of men do when playing poker.”
Granddad turned to face me. “You’re in for poker night, right?”
“Um, sure. Are we betting money?”
He looked at me like I had just asked the dumbest question ever. “Hell yes, we’re betting money. So unless you’ve got fifty bucks for the pot, stay out here with the women.”
“Fifty? Irwin!”
“What?”
“We only put five dollars in our Bunco pot. You’re putting in fifty?”
He shrugged. “I can’t help it if you play with a bunch of cheap women.”
I laughed, and Grams shot me a dirty look, which instantly had me shutting my mouth and raising my hands in defense.
She headed back into the house, and I followed. “What time will they be here?” she asked.
“Six thirty,” Granddad said.
“Lord, everyone is going to think we’re having a party. I’m going to get messages from folks asking why they weren’t invited.”
I frowned. “Are you serious?”
“Oh, yes,” Grams said as she pulled out a tray of fruit and veggies. “Your granddad and I still know how to throw parties. Everyone in Comfort wants to be invited to them.”
Granddad walked to the pantry and pulled out bags of chips, pretzels, and Chex mix. I glanced between the two of them. They sure had everything planned out well for two people who had no idea the other was hosting a game night.
“We always order pizza on poker night. I believe Drake’s bringing it.”
I froze. “Drake? Drake Overmann?”
Granddad nodded. “Don’t worry, he won’t hit ya here in front of everyone.” Then he shot me a wink.
“Well,” I said as I rubbed my neck, “I guess that’s good to know.”
“Your daddy will be here as well.”
That made me stop for a moment. “Does he know I’m here?”
Granddad turned and looked at me. He almost seemed angry. “Of course he does, Anson.”
“Oh! The ladies are showing up! Anson! Anson! Come help me carry this bowl of punch out.”
I did as I was asked. The moment the ladies got near the porch and saw me, I was flooded with questions.
“Will you ever go back to Nashville?”
“Yes,” I replied, at least a dozen times.
“Have you seen Bristol?”
“Yes,” I answered, knowing all too well they had heard about the punching incident.
Women chattered all around me as Grams asked everyone to be seated.
“We’re missing two!” Addie, Grams and Granddad’s neighbor, shouted.
“She’ll be here, don’t you worry!” Grams called out. “I’ll kill Mindy if she isn’t.”
“What did you say, Grams?”
With an innocent grin, she simply shrugged.
I felt her before I even saw her. With a quick glance over my shoulder, I watched as Mindy and Bristol walked up the steps toward the tables of women.
Mindy gave me a polite smile and walked to one of the tables. Bristol kept her eyes on me. It looked as if she might be walking directly toward me. My heart raced in my chest. Out of fear or anticipation, I wasn’t completely sure.
“Anson, do you think we could…” Bristol started.
Then Grams called out for Bristol, and she stopped talking.
“Bristol, come along, sweetheart, we’re starting late!”
With a soft smile, she nodded to Grams, then looked back at me.
“Sorry.”
Her voice felt like a velvet blanket wrapped around my soul.
“Bri, wait,” I said as I reached out for her. “How are you? I mean, I know we just saw each other a few hours ago. But I wasn’t sure what to say. I needed to get my head clear before I did or said something stupid.”
Her eyes went wide, and I was positive it was because of what I had just said. Every single woman was now utterly quiet, obviously trying to listen to our conversation.
“I mean, we ran into each other…earlier,” I stated.
I turned and looked at everyone. They immediately started up their conversations again.
“I’m fine,” she answered with the sweetest smile—fuck, it nearly made my damn knees buckle.
With a nod, I replied, “Good. Maybe we could get some coffee or something and talk.”
“Yes. I think that’s a good idea.”
“Anson! The guys are starting to show up!” Granddad called out.
Bristol looked toward the house then back at me. “Poker night?”
I nodded.
“I’m sure everyone will enjoy seeing you.”
“Not everyone,” I said with a wink. “Heard Drake was coming.”
Her smile grew wide, and she let out a chuckle that moved through me like a soft wind on a beautiful spring day.
Grams walked up and tugged on Bristol’s arms. “Leave, Anson. It’s just the girls now, them’s the rules,” Grams called out.
Laughing, I made my way back into the house. As I walked by them all, I called out, “Have fun, ladies!”
When Bristol’s gaze met mine, I winked. She quickly looked away and then sat down at the middle table.
As I walked back into the house, I saw Paul, one of Granddad’s closest friends.