Page 121 of Maple Mountain
“Let’s congratulate Poet and then say goodbye,” Salem said.
“You’re the boss, boss,” Cas joked to his wife.
“I need a sweet treat before bed,” Salem said.
“Oh, yes, same,” Hadley agreed with a nod.She looked at Declan with wide eyes.
He smiled down at her.“There’s a mini chocolate raspberry torte in the fridge for you and Salem to share.”
I hugged my friends and then they went to say goodbye to Poet.
It would’ve been easy to tease Cas and Declan about doing everything in their power to make their wives happy.But honestly, it’s what I wanted for myself.
Someone to choose me above all others.
Archer and I headed to the counter, our hands still clasped together.Poet clocked it immediately, but she didn’t say anything.“You guys leaving too?”
“Yes,” I said.“Is that okay?”
Poet beamed.“Absolutely.”
“You sure?I feel like a butt for not staying and helping you clean up.”
“I have Brooks,” Poet said, shooting her fiancé a look.
“You do.”He wrapped an arm around her and hooked her toward him.She was so petite compared to him, but he was always so gentle and caring with her.
God, I loved that for her.
I reached out to her with my free hand.She took it and I gave it a squeeze.“Congratulations, Poet.Your store is beautiful.”
Archer placed a hand at my lower back and guided me toward the exit.There were a few coat racks by the door and Archer found our jackets.He helped me into mine and let his hands linger on the collar.
We went out into the cold night air, our boots hitting the freshly cleared and salted sidewalk.The pristine snow was still piled up on the grass.In New York, the snow would’ve been black and disgusting already.
“Let’s hit the Copper Mule,” Archer said.“We’ll grab a drink.Shoot the shit.”
“That sounds like a date.”
“Okay, then let’s go home and get naked.”
I glared at him.
He winked.“You’re trying not to find me adorable.News flash.It’s not gonna work.”
I sighed in defeat.“One drink.”
Archer opened the heavy door to the Copper Mule, and we headed inside.It was warm and smelled like barbecue.The vintage juke box was playing a song I didn’t recognize.Something country.Something twangy.
Archer began to sing a long, making me raise my brows in surprise.
“You like country?”I asked.
“You don’t?”
I shrugged.“Never got into it.”
We headed for the bar and Archer looked at me.I ordered a beer.He did the same and then we took them to a vacant booth.
