“I’m going to ride out and check some crops. Want to come along with me?”

“Yeah! I’ll go home to change and get beer and cake. Or maybe a pie. I’m not sure which way I’m swinging right now. I’ll know when I see it.”

“The way you view baked goods makes me hot.”

“That’s good as it’s an essential part of my makeup as a human being.” She saved and closed the document she’d been working on. “I should be there within an hour.”

“I’ll meet you at my house in an hour.”

She hung up and got her tail out of there before anything else hit her desk and needed her attention right then.

At her apartment she also packed a quick overnight bag. She’d leave it in the car just in case spending the night wasn’t looking like a reality.

The beer she already had so she put it in her trunk along with her overnight bag and a file she’d need if she was running late and headed straight to court rather than being in the office early. She had every intention of being at work early, but stuff happened and it paid to cover all your bases.

At the Honey Bear she waved at Maryellen Proffit. Since Caroline and Melissa had built their friendship, Mrs. Proffit was warmer, happy to see her. The Honey Bear, over the three weeks she’d been working at Chase and Chase, had become a safe spot for her, and she often took some of her work down in the afternoons after the lunch rush, to grab a booth and work while she had some coffee or tea and a snack.

It was a trophy of sorts. Her first official Caroline spot. Back in Seattle she’d had many of them. But each small inch of ground she gained in Petal was ridiculously hard fought. It meant a lot that she could come in and feel like they were happy to see her.

After making all her choices, Caroline paid and Maryellen bagged her order up. With a wink, she filled a little white bakery box with chocolate chip cookies. “With walnuts.”

“You’re a bad influence! I love that about you.”

Maryellen blushed. “Oh you. Now go on and have a nice time with Royal. If you see Melissa before I do, give her a hug from me.”

Caroline squeezed Maryellen’s hand before scooping her bag up. “See you soon, Mrs. Proffit.”

Maryellen had told her to call her Maryellen instead of Mrs. Proffit but Caroline hadn’t been able to do it regularly yet.

As Caroline pushed her way out, Beth and Anne stood just outside.

Beth smiled and Anne’s mouth faked one but didn’t bother to hide the lack of genuine feeling behind it.

“Hey there.”

“You here getting an afternoon snack?” Beth asked.

“Yeah and for after dinner too.” She could have said what exactly she was getting it for, but this tension between her and Anne was so stupid and such a big time-suck she just didn’t.

She wanted things to be civil with Anne. It made Royal upset otherwise. Angry and sort of embarrassed, and Caroline hated that Anne was making him feel that way. But at the same time she knew how much Royal cared for Anne and her family. She liked him way too much to not at least try to fit into his world with his friends, and it was clear that even though they liked Caroline they would line up with Anne.

And she understood it. But it sucked and it made her tired.

“You?” Caroline asked, meaning hey, now you share this personal thing about your life and that’s how you make friends.

“Joe has a late night at the garage and I need to go grocery shopping so I figured I’d just come in here and get him and Buck something to eat instead.”

“Buck’s the dog, right?”

Beth warmed, her smile sitting more naturally on her face. “Yes. He could come home with me and hang out and wait for his dad to get off work. But he believes he’s an integral part of the repair process.”

“Ah. So he’s Joe’s spirit animal?”

Even Anne thought that was funny.

“That’s exactly it. I’m going to have to share that one with Joe.”

Caroline stepped away from the door. “Sorry for blocking your way. I’ll see y’all around.”

“Wow, that y’all sounded almost southern,” Anne said.

Beth gave Anne a look and pushed her sister inside. “I’d say it totally sounded southern. I guess it’s like riding a bike. Before long you’re going to start saying bless your heart when you’re being insulting.”

“Is that when my transformation is complete?”

Beth snorted. “Georgia is like the mafia. You can’t ever really leave.” She winked. “Have a good afternoon off.”

“Thanks.” Caroline waved before she headed to her car.

Caroline and Royal had been dating three weeks. Long enough for Caroline to be even more certain she really liked Royal Watson in her life. She could be the better woman and step aside to give Anne one last crack at Royal. But f**k that. Royal would have gone after Anne if that’s what he’d wanted.

That should have settled it and everyone could move on.

But damn, she hated feeling like everyone around them was just waiting for Anne to get the hell over her pissy behavior so they could open up to Caroline fully.

Which was bullshit. She wanted to get to know his friends better. They’d gone out on group things a time or two. But she knew they hung out regularly, and other than those few times they all went out, there had been no real movement toward her by any of them.

She never wanted Royal to feel like he had to choose. But if they kept closed off to her, she and Royal probably wouldn’t last. She wasn’t interested in being made to feel like an outsider as entertainment for other people.