“But I’d have remembered you,” Elliot said to Anne.

“Anne Murphy, Elliot Charles.”

Royal stole two of Caroline’s rings while she nosily watched Anne and Elliot sniff around one another.

“You should stay for a drink, Elliot. Have a beer,” Caroline suggested and Anne threw her a big smile.

Everyone shifted. Interestingly enough it left Elliot sitting across from Anne.

People came and went over the next hour or two. A pool game got started when a bunch of the Chases showed up. Caroline hung out at the table with Beth. Anne and Elliot had started an earnest debate, Luke Bryan versus Jake Owen.

The place got even more crowded as prime Friday-night social hours hit their peak.

Royal played pool in the back with Trey, Jacob and Nathan. Lily sat with Beth and Caroline. She gave a look at Anne and one to Beth and Caroline.

“Okay then, ladies. How goes it?” Lily leaned back a little, getting comfortable.

“Excellent. Planning the wedding.” Beth and Joe were getting married that upcoming August.

“Still considering jetting off to Hawaii and doing it and just having a party when you return?”

Beth looked at Lily. “You have such a big mouth. What if she couldn’t be trusted? Joe’s mother is so wrapped up in wedding plans, and now Tate is like her partner in crime. If they heard I’d even joked about eloping, they’d both have kittens.”

Lily waved a hand. “Who’s gonna tell? Anne’s having hormones over there with officer sweetcheeks. She’s not hearing a damn thing we’re saying. I’m scared of Tate when she starts planning things so it’s not like I’ll be running to her with this. Unbunch.” Lily turned to Caroline. “Nice radio coverage, by the way.”

“You heard it?”

“No, Nathan and I were at the doctor’s office. Nothing bad,” she added quickly, “just a regular prenatal visit. Everything is fine. Anyway, we heard from Tate when we saw her earlier. All the kids are over at her house watching a movie and having hot chocolate and snacks.”

“My sister Tate is like one of those people who loves kids. Oh people say it, but let’s be real, kids can be annoying as hell.” Beth looked to Lily’s growing belly. “Um, not all kids though. Anyway Tate really means it. She’s just like so totally alive when she’s with her kids, with kids in general.”

Caroline smiled. “I’ve seen her with Matt and their kids. They have happy ending written all over them.”

Beth nodded. “Matt Chase might be the one dude on earth who is worthy of her.”

“Not that y’all are biased.”

Beth laughed. “Where Tate is concerned, I think you’ll find all of us are very biased. But back to the radio thing. It’s exciting.”

Caroline didn’t want to get her hopes up, but it was a positive direction at least. “I figure between the people who heard it and people talking about it, maybe it’ll get attention.”

Anne pulled her attention away from Elliot to speak to Caroline. “Oh, honey, people are going to talk about it. Garrett Moseby is flapping his gums all over town.”

Caroline knew her eyes went wide but she was so surprised and yet not surprised she couldn’t help it. “He is not!”

Anne nodded. “Totally is. Like a weasel. Thing is, he is a weasel so people know that.”

“But some will listen.” Caroline blew out a breath. “What?” she asked them all. “You think I don’t notice when everyone is talking about me? How many people look over here? Just because I hold it down doesn’t mean I don’t see it.”

“Yes, some people will listen to him. Some people think Elvis is alive and tank tops with shelf bras actually hold your boobs up.”

There was a moment of silence for how true that last statement was.

“Anyway, all I can do is hope the more people talk about it, the more people remember.”

Royal came walking back, and she locked her gaze with his, smiling.

“I just can’t seem to step a foot without running into you. You won’t be happy until you ruin every place in town.”

At first Caroline looked around, trying to figure out what was going on, and then she realized it was Benji and he was talking with her.

“Here she is out drinking and partying while her grandmother weeps herself to sleep.” From his place just behind Benji’s left shoulder, Garrett sneered.

Caroline glanced at them and then turned back to Lily. “Those are super cute earrings by the way.”

“Thanks!” Lily touched the blood-red beads dangling from the vintage-styled chandelier earrings. “Cassie Chase makes them a few times a year and shows up at the farmer’s market to sell them at random.”

“That’s ridiculously cool. Like batman. Only with earrings.”

“I’m talking to you. Hey!”

There was movement at the edge of her vision, and she flinched away instinctively, turning to find Royal’s hand crushing Benji’s fist. “You don’t touch her. Ever. You get me?”

Royal shoved Benji back so hard he stumbled, his back hitting a nearby booth.

People began to look as Royal fully inserted himself between where she’d moved, half-standing in the booth, and where Benji nearly panted with anger.

“She needs to get out of here. And get out of Petal. This is a town for decent people.”

“Like men who’d sucker punch a woman a foot shorter?”