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While I agree, I dislike her bringing up the flaws in my relationship to others. I don’t even tell her about them. I love Lauren, but her sense of injustice on my behalf isexhausting.

“It’s honestly not a big deal—” I begin.

“It is,” Lachlan cuts in. “Lauren’s right. He needs to treat you better.”

Warmth that has nothing to do with the sun prickles my cheeks with embarrassment. “He does his best,” I protest, defending Bron from the truth.

“He forgot your anniversary,” Lauren supplies, scooping pulverized potatoes with her fork.

“We were both busy,” I argue, telling the truth for the first time. “Mayor Ferguson was in meetings that whole week and I barely remembered myself.”

“I still think you need aman—” I don’t miss the emphasis onman.“—who will treat you like you’re his whole world.”

“I think it’s too hot for this conversation that isn’t anyone’s business and we should enjoy the evening,” I counter, shooting my friend with a warning frown to let it go.

“Fine. We can talk about my decision to burn the Cut & Curl to the ground instead.” She waves a fork stuffed with steak and potatoes. “I’m going to need a good attorney. Not Westbrook. The guy who gets off mob people.”

“Or don’t burn down a building?” Lachlan supplies.

Lauren shakes her head, stuffs the forkful into her mouth and says, “Gotta. No choice. It needs to happen.”

“What’s the plan?” I ask, grateful for the change in topic.

“I trap Dani, Meredith and Mary-Anne inside. Set it on fire.”

My eyebrows lift. “Oh, okay, so we’re committing all the crimes. Bold move.”

“It’s genius.” She leans in, pins each of us with narrowed eyes. “After I’ve grieved the appropriate two days, I’ll rebuild in their honor and run the business on my own.”

“Two days?” Lachlan mutters, and is ignored.

“Love it. But what about the shops around it? Can’t have the entire downtown hub go down in flames.”

“Reinforced steel between the walls,” Lauren chimes without missing a beat. “We’ll sneak in at night, tear down the walls. Rebuild the walls with steel. Mr. Shaw can help.”

“Uh, the hell he will,” Lachlan jumps in. “Mr. Shaw does not look good in orange.”

The indignation in his furrowed brows has me stifling back my laughter.

“Do it for Everly,” Lauren coaxes. “Look how cute she is. She’d never make it in prison being someone’s bitch.”

There is no missing the humor shining behind his dark eyes when they drift to me. His tongue rolls over his teeth.

“Maybe Everly shouldn’t be committing arson in her spare time.”

“She’s the perfect person to commit arson,” Van murmurs, never glancing up from his plate. “Just put a burning marshmallow on the end of the stick and let her put it out.”

Lauren falls back in her chair, head thrown as she howls. Lachlan smothers his chuckle behind his hand. Even I’m fighting the bubble as I round on the man, trying to keep my face stern.

“Hey! That’s mean.”

Gleaming, pale eyes lift to mine, bright with amusement. “But true.”

“One time,” I protest over Lauren’s hysterical cackling. “I didn’t mean to wave so hard.”

“Thank God Lach had the extinguisher nearby,” he continues in that low rasp of his. “The whole forest would have gone up otherwise.”

My cheeks heat at the memory even as I laugh.