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Fletcher arched a brow. “You managed a civil conversation with her? Wow. Impressive.”
“I have my moments.” Keaton chuckled.
“Hey, Baily, are you going to join us?” Fletcher called, waving to Baily.
“If I’m forced.” Slowly, she came down the steps. She strolled across the path and to the fire pit, taking a seat across from Fletcher. The tension between the two had eased somewhat over the course of the last year.
Baily and Audra had gotten close again, and that seemed to make things even better, but Baily still resented the entire team. It was complicated and Keaton understood better than most. He and the rest of the team were a constant reminder that Ken hadn’t returned.
Baily checked her watch. “Trinity should have been here by now.”
Keaton sat up taller. “Did she come back before you left the marina?”
“No, but?—”
“Jesus. She could still be out there.” Keaton jumped to his feet.
“Relax.” Baily held up her hand. “She called me to tell me she was going home first. Something about wanting to take a look at an image she took underwater. I justdidn’t think it would take this long.” Baily jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “Knowing Dawson and Audra, they’re probably inside having a quickie, and I don’t want to be stuck alone out here with you three.”
“We’re not that bad,” Fletcher said. “And Dawson and Audra are kind of disgusting.”
“Leave Mommy and Daddy alone,” Hayes said. “I, for one, think they’re cute.”
“That texting with Chloe must be going really well,” Keaton said.
“Nah. Crashed and burned.” Hayes shrugged. “She told me her caseload was too much, and while Iintriguedher, she wasn’t dating.”
“Seriously? You’ve been chatting with her for an entire week. It took that long to hit the ground in flames?” Keaton asked.
“I tried more than once.” Hayes shrugged. “I just finally gave up today. There are more fish in the sea. Only, just not in this town.”
Dawson and Audra came out of the big house, all smiles, holding hands. Dawson carried a small cooler in his free hand. Thank God. Keaton could sure use that fresh beer.
It warmed Keaton’s heart to see his buddy so happy. Deep down, he was a hopeless romantic. He totally believed in love.
But that ship had sailed.
Dawson set the cooler down and flipped open the lid. “You idiots can help yourself.” He took a seat next to Baily, and Audra eased onto his lap, gazing into his eyes.
They’d said the words. Keaton knew it. Felt it deepin his bones. He gave them six months before wedding bells were ringing, and he and the rest of the guys were arguing over who would be the best man.
But they all knew how it would play out. All or no one.
“What are we talking about?” Dawson asked.
“Hayes’s love life, and the fact that the FBI agent turned him down.”
Dawson laughed. “Sorry, man. But I was struggling to see it anyway.”
“Trinity’s friend Mallary is single,” Baily said.
“Nope.” Hayes let out a long breath. “She’s nice. She’s intelligent. And she’s pretty. But she turned me down, too. Said she’s got too much going on with what happened to her brother, and I understand that.”
Dawson scratched his jaw. “I’ve been following that case. I even looked at the police file.”
“Does Trinity know you did that?” Baily asked.
“She asked me to.” Dawson nodded. “I can’t tell her much, but I did tell her and Mallary that I find some of the statements suspicious.”