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You at the office? Can you come to the bookstore?

Travis

Be there in two.

Huk

Willow's got a creeper. Your creeper.

Travis

Fuck that dude.

"Hey Willow, did I show you the pictures of the remodel we did for Karis?" I slid my phone across the counter with our texts on the screen.

She hummed and nodded. "It's beautiful. Great work."

Travis set the door clanking and made a beeline for the counter, letting himself behind and sliding an arm around Willow's waist. "How's your day, muffin?"

She rolled her lips between her teeth trying not to laugh. "Not too bad, Stud."

"I see what you two are doing. Stud. Muffin. Hilarious."

Travis grinned. "That's just the way we are. Adorable and fun."

I grabbed Marley's elbow and started towards the door before she could ruin things. "We'll see you later. Don't get into too much trouble, kids." Then under my breath to Marley, "I'll explain outside."

We were out the door and down the sidewalk before she whispered, "I had no idea Travis and Willow were a thing!"

"They're not."

She stopped dead in her tracks. "Wait... what?"

I retreated. "That guy was staring at her, so I texted Travis to come sit with Willow until he leaves."

"Oh. Wait, no, why did he pretend they were together?"

I shrugged. "Because Travis is always extra? Because he's huge and it usually scares guys off if they think a woman is dating him. Funny story, one time he did that with Joanne." It was weird, it was hilarious, but effective. The bar creeper never came back and never bothered Joanne again.

"Charley's going tohatehim."

From what I knew of Charley, that was probably true. "Have you been thinking long and hard about how your friends will get along with mine?" I kind of liked that. I liked it a lot.

We were practically married after all.

"Yep. Charley and Digger will be drinking buddies. She'll trade stories with Scottie and eat all his food. She won't be besties with Mack, but they'll hang because they both like me. But she'll hate Travis and spend every minute around him trying to bust his balls."

"Anyone else?"

"She'll love Eve and there's a better than decent chance they'll bang, mostly because Charley is banging anyone and everyone she finds fun these days. Boy, girl, and everything in between."

"Divorce is hard." As was retirement from a sport that defined you, which was something Travis knew all about. She might hate my friend, but they had things in common.

"She'll make Colin her buddy and love Annie because she makes good food. Aviana will be her soulmate or something over-the-top like that."

I pushed open the door to the saloon and ushered Marley in first.

"She'll want to live at ODX and be best friends with Red."