Chapter 26
Bryce
Casey Joe had been home a couple weeks, and I really didn’t think my life could be more perfect.
We’d made loose plans to meet up with my parents every other week—switching between Haven Grove and their place—and I kinda loved that my mom adored Casey, and my dad spent the better part of dinner the week before talking Casey’s ear off about engine parts and vintage trucks.
And Dizzy had been a Casey Joe fan almost as long as I had.
We saw her more often since she came to town to see Barb and attend Jack’s Lemon Drop Social Club meetings. I’d loved my aunt when I was a kid, but having her around in my adult life was proving to be something I hadn’t known I needed.
Looking back on that kid who wanted nothing more than to escape small-town USA, I sure as shit had to smile at how comfy cozy I’d gone and let myself get right smack-dab back in a small town.
But it was all different these days.
Of course, I had my family—and I never wanted to take for granted that not everyone was in the same position. I knew how lucky I was that my family had always loved me exactly for who I was.
But I had true friends this time around.
Yeah, I was part of an inner circle, but it wasn’t just about being friends with the Riggs family or knowing the right people.
Haven Grove was a place where a name or money only meant something if those behind it had the respect of folks in town in the first place.
The Riggs family had that in spades, and I’d be damned, but the Armstrong name was quickly coming to mean something around town too. The fact citizens in town knew I could be trusted, was well-educated and experienced in my line of work, and I’d give them a fair deal meant the world to me.
I no longer needed the ritzy, fake crowd of people who meant nothing to me and sucked me dry. Didn’t need to be associated with certain names just to get business. Didn’t need the endless scrolling for tiny hits of dopamine each time I got another like, another follow, or another comment.
I had a healthier relationship with social media now—partly because CJ took care of a lot of it for me, and partly because my business counted a lot more on word of mouth and me being present in town to drum up more memberships.
Ever since our soft-launch opening—and even before that—folks in town had proven again and again they appreciated and valued a business owner who was out and about, working with them, catching lunch with them, willing to walk them through a workout, or asking about their latest doctor appointment.
That was exactly what I’d been missing all those years out in California, and I absolutely loved being a part of the Haven Grove community. Plus, I had a whole crew out there recruiting members for me.
Hudson had proven to be a damn good advertiser for Armstrong Health & Fitness. The guy saw so many people throughout the day at the Juicy Peach and through his odd jobs, and he sent folks our way all the time.
Henry was quieter with drumming up business, but he had a soft-sell way of suggesting the gym to people that had them committed to trying out a membership before they’d even finished their last bite of steak at dinner.
Lance and Jack were both enthusiastic in their word-of-mouth recommendation of Armstrong Health & Fitness. And honestly, all four of the guys used the gym so they were excellent ambassadors of what healthy exercise could do for a person.
Casey was a machine when it came to getting potential clients through the doors.
No one would ever mistake Casey Joe Riggs for being anything but bluntly honest, but his experiences with health scares, addiction, mental health, and working his way back into exercise were ways he could easily connect with people.
I think people saw CJ as a regular guy just like them, and if he could improve his health, they knew they could too.
“Come on,” I said with a tap on the counter where Casey was working. “We need to head out if we want to get there on time.”
Casey tapped a few more things on the keyboard and then clicked the mouse. “Done. Just wanted to get that membership activated so she could start tomorrow. Told her I’d walk her through all the machines.”
I smiled and took his hand as he walked out from behind the counter.
I already had my coat on, but I handed Casey his.
With a wave to the few clients still working out, we headed toward the door.
Bon Jovi streamed through the speakers as we left the gym, and an icy cold blast of air hit us smack in the face.
“Fuckin’ hell,” Casey muttered, pulling his coat on quickly. “Is it fuckin’ spring yet?”
My laugh hung in an icy puff in the air as we made our way to the Roadhouse. “You and I both know we’ve got several long months of this and worse before we get back to spring.”
“Gonna put on five layers, start a fire, and not leave the house until at least April,” Casey groused.
As I pulled open the door to the Roadhouse, warmth washed over us along with the scents of amazing food and laughter of friends and family. “Nah,” I said with a hand on his lower back, “we’d miss this too much.”
Casey just shrugged, but his eyes sparkled as he headed toward Jack and Hudson who ushered us toward the small area Jack used for his cakes where folks had gathered at any empty seat available.
Soon, Henry joined us.
“Sam’s got it all under control,” Henry said, gathering Jack to his side and pressing a kiss to the blond’s hair. “You ready?”
Jack took his place in the front, surrounded by at least twenty people other than our little crew.
“Thank you all for getting out in the cold to come to another Lemon Drop Social Club. We should all be thinking about if we think a pause in gatherings would be for the best given that winter can be brutal.”
“You keep serving that dip and cake, I’ll be here,” someone called from the back of the room, and several people agreed.
Jack’s ears pinked, but he continued on.
“We had a really nice collection last time, and I want to make a decision tonight on where to donate. We’re already making those really nice knotted fleece blankets to give to the hospital, the county family services, and that soup kitchen.
” He gestured toward the tables. “You can all fill out the little ballots to vote on where we want the donated money to go.”
“Sounds good,” someone else piped up. “Tell us about the food so we can get started.”
I couldn’t help the silly grin on my face as I watched Casey Joe beam proudly at Jack.
Case loved his boys to the moon and back about five times, but Jack walking into the Riggs family had been just what Casey needed.
True, I hadn’t known either of them before Jack arrived, but it was easy to see they were good for each other.
It was so damn amazing to watch the mutual support and love between them.
Jack ran through the menu of a butternut squash soup, red pepper jelly spread with crackers, pumpkin spice cake, and an apple cinnamon crème brulee drink available warm or cold, with or without alcohol.
Just when I thought Jack would tell people to eat, drink, vote, and donate, Casey stepped close to him, said a few words, and then took the floor as Jack stepped aside.
Casey cleared his throat. “Wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped the boys while I was gone,” he started.
My heart warmed with the way the boys encompassed our entire little family group.
“Thought I’d say a few words about why I was gone, not because anyone fuckin’ needs to be in my damn business, but because I know I need to take responsibility.
” He glanced my way, his eyes searching.
At my nod, I thought he’d go on, but he took two strides my way and gripped my hand.
“The rumor mill in this damn town works better than anything, so I doubt any of what I’m gonna say is news to anyone. ”
Dizzy, front and center next to Barb, nearly wiggled out of her seat.
“Y’all know I had a heart attack,” Casey went on.
“If you’ve been in Haven Grove for any time at all, you probably know all the shit with my former wife, my brother, and my drinkin’—I’ll be honest and say those three things are listed in no particular order when it came to all my shit.
Suffice it to say, havin’ a fuckin’ heart attack sucks donkey dick and really opens your eyes to what’s important in your life. ”
Surprised chuckles peppered the room, and I caught fond smiles on Hudson and Henry’s faces. Those two were almost as big of fans of Casey Joe as Jack was.
“Thanks to my family and friends, I’ve been workin’ my ass off to get myself healthy again.
If you’ve known me for any length of time, you know I had a long-ass way to go.
” He gave my hand a squeeze. “This guy has been a huge help on that journey. I guess I just wanted to say sorry to anyone I may have hurt with my drinkin’ over the years and ask that you help me stay accountable.
” Casey leaned over and kissed me on the cheek.
“And if any of you fuckers have an issue with me bein’ in love with a man, you can see yourself out and fuck right off on your way. ”
The crowd laughed and applauded, but they were a lot more interested in getting their hands on Jack and Henry’s food than worrying about who Casey wanted to kiss. Honestly, most were so accustomed to his grumpy persona, they likely didn’t even think a thing about his grumbly little speech.
Casey steered me toward the counter where Jack had already placed a tray with our food and drinks—okay, being part of the inner circle did come with some perks. Just as we smeared some of the red pepper jelly spread onto crackers, a couple joined us.