Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Hadley
The walk from The Story Jar is quiet, our almost kiss hanging awkwardly in the space between us. We should talk about the tension that’s been filling the rooms lately, but isn’t the whole reason we’ve made things work because we don’t do the whole feelings thing?
Once we reach Peeper’s, I stop Easton before we go inside to spend the afternoon with friends, where we’ll be separated more than we’re together.
“Easton.” I place my hand on his, on top of the stroller.
He stops and nods. “We’re good.”
“Are we?”
He smiles, and it’s not his full-wattage smile, but it’s genuine. “Yeah. It’s gonna happen, right? We’re used to hooking up. It’s just a habit.”
I nod, wishing I could believe him, but things are changing in ways I didn’t anticipate, and I’m not sure he did either. “Okay. If you say so.”
I reach around him and open the door so he can wheel in the stroller.
I’ve been to Peeper’s just once looking for Easton, but since moving in, I haven’t gotten a chance to come down here—mostly because I’m primarily with Tanner.
I’ve heard the other women talking about Ruby and what she’s like, so I’m not surprised when she doesn’t come out from behind the counter to greet us.
“Just so you know,” Easton mutters beside me, pushing Tanner’s stroller inside, “Ruby’s not talking to me.”
I don’t look at him. “What did you do?”
He exhales. “I haven’t been in here lately, and she heard about us from someone else.”
Tanner kicks his legs, letting out a happy squeal, completely unbothered.
“Just… let me do the talking,” Easton adds.
I glance at him. “That feels like a terrible idea. You already upset her.”
Ruby doesn’t look up from behind the bar, where she’s polishing a glass. She doesn’t acknowledge either of us as we stop at the edge of the bar.
Easton clears his throat. “Ruby—”
She completely ignores him, placing the finished glass down and reaching for another one, using the same methodical motion as she wipes it down.
I bite back a smile. “Oh, I like her.”
“Don’t encourage her,” he mutters.
I lean against the bar. “So you’re the famous Ruby.”
Her eyes flick up to me, but there’s no welcoming smile. Her gaze is sharp and assessing. “So, you’re her?”
Easton shifts. “Yes, this is—”
Ruby lifts a finger, and he shuts his mouth.
I press my lips together to stop myself from smiling because I have a feeling that wouldn’t go over well. “Hadley.”
Her gaze drags across my face, my hand on the stroller, and the ring for a long beat. “The wife?”
I nod. “I’m sorry that Easton didn’t bring me down here earlier.”
“You have two legs, don’t you?”
Easton sidles up next to me and wraps his arm around my waist. He’s so natural and casual with physical contact, whereas every time he touches me lately, I stiffen as if I were trying to get my body not to react to his touch.
“Come on, Rubes, be nice,” Easton says. “She’s good people. Be mad at me.”
“What do you drink?” she asks me.
Easton smiles as though that’s about as good as we’re going to get.
“I’ll just do a water right now.”
She puts the glass down, goes into the fridge under the counter, and hands me a bottle of water. “Smart decision since you have a baby to look after.”
“Thanks.” I unscrew the top and give Easton a ha-ha, I got a drink smile.
“You get nothing.” She points at Easton and walks down the length of the bar to help one of the men seated there.
“You really made her mad.”
He turns us away from the bar. “She can’t stay mad at me for long. No one can.” He winks, then wheels Tanner toward the backroom door that says Keep Out on it.
I open it for him, and he goes to wheel Tanner inside. I start to follow, but he comes to an abrupt stop.
“Mom and Dad?”
“Surprise!” I hear two people say.
Easton glances at me, eyebrows in his hairline.
I think I’m gonna be sick.