by Leigh Landry
“Sure is,” answered Lauren.
“Actually,” Tyler said, looking between the other two couples in the room. “We were also wondering if you two guys would be groomsmen. I’ll be asking Eric later, too.”
“For sure, man.” Shane turned and clasped Tyler’s hand in a firm handshake. “Glad to be a part of your day. I’m assuming you’ve already asked Darren?”
Tyler nodded. “He volunteered his best guy services the moment we announced our engagement to him and Ava.”
Robin laughed. They’d all gotten to know Tyler’s former housemate and best friend as well as his girlfriend, Ava, a little better over the last few months. Sounded about right based on what she’d learned from Darren so far.
Lauren clapped excitedly. “Perfect! Now we’ll have the whole band. We wouldn’t be doing this without y’all, so it’s only right for everyone to be up there with us.” She exchanged a smile with Tyler. “Neither of us have much family, but we’re so grateful to call all of you our family.”
Dang it. There went Robin’s teary eyes again.
“Bring it in!” Camille shouted with her arms spread out wide.
The whole group closed in for a hug. Robin basked in the love and security of this circle of friends and, yes, family. Not by blood, but by even more important bonds they’d formed this year.
“Okay, okay, enough of that.” Nat wiggled out of the circle’s grasp and gave a warning look to the group. “There will be no crying at this baby shindig.”
As they all promised to behave, a knock on the kitchen door ensured they all dried their eyes and put on their game faces. Robin opened the door wide for Kelsey and Eric to enter amid a flood of greetings.
Kelsey tucked a strand of her dark black bob behind her ear. She’d given up dyeing her hair again until after the baby was born. She was past the stage of the doctor being concerned—especially since she’d quit gigging with the band and was only working a couple short shifts at the record store plus teaching a few lessons a week now with Eric at the music school. But Kelsey had still insisted on being extra cautious.
After she received hugs from everyone, Kelsey took in a deep breath and placed her hands on the sides of her full, round baby belly. Robin swore Kelsey outshone every other pregnancy glow that ever existed. She’d first met Natalie after she’d had Cadence, but she was pretty certain Nat would even back her up on this fact. Maybe it was the previous loss that made the joy shine even brighter on Kelsey’s face. Or maybe it was working things out with Eric and knowing he was with her through it this time. That they were all with her.
“Remind me how many people we invited,” Kelsey said, staring at all the food.
“Aren’t you supposed to be eating for two or something?” Lauren asked.
“Ugh,” said Kelsey, “Mini Me is playing drums on my uterus ceiling today and squishing my stomach.”
“Another drummer,” said Natalie, a proud auntie smile plastered on her face. Robin was almost getting used to that smile on Nat.
The front doorbell rang out through the house, and Eric adjusted his cap. “Well, fellas, that’s our cue.” He kissed Kelsey on the cheek, then scooted back out the kitchen door with Shane and Tyler not far behind him.
“See you in a little while.” Matt gave her a quick kiss, but even that small gesture still found a way to warm Robin all the way down to her toes. “We should be back in time to help clean up.”
“Where did y’all decide to hang out?”
“The casino. There aren’t any races until tonight, so we’ll just grab a couple drinks and snacks in the sports bar. Maybe play some cards.” He shrugged, then winked. “We’ll behave. I promise.”
Robin laughed. “I’d be more worried if these fools were going than you four. Have fun!”
Matt blew her a kiss as he closed the door behind them.
Natalie and Lauren walked with Kelsey to get the front door. Across the kitchen, Camille rested the ladle against the side of the punch bowl, then began to follow the others.
“Hold on a sec,” Robin said.
Camille stopped, giving a curious head tilt. “What’s up?”
“I don’t know. What’s up with you?”
Camille had never been Nat’s brand of loud and brash, and she’d been even more reserved since she’d returned. More reflective. She’d always have a place with this group, but she seemed to be testing out how she fit amongst them now. How she fit in the world. Like someone trying on new skin that wasn’t quite broken in yet.
But today she seemed even more uneasy than her new normal.
“I’m good.”
“You might be able to fool Lauren, and Nat might be temporarily fine ignoring whatever this is because she’s scared you’ll bolt again, but you’re talking to me now. What’s going on?”
Camille frowned and absently scratched at the base of her short, blonde hair. “I’m moving.”
“No,” Robin gasped as her heart sank. “Why?”
Camille took a deep breath. “It’s just too damn hard here. Too many ghosts. Too many triggers.”
Robin stared into Camille’s eyes, taking in the information. She wanted to say that everything would be all right, that they would help in any way they could to help Camille stay in town…to stay with them.
But more than anything she wanted what was best for Camille, even if that meant they didn’t get to keep her with them.
“When?”
“I’ve got a friend from rehab who’s offered a room until I can get a place, so…as soon as I can get out there.”
Robin narrowed her eyes. She wanted her friend happy and healthy, wherever that took her, but not so far that Robin couldn’t swoop in and scoop her up if things went south for any reason. “Where?”
“New Orleans,” said Camille. “So we can plan lots of visits.”
“Camille, are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean, it’s New Orleans. If it’s hard for you to be here, how on earth—”
“It’s hard for me to be here because of all the memories. I need some distance. And I’ll have support there. I promise, I’ll be back in a heartbeat if it doesn’t work out.”
Robin frowned. She didn’t like the sound of this one bit, but she couldn’t run Camille’s life for her. “Have you told Nat yet?” Robin guessed she hadn’t, since Nat wasn’t brooding.
“No. Nat’ll be fine. She’s got Shane now.”
Shane had moved in a couple months ago, and Robin had never seen Nat happier. She and Shane and Cadence and that kitten were all one happy little family. “So you’re Mary Poppins or something now? Flying off once everyone’s done growing and learning their life lessons or whatever?”
Camille laughed. “Something like that, I guess.”
Robin took a deep breath, processing what all of this meant. How she would keep everyone from falling apart again.
But if this year had taught her anything, it was that these friends of hers had gotten pretty dang good at keeping themselves—and each other—afloat.
“What will you do out there?” she asked.
With a shrug, Camille said, “Not sure yet. Something different. I need a fresh start. On all fronts.”
“Well, you’ll always have a standing invitation to sit in with us, on any gig.”
Camille smiled as her eyes twinkled and filled with tears. “Love you, too, Robin.”
Robin engulfed her friend in a hug and tried to hold back her own tears. Excited greetings from the living room pulled her attention away as more guests arrived. She released Camille and caught sight of Kelsey’s boss from the record store chatting with Natalie, while Kelsey welcomed and introduced a couple of Eric’s cousins to Lauren.
“We’d better get in there,” Robin said.
Camille gave her a tight smile and a nod. Then she squeezed Robin’s hand. “Look at how happy everyone in there is.”
They really did look happy. Every single one of them. And they had so much to celebrate.
Camille was right. T
hat was what Robin should focus on. She could worry about Camille another day. Or not.
Today, she would chat and laugh and mingle and eat a boatload of dairy-based appetizers and desserts. With her family.
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Thanks so much for reading!
If you enjoyed this series, please consider leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon to help other readers find these books.
Also by Leigh Landry:
Cajun Two-Step Series
Second Fiddle Flirt
Six String Sass
Rim Shot Rebound
Squeeze Box Belle
* * *
Tricked: An Anthology of Short Fiction -
“Tastes Like Chicken”
Acknowledgments
This series began as a casual “Wouldn’t it be fun to write...” comment, and with a whole lot of help and support it somehow bloomed into a fully-formed thing. What was intended to be a light and breezy set of books somehow took on little bits of my heart along the way, allowing me to explore the importance of hope, healing, and found family.
Thanks to Mackenzie Walton for understanding these books and characters at their core and for all her editorial guidance. That po-boy tour invitation is always on the table.
A huge shout-out and all my love to my fellow tricksters: Chasia, Kate, Maria, and Stephanie. Thank you for pushing me to make this happen in the first place. Thank you for reading, listening, and encouraging me through every single book. This series would not exist without you all.
Thanks to Annika for being a champion of this series, and for magically swooping in to read this last book at exactly the right time and reassuring me that I was on the right track.
A mega, gigantic THANK YOU to everyone who has read this series. I am honored that you’ve chosen to share your time with my writing and these characters, and I am so incredibly grateful for your support. Always. ♥
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About the Author
Leigh Landry is a contemporary romance author who loves stories with fierce heroines, geek-sexy heroes, found family, and adorable animals. Once a musician, freelance writer, and English teacher, Leigh now spends her days writing happy endings and volunteering at an animal rescue center. She lives with her husband, their two children, two dogs, two cats, and an endless supply of foster kittens in the Heart of Cajun Country.
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