“Hey, what’s up?” Reardon asked as Laurel and I walked into his office.

I’d called ahead to let him know we were en route, while Laurel was in her shop. Luckily, he’d just finished with a client and was available to speak with us right away. If he thought it strange that Laurel and I were there together, he hid it well.

“Can you look over some paperwork for Laurel? We’re pretty sure her parents turned the flower shop completely over to her, and therefore have no say in what she does with it, but we want to be sure.”

“Of course,” Reardon said, standing and reaching for the folder Laurel held.

She gave it to him and said, “Thank you so much, Rear. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem, do you need it back today?”

Laurel waved her hand slightly and said, “As soon as you can get to it. I don’t want you to rearrange your schedule or anything.”

Reardon placed the folder down on his mound of files and said, “Okay. I’ll let you know when it’s done.” Then he shifted to look at me and asked, “Want to grab lunch?”

We usually ate lunch together, and I know he probably expected me to say yes, but I shook my head and said, “Uh, we were actually on our way to lunch.”

“Oh,” Reardon said, his eyes shifting between Laurel and me, then he grinned. “Of course.”

“He can come with us,” Laurel told me, then turned toward him and repeated, “You can join us.”

“I wouldn’t want to be a third wheel.”

“You wouldn’t be,” she assured him. “It’s just lunch. Tell him, Dillon, he should come.”

“Yeah, man, why not? It’s just the diner,” I said, even though I’d kind of been looking forward to the alone time.

But, we had agreed to meet up tonight, so, silver lining.

“All right, if you guys are sure… I’m starved.”

“What’s wrong, Chris eating all of your Cap n Crunch?” I joked as we walked out.

Chris was Chloe’s teenaged son, and had been eating everything he could get his hands on. Reardon was constantly complaining about his favorite snacks being gone.

“No, but when I went looking for my Cool Ranch Doritos last night, they were gone,” Reardon said sulkily. “I’d hidden them in the bottom cupboard and everything. That boy’s got a sniffer better than a bloodhound. “

Laurel’s laughter followed us out onto the street as we began the short walk to the diner.

“Hello, Mrs. Dingle,” we said in unison, causing Laurel to laugh again, and Mrs. Dingle to blush happily.

“Well, if it isn’t the Lewis boys and the pretty Turner girl. Aren’t you a handsome lot.”

Mrs. Dingle was as much a part of Cherry Springs as the gazebo by the duck pond. A town treasure.

“Thank you, ma’am,” Reardon said jauntily, then asked, “What are you doing for lunch? Would you like to join us and be my date?”

“I already ate, but thanks for the invitation. I look forward to seeing the formal invitation for your wedding in my mailbox, young man.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Reardon promised.

As she walked past us I grinned at him and mouthed busted, and he punched me in the shoulder.

I opened the door to the diner and held it for Laurel and Reardon to walk through.

“Thanks,” Laurel said, smiling sweetly.

Reardon mimed tipping his hat to me, then I walked in behind him, shaking my head.

“Any available table,” Dolores called out when she saw us, so Laurel led us to one of the clean middle booths.

She sat on one side, Reardon sat on the other, and after a second, I slid in next to Laurel.

“Fran called in, so I’m on my own. Do you know what you want, or need a minute?” Dolores asked, her breath labored.

“Do you know what you want?” I asked Laurel, because Reardon and I were always ready to order.

“Yes,” Laurel said, smiling at Dolores. “I’ll have the Philly and a water with lemon.”

“Wedges, string, or curly?”

“Wedges.”

“And the usual for you two?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Reardon asked, doing the fake hat tipping thing again.

“Is that gonna be a new thing with you?” I asked when she walked away, pointing at Reardon’s head.

“I was trying it on for size, what do you think?” he asked.

“Hate it,” I replied, grinning when he scowled.

“So, I got a text from Zoey, and she and I are meeting up tomorrow night to talk bridal/baby/bachelor party,” Laurel told Reardon, who clapped his hands together excitedly.

“There you go,” he told me. “You should meet up with them.”

Laurel turned to me expectantly and I said, “As the Best Man, I should join you guys to help plan … that is, if you want my help. If not, no worries, I’m happy to pony up the money and leave the planning to the experts.”

“Oh, no, you should come, we’d love your input. After all, you know Zoey knows Chloe best, and you know Reardon best, and since you’re both standing up for them in the wedding, it only makes sense,” Laurel said, resting her hand on my leg underneath the table. She did it while talking, so I don’t think she even realized she did it, but Reardon sure did.

I knew this because I could see him wiggling his eyebrows out of the corner of my eye.

I kicked him under the table and said, “Just tell me where and when, and I’ll be there.”

“Zoey’s supposed to text me back to let me know, so I’ll tell you tonight.”

“What’s tonight?” Reardon asked.

Laurel blushed and looked at me, her face conveying her uncertainty.

“I was thinking Laurel could come over and meet Copper and Penny. It’s been awhile since she’s been out to the house.”

I spoke to Reardon, but I was looking at Laurel, so I saw her lips turn up and her cheeks flush with pleasure as she squeezed my leg under the table.

God, I couldn’t wait to get her alone again.