The Alex. Next week Iâll probably spend some time at Archer Enterprises to see whatâs up with the transition. You heard all about that, right?â
âI think so. Your dadâs splitting the brewing into a separate company now that heâs going to bottle, and Derekâs running that, right?â
âYeah. Dad says heâs going to semiretire.â
She tipped her head to the side and her ponytail grazed her shoulder. âYou donât believe him?â
Hayden shrugged. âI think he wants to do that, but weâll see if he can. Heâs pretty passionate about his beer.â
She smiled, revealing the dimples heâd loved so much. âI know. But this will free him up to actually brew more, especially here at home.â
Dad had an incredible microbrewery on the ground floor, which he kept pretty busy with home brew. âYeah, just when I think he canât possibly come up with new varieties, he does.â
âIsnât it the same way with wine? Canât you think of a thousand ways to blend it?â
He blew out a breath. âI donât know about a thousand, but a lot, yeah.â
âIâm so happy for you, that youâve found your place.â
Did she mean his place was halfway around the world while everyone else, including her, called Ribbon Ridge home? That was absurd. She meant heâd found his calling. Or something like that.
âThanks,â he said. âYou, too. Funny that itâs back here in Ribbon Ridge, though, right?â
âYeah. The timing was just right, I guess. Everyoneâs been so welcoming.â She gave him a look that seemed to hint at gratitude, as if to thank him for being cool with it, too.
And he was cool with it. In fact, this conversation was surprisingly normal for a couple with their history. It felt good to be able to do this. It meant he really was over her.
âItâs different, isnât it?â he asked. âEveryoneâs married or getting married. Weird.â
She laughed softly, and the sound heated dormant places inside him. Places he chose to ignore just now. âIs it weird?â
âTotally. I was the Ribbon Ridge guy with the live-in girlfriend. And now itâs like Opposite Land.â
Her laugh was stronger this time. âYouâre right. On all counts. I canât believe Liamâs engaged or that Evanâs going to be a dad.â She gave her head a quick shake. âHe and Alaina are the craziest pairing. If youâd told me he would end up with a famous actress, I wouldâve bet my annual salary against it.â
Now he chuckled. âNo kidding. On paper they make absolutely no sense, but in reality, theyâre perfect for each other.â
âI guess you just never know what will stick and what wonât.â Their gazes connected for a moment, and he knew she was thinking the same thing he wasâthey were supposed to stick. That was something everyone wouldâve bet on. Yet, theyâd fallen apart.
âSean told me he might film you brewing. Has he talked to you about that?â
âVery briefly. Weâre going to talk more about it after the wedding.â She looked down at the carpet and drew a shape with her big toe. âIâm not sure if I want to be on film. Itâs a little strange, right?â
âYes, and I speak from experience.â
Her lips curved into a smile, and once again her outrageously cute dimples peeked out. âOf course you do. If I decide to do it, do you have any tips?â
He thought back to the show theyâd done as kidsâ Seven is Enough . The show had focused on the sextuplets, but Hayden had made them the seven. That heâd come as a surprise after his parents had undergone so many fertility treatments had been a recurring theme. As if he could ever forget that he wasnât one of the core six, the ones his parents had wanted more than anything. It
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