Both Walker and I groaned. Liam had had the entire hospital staff aflutter with his presence, especially the young nurses. Luckily, his charming personality had endeared them all to him, even the straight men, so the press never found out about him being in Sutter Lake.
Liam knocked shoulders with me. “Come on, help this poor injured soul put the silverware out.”
I laughed, and Walker headed into the kitchen, shaking his head. “I can’t listen to this fool anymore.”
“That’s gratitude for you,” Liam called after him. He tipped his head down to me. “I save both of your lives, and this is the thanks I get.”
Now it was my turn to shake my head, but my lips were tipped into a smile as I moved around the dining room, setting down knives and forks. Helping Liam set the table, I was suddenly struck by the full-circle moment. Almost a year ago now, I had stood in a similar place, doing this very same thing. Getting ready to tell my closest friends that I was planning to move to Sutter Lake for a year. Now, that year was potentially forever.
Liam pointed a butter knife in my direction. “You’ve got an I’m-up-to-something smile on your face, Taylor. What gives?”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Nothing.”
“You’re a horrible liar.”
The rest of the crew poured into the dining room. Walker and Austin carried heaping piles of food, while Carter carried little Ethan in her arms.
“Why are you calling my girl a liar?” Walker asked as he set down a platter and came to put an arm around my shoulders. “You keep saying you’re still injured, but you’re asking for an ass-kicking.”
Austin snorted. “He’s always asking for an ass-kicking.”
Liam clutched his hands over his heart in mock-affront. “I’m hurt. Truly. Taylor here,” he said, pointing the butter knife at me again, eyes narrowing, “had that I’m-up-to-something smile on her face, but she wouldn’t tell me why.”
All eyes came to me, and my smile only got bigger. I turned my gaze to my shoes.
“Something is up,” Carter agreed. “Tell us what’s going on.”
“Let’s sit,” I urged, and everyone hesitantly took their seats. Walker took my hand under the table.
Carter’s jaw fell open. “Are you pregnant?”
It was bad timing. I had just taken a sip of orange juice, and it spewed out of my mouth as I choked. Right onto Liam’s plate.
He looked thoroughly disgusted. “Gee, thanks.”
I ignored Liam. “I’m not pregnant! Why would you think that?”
Carter bit her lip. “I don’t know, you’re all glowy and happy.”
“Those are kind of knocked-up vibes,” Austin agreed.
I glared at them both. As excited as I was for the future, I was not ready for a baby yet. I turned my gaze to Walker, who was shaking with silent laughter. No help from him. “Walker asked me to move in with him. I’m staying in Sutter Lake.”
Carter beamed, handing Ethan to Austin and coming around the table to pull me up and into a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you.” She squeezed harder. “I’m sad for myself, not having you back in LA, but so happy for you.”
I pulled back from my bestie, tears glistening in both of our eyes. “I’ll come visit, lots. And you’ll always have a place here.”
“Actually, we might have our own place here,” Austin broke in.
My eyes widened, going from Carter to Austin and back again. “What?”
Carter’s lips tipped up. “I had a feeling you’d be staying here, and Austin and I thought it would be nice to have a place where we could get away from the craziness of LA. Why not Sutter Lake?”
I let out a high-pitched squeal, dissolving into some sort of dorky happy-dance with Carter.
Liam stuck a finger in his ear as if he were trying to clear it. “Damn, woman. First, you spit on my plate, and now you’re trying to make me go deaf.”
I ran around the table, giving Austin a huge hug and kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.” Then I continued on to Liam, hugging him and pinching his cheek. “What about you?”
