Pucked Love (Pucked, #6)(77)

Logan seems more interested in hitting Miller in the shins and smashing flowers than the red foam puck they keep pointing out, but he seems entertained, if nothing else.

Sunny’s reclined in a lounger with Daisy and Skye on either side of her. Their conversation comes to a halt when they notice us, and I realize Charlene probably hasn’t seen them since her birthday. I lean in and press my lips to her temple.

“Don’t worry, firefly, they love you exactly as much as they did before, if not more.”

She tips her chin up, eyes meeting mine. “How did you happen to me?”

“I believe your best friend hooked up with my best friend, which likely wouldn’t have happened had Alex not won a bet and room to himself.”

“I remember Violet telling me about that. What was the bet, anyway?”

“Who could come up with the longest word in an online game of Scrabble.”

“Seriously? I expected something so much more . . . interesting.”

“It was a long bus ride. We were bored. Alex got lightning. It was impressive.” I press a kiss to her perfect lips, promising myself we’re going to make out later. For hours. Like teenagers.

I step back as Skye and Daisy converge on Charlene. Sunny’s still working on sitting upright. She’s looking really pregnant these days.

“Darren!” Robbie motions me over to where he and Sidney are sitting in the shade, watching their sons be dads.

“They’re starting early, huh?” I nod to Alex and Miller.

“Pretty sure Miller thinks Logan’s going to be drafted by the time he’s in pre-school,” Sidney says with a smile.

Alex takes a break from getting slammed in the shins with the hockey stick to grab me a beer. “Everything okay?” He glances over at Charlene who’s corralled in a corner with Sunny, Violet, and the moms.

“With Charlene? Yeah. We figured it all out. Just took me getting my head out of ass to make it happen.”

“That’s good. Vi was worried about both of you this week.”

“So was I, but I think we’ve got it all sorted. She’s agreed to move in with me, which I’m taking as a good sign.”

Alex’s eyebrows pop up. “Whoa, that’s a big step.”

I nod and rock back on my heels. “Yeah. It’s about time, right?”

He laughs. “It really is.”

“Thanks for sticking by me. I know I’m not the easiest person to understand, but I don’t think Charlene and I would be where we are if it wasn’t for you.”

“I didn’t really do anything except give you some advice.”

“You’ve done a lot more than that, Alex. Watching you and Vi grow together, being part of this family—” I motion to his backyard, full of the people Charlene and I both care about. “This is how I figured out how to love Charlene. So yeah, thanks.” Jesus. I sound like an asshole.

Alex frowns, brows pulling down, and he blinks repeatedly before he claps me on the shoulder. “I’m gonna hug you now, so don’t punch me.”

I laugh, but it gets caught in my throat with a whole bunch of other emotions when he really does pull me in for a hug. He slaps me on the back a few times, though, just to keep it manly.





Eventually I manage to get around to talking to Robbie about the weed candies. I want to make sure I’m right about the ones from The Ranch—or The Harvest Co-op as it says on the wrapper—before I go calling it in to the cops. I also want to verify that the candies Charlene’s mother makes are the same, and that we can keep her out of this.

Of course Robbie is only too happy to check out the stock. He opens the box of candies, almost giddily, and picks one up. His expression turns serious. “Where did you say you got these?”

“I’m guessing someone from the RV left them on Charlene’s doorstep the day of the party.”

“Would Charlene know where they got these from?”

“They’re the ones who produce it, according to Char.”

“Really?” Robbie’s eyes light up, and he calls Charlene over.

This prompts the entire group to congregate around the two of them while she explains what happened when she was growing up at THC—the acronym now making a lot more sense. Robbie listens raptly, as does everyone else.

“This is all very interesting,” he murmurs once she finishes explaining what used to go down at THC. “And how old were you when you and your mom left?”

“I was fourteen and a half.” Charlene chews on her bottom lip. “My mom took a couple of bags of candies with her. I think maybe she sold them, and I started eating them, but I’m not sure if these are like the ones my mom makes.”

Robbie perks up. “Makes? As in still?”

“Um, yeah. She sends them to me every month. I didn’t realize they were weed candies. She said they were herbal, and I thought it was more like a cough drop, but apparently I’m a pothead, so . . .” She stops rambling and looks around the group, her cheeks flushed.

“Nothing wrong with being a pothead.” Robbie smiles. “Unless you’re a professional hockey player. Then you have to wait until you’re retired to enjoy that kind of relaxation.” He taps on the arm of his chair. “You wouldn’t happen to have one of the candies your mom makes, would you?”