Kyle sighed. “None. You’re fighting generations of Exton women. Might as well try to move Stonehenge. But I wish you luck.” He looked at his watch. “I have to go. Big day tomorrow.” He started walking backward. “You’ll come to my wedding? I have the most beautiful bride in the world.”

“She can’t be as pretty as Michaela. That hair of hers! It—”

Kyle was laughing. “I’ll get Becks to seat you next to Mike. Brookside Boy will be put at the kids’ table.”

Griff smiled. “I’ll be there with bells on.”

“Skip the bells. Suck up to Miguel. It may not seem so, but he’s the power behind the throne.”

“Good to know. See you tomorrow. I bet your dress is really pretty.”

“All French lace. With little pearls.” Laughing, Kyle hurried away.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Mike was glad to get away from Griff, and Kyle was her excuse. In normal circumstances, she’d bawl Kyle out, and then they’d end up hugging. After all, he was a close relative. Sort of. Maybe the bloodline had a disconnect in it, but Kyle’s uncle was her mom’s biological father. Only the two families knew that. It was one of the rare secrets they’d been able to keep from other people.

The truth was that Mike left the games because she was enjoying herself too much. It had been a lot of fun playing them with Griff. She’d tried hard to win and, when she succeeded, she’d made it known by dancing, cheering, bragging, and he’d done the same. By the end, they were both laughing hard.

She tried to not compare this with the time she’d spent with Hayes. That had not been fun.

She shook her head, trying to clear it. The men were different, that’s all.

Suddenly, she wanted to talk to her mother. She wanted Vera. Cait would be on Mike’s side no matter what she said. There’d be no unbiased opinions. Coop and Kelly would hand her a soft-furred animal to hold. Papi would listen in silence, then ask her to look into her own heart to make a decision. Right now she needed someone who would have an opinion.

She looked around the grounds, saying hello to people and accepting thanks for putting the carnival together. Some said, “See you at the wedding tomorrow.” Others mentioned the parade through the center of Mason. “Tomorrow at nine, right?” Mike answered all the questions with a smile.

It was near the cotton candy booth that she saw the two men who had been with Hayes during the archery fiasco. Their shirts weren’t as tightly tucked in, and one of them had a smudge on his face, but they stuck out like the oddities they were.

“We met you earlier,” one said.

She wanted to get away but she didn’t want them telling Hayes she was rude. She nodded.