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almost the same thing about Monroe and Tally. “I barely knew her.” He used misdirection in licensing negotiations all the time without a twinge of misgiving. With Tally, the half lie left bile climbing up his throat. He took a sip.
    His sister’s “uh-huh” seemed to convey deep meaning. What, if anything, had Monroe told her about them?
    Monroe was looking over her shoulder at him, but as soon as their gazes met she spun around, her braid flicking. She stood beside one of the girls and drilled the movements. He shifted on the chair, unable to tear his gaze away. “Did she say something about knowing me?”
    “Nope. Just like you’ve never said anything about her. But she’s asked about you. More than a couple of times. Like she was fishing.”
    The picture he’d held of Monroe Kirby broke, and he wasn’t sure how the pieces fit back together or if they ever would.
    “Every eligible bachelor on both sides of Cottonbloom is pursuing her,” Tally added.
    He grunted. “So what, about five men?”
    Tally barked a laugh. “’Bout that.”
    Time for a subject change. Thinking of multiple men chasing Monroe had him putting finger-shaped indentations in the aluminum can. “Sawyer said you’re dating Heath Parsons.”
    “ Was dating. Definitely past tense.” She still watched Monroe, but her eyes had narrowed and a frown drew her face down.
    Tally was more like him than he cared to admit—distrusting and wary. Neither of them had inherited their father’s optimism and natural good humor. Or the little of it they carried in their DNA had been stamped out during the struggles of their childhood.
    Cade and Tally understood each other bone deep. They were realists, not dreamers. Sawyer was the one who looked and acted like their father. Being around Sawyer was a wistful reminder of what Cade had lost.
    “Did things end badly?” If Heath broke his sister’s heart, then Cade wasn’t above still acting like her big brother.
    “ He took it badly. I’m fine.” More hid behind her words, but before Cade could question her further she shifted to face him, brows up and a speculative look in her green eyes. Eyes nearly identical to his. “A doctor or lawyer might be considered the pick of the litter in a small town like Cottonbloom, but if a more interesting dog came sniffing around and wanted to mark his territory … who knows?”
    While life circumstances had forced him to drop out of high school, he didn’t qualify as an idiot. Tally needed to work on her avoidance tactics, but he would let it go. For now. “First off, I’m not sure how I feel about you equating the male species to urinating dogs. Second, what makes you think I’m remotely interested in Monroe?”
    Tally shot him a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me look punctuated by a huffing eye roll. “You’ve barely taken your eyes off her since you walked in; I’d say the interest is there.”
    Heat crawled up his neck. Being called out for eyeballing Monroe—by his sister, no less—induced a teenage-like embarrassment.
    “But I’d only suggest you pursue something with her if you’re sticking around for more than a week. Are you? ” Old resentments sharpened Tally’s words, the last two like daggers.
    Leaving Cottonbloom and his family had been hard, but building a successful life away from everything and everyone that dragged him down—including his family—had ultimately saved him. How could he explain that when he’d always protected her from how desolate and difficult things had been?
    Maybe she’d understand the taint of shame that had dogged him. He hoped she’d forgive him. He would tell her, but not now, not in a crowded gym. It seemed they were taking turns dodging uncomfortable subjects. “What’s got Sawyer all wide-eyed and stressed-out? Is something going on at the factory? Or does it have to do with the responsibilities of parish commissioner?”
    “It’s this festival business.”
    “What festival? He’s been