Page 4 of Coming Home Country
Confusion flickered over her features, not picking up on where I was going with this train of thought. “I’m aware . . .”
A smirk teased onto my lips. “We could have some real fun at that bachelorette party with him stripping off that gear.”
Her pale face turned so pink her freckles disappeared, and she covered her eyes, groaning, “Oh my God.” Then came a gasp, and she sat upstraight, pointing a finger in my direction. “Don’t you dare go mentioning that to him. Because he’ll think that idea is brilliant and actually do it.”
I’d mentioned it as a joke, but now that I thought about it, she was right.
My giggles couldn’t be contained at the mental picture of Mac putting Aspen in a chair in the middle of the bar and removing his fire gear, piece by piece, while she died of embarrassment.
Aspen playfully swatted at my arm. “I mean it!” But her own laughter bubbled up from her chest, and the two of us fell back onto the couch.
This was exactly why I’d stopped in to see my best friend. She could put a smile on my face even on the darkest of days, and I hated that we lived so far apart. Sure, she was always a phone call away, but it wasn’t the same as when we were growing up and saw each other every day, or even in college when we were lucky enough to share a dorm room. Those were the best times of my life.
When we finally calmed down, and I felt so much lighter than when I’d walked through the door, I asked, “So, where is the groom-to-be?”
“Chief Jones lets him do a couple of training shifts per week at the fire station. This is his last one before the wedding.”
“He liking it so far?”
“For a thirty-three-year-old man who decided to change career paths on a dime, I’ve never seen him happier.” A dreamy smile lit up her face as she thought about her fiancé.
I elbowed her playfully. “Pretty sure you’ll see him happier next Saturday.”
“Maybe.” Her blush was back.
“No. Definitely. The man is gone for you. I could tell the minute I met him. The way he looks at you . . .” My heart twisted. “You’re really lucky.”
Aspen pulled me in for another hug. “I’m gonna head to my parents’ tonight for dinner. Wanna come?”
As much as I wanted to accept the invitation to dine with the Sullivans, whom I viewed as family, I couldn’t keep my mama waiting much longer. She’d waited more than ten years as it was.
“Raincheck? I’ve kinda got somewhere I have to be.”
She nodded in understanding. “Tell Rose I’ll see her on Sunday and thank her again for offering to host the shower. She really didn’t have to.”
“You’re like a second daughter to her. I’m sure she’s pleased as punch to play some small part in your special day.”
My engagement was still fresh, and we hadn’t gotten around to the planning stage yet, but I knew one thing for certain: it wouldn’t take place in Rust Canyon. If Aaron had it his way, we’d have some fancy blowout where most of the guest list consisted of the firm’s clients. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about feeling uncomfortable about being the center of attention; Aaron would make sure that honor went to him.
Why was I marrying that guy again?
Repeat after me, Bex: stability, security, convenience.
It was getting harder each day for my head to convince my heart that I was doing the right thing. My heart wanted a love match, but my head knew that ship had sailed on a cold winter’s night over ten years ago. That organ inside my chest was fragile; it wouldn’t be able to survive another fracture.
It was better this way. I wasn’t attached enough to Aaron that I would be left hurt if, someday, things didn’t work out between us.
I gave Aspen another hug before standing. “Tomorrow at two on the ranch, right? Just the maid of honor and best man helping with the setup before everyone else shows up for the bonfire at five, right?”
Something flickered behind Aspen’s bright blue eyes, but I couldn’t place it. “Yep. Meet us out by the barn.”
“Got it. See you then.”
Already, I felt better about this week. So long as I had Aspen by my side, I could handle anything.
Pulling up to my childhood home, I sat in the car for a few minutes, gazing at the ranch-style house I’d grown up in. The barrage of memories Main Street conjured was nothing compared to the ones invoked by this simple structure.
This was where my parents had brought me home from the hospital and where I’d taken my first steps.
