Page 4 of Wishes on Wildflowers
“He didn’t, but I guess he does now.” The kettle whistled, and Jasmine turned to make tea. “Want some?”
“Sure. I’ll grab my cup from the living room, but you’re not done telling me what went down.”
No, she wasn’t. She needed to unload this on someone. Poor Linnea. Jasmine tried to gather her thoughts. “Nathan dumped me and moved to L.A. eight years ago. I wish he’d stayed there.” Or never gone in the first place.
“Why is he back?”
“Basil thought it was a good idea to hire him for some unknown reason. He said he figured our relationship was allwater under the bridge. The issue came up when I was at Green Acres for that essential oils retreat.”
“But that was two weeks ago! No one thought to mention it since?”
“Apparently not. I’ve hardly seen the guys since we all went out to Montana for my cousin Rob’s wedding in February. We were just home for a week before the retreat, and Peter was working out of the Bellingham branch when I got back. We’ve all been super busy. Not that Basilforgotto mention it exactly. He loves messing with my life.”
“Tell me again why you plan to go into business with your favorite brother.”
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “That’s a question I ask myself ten times daily. It’s because of Peter. I thought he would keep Basil in line, but I may have been mistaken. And, well, because I think the business idea is cool. What’s not to like about making money doing intensive gardening in urban backyards and providing fresh food to Spokanites?”
“Peter’s a good guy.”
“Yeah, he is. Almost all of my bazillion cousins are. It’s just my stupid brother.” She slid a cup of borage tea across the peninsula.
Linnea wrapped her hands around the teacup and looked at Jasmine. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
The pensive expression on her roommate’s face didn’t bode well. “Hmm?”
“You know Jacob asked Logan to be his best man.”
Jasmine nodded. Eden and Jacob’s wedding was only a few weeks away. All of Bridgeview was buzzing with the preparations.
“And Eden asked Hailey to be maid of honor.”
“I know. That must really stink for you, being as Haileytried to get her fingernails in Logan for such a long time.”
Linnea shook her head and lifted her left hand, where a diamond ring glinted on the third finger. “Well, she didn’t get him. I still can’t believe I’m that lucky. But, anyway. Eden and I weren’t super close at the time, and she and Hailey have been best friends since they were little kids. So... I get it.”
This must be going somewhere. Jasmine leaned against the counter and took a sip of tea.
“But, it’s awkward, especially for Logan. It’s something we don’t want to reproduce at our own wedding in July. So, I, um...” Linnea’s gaze flicked to Jasmine’s then back to her hands as they rotated the teacup. “I’m going to ask Eden to be my maid of honor, because Jacob and Logan have been best friends since forever. It doesn’t seem right to pair a married man with a different woman in a wedding party.”
Linnea overthought everything.
“But, would you be my bridesmaid?” Linnea’s blue eyes implored her to understand.
Jasmine had held out hope she’d be the one asked for first place, but she hadn’t pushed. The two of them had been renting together since July, and she’d been Linnea’s sounding board through all the ups and downs of her relationship with Logan. But, did she really want to stand up at the wedding with her hand tucked in the crook of Jacob Riehl’s arm, when Jacob had already been married to Eden for a few months?
Her roommate might overthink everything, but she was also right. Too bad Logan was stuck on reciprocating with Jacob. She shook her head, trying to dislodge the unworthy thought.
“Thank you. I’m honored to stand up for you. Who are you planning on pairing me with, then?” She could rest in theassurance that Logan had never met Nathan Hamelin.
“Peter? He and Logan have become really good friends over the past few months.”
Jasmine let out a sardonic chuckle. “At least he and I aren’t likely to have a nasty breakup between now and your wedding.”
“Are you okay with that? It isn’t too weird to be with your cousin?”
Oh, it was weird all right. “It’s not like either Peter or I are dating anyone, and he cleans up well. I’d be honored to stand up for you. You guys have booked the rose garden at Manito Park, right? It will be lovely.”
Linnea visibly relaxed. “Thank you, Jasmine. Your friendship means so much to me. Logan and I are tossing around the idea of asking Dan and Dixie to be in our wedding party, as well.”
