Page 83 of Heartstrings & Horizons
Chapter 31
Paige
? Pancakes for Dinner - Lizzie McAlpine
“Rise and shine, newlyweds!” The sing-songy voice of Mags carries through the cabin in the early morning light.
“I’m going to murder your best friend.” I laugh at my crotchety new husband who has spent the last 12 hours wrapped around me like a koala bear.
“We’ll have to face them eventually, babe.”
The cavalry has arrived to clean up the aftermath of the wedding with Mags playing drill sergeant. She’s nothing if not effective. “Besides, we have to make sure Miles and Maggie don’t murder each other first.”
Cade rolls on top of me, laying kisses on every inch of exposed skin, an outburst of uncontrollable giggles following every tickle of his stubble against my flesh. “Stop! I’m going to pee my pants! Let me up.”
Cade reluctantly rolls back to his side of the bed, propping his hands behind his head and giving me a breathtaking view of my husband in all his naked glory. I rush off to the bathroom to take care of business before I change my mind and jump his bones. When I come back out, Cade is dressed in sinful gray sweatpants and a black tee. I quickly dress in a pair of black leggings and an oversized sweater before we head downstairs to our friends.
The scent of fresh coffee and bacon fills the air as we round the bottom of the stairs to find Ivy making herself at home in the kitchen with a spatula in hand.
Rylin comes barreling towards me and crashes into my legs, motioning for me to pick her up. “Kitty?”
I carry her towards the spot where Goose likes to curl up in the breakfast nook. “There’s kitty, sweetie. You can sit right here and play with him., but be gentle.” I set her down on the bench seat and step over to the island where Cade is pouring two cups of coffee, talking to Ivy about the wedding. Suddenly, the back door swings open and in storm Mags and Miles, their voices raised in a heated debate.
“I don’t see how you could think that was funny, Miles.”
“Oh lighten up Mags, it was a joke!”
Ivy and I lock eyes across the island, her eyebrows drawn in confusion as we watch Mags and Miles go at each other. The tension between them is palpable. Mags crosses her arms, her stance defiant. “A joke? A fucking joke?”
Miles casually leans against the counter, a smirk playing on his lips. I get the sense that getting under Mags’ skin is amusing for him.
Ivy sighs, flipping another pancake onto the growing stack. “Can you two please knock it off? It’s way too early for this.” I shoot Ivy an apologetic glance, only now realizing that there are little ears nearby and there were definitely some adult words being thrown around. I mouth an “I’m sorry” towards Ivy, who just shrugs and returns to her task.
I round on Miles and Mags. “Listen, you two need to find a way to get along or stay away from each other.” I grit my teeth and speak quietly for this next part, “There’s a literal toddler in the room, yet you’re the most immature among us. Grow up.” I pin them with one last glare.
They both stay silent, glancing over at Rylin, looking sufficiently chastised. The unresolved tension in the room dissipates as we all settle in for breakfast.
“I don’t know if I got a chance to say it yesterday, so I’ll do it now,” I say, glancing around the kitchen at our friends. “Thank you so much for everything you all did to make the wedding perfect. I couldn’t imagine anything better. I appreciate you all so f —” the word fuck very nearly escapes my mouth before I can rein it in “— flipping much.”
Ivy places her hand over mine, giving it a squeeze. “It was our pleasure, Paige. Cade might love you the most out of all of us — don’t start, Mags — but we helped because we wanted to, becausewelove you, too.”
I hate that we’re going to have to say goodbye soon. Every single person in this room means so much to me, but Mags and I have a flight to Toronto booked in a few days. I need to pack my things and we have to get the immigration paperwork filed. The absence of my husband makes this task seem daunting, but he’s needed here at work.
I’ll be gone for at least a few weeks while I move the last of my things out of Mag’s house, and decide what I’ll be bringing with me to Kentucky once our petition is approved. It will likely be months before I can officially call Oak Ridge my home, but I’m leaving a piece of my heart behind every time I leave. There’s no doubt that the visits won't be enough to satisfy me.
“Soooo…” Mags is hesitating, and I’m slightly worried about what’s about to come out of her mouth next. “You can say no, but what if we book a hotel suite in Nashville the night before our flight. Let’s go to Broadway, enjoy some music, and have one final celebration before you come back to your man.”
The idea itself isn’t entirely unappealing. I’m not usually into big crowds and bars, but any excuse to spend time with everyone before I leave is a welcome one. I look at the hopeful eyes of my friends around the kitchen, and I know my opinion is completely pointless. Everybody looks so hopeful, even Cade, though I suspect we’ll be getting our own room for our last night together.
“Let’s go girls.”
Cade
It’s our last full day together in Oak Ridge, and the urge to kidnap my wife and hold her hostage in the basement has never been so appealing. Our entire crew is filing into Rosie’s and for the first time, we won’t all fit into our usual booth. Liam, Dean, and I work in tandem to push 3 tables together while the girls transfer over all the necessary chairs. Once we’re seated comfortably, I pull Paige’s chair as close to my side as possible, not wanting any distance between us.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite newlyweds and their whole crew!” Rosie says, approaching our table with notepad in hand. “I didn’t get a chance to tell ya’ll congratulations after the wedding. It was beautiful, not a dry eye in the house.”
“Thanks Rosie, we appreciate all the help from you and Archie too. Cade told me he couldn’t have done it without you,” Paige says sweetly from beside me, her hand resting lightly on my thigh.
