Page 62 of It Happened Back Then
She nods, smiling through the tears. “You are.”
And just like that, the anger melts away and the fear I had vanishes. All that’s left is her. Me. Us.Three of us.
I pull her into me again, this time slower, with more certainty. I press my forehead to hers, whispering a thousand silent promises I don’t know how to vocalize yet. We’re bound now, and I don’t know what comes next.
But I know for damn sure I’m not walking away.
Not now.
Not ever.
CHAPTER 32 - BENNETT
“This is some real country shit right here. You wouldn’t get away with drinking on the front lawn back in Florida.”
I’m leaning against the front porch railing, sipping a beer while Cole lines up a row of shot glasses on the hood of his truck.
"I'm telling you right now," Jimmy says, "if Lief doesn't show up soon, we're starting without him. Strippers don’t wait forever."
Drake chuckles, grabbing a shot glass from the hood. “Don’t say the “S” word too loud, jokes or not. My woman will come out here and flip you to your back.”
Jack laughs. “He’s not kidding. I’ve seen her in action. Besides, this is Bluemoon. The craziest thing we could see would be a cow on Main Street."
"Nah," Jimmy says with a wink. "Not with me in charge. I’ve got plans."
Tonight is Drake’s bachelor party, and honestly, it’s the last place I want to be.
After Blossom dropped the baby bomb, I wanted to calloff all responsibilities and just stay locked in the house with her. I wanted to prove to her over and over how good it’s going to be. How this is the life we planned from the beginning and how it’s really happening.
But this wedding is getting close, and she also has obligations. We promised we would talk and get things worked out. Clear the air on things I didn't think needed clearing up, but I will because that's what she needs from me. She needs me to tell Savannah it’s over. I never thought I had to say it, but I guess I should have known. She moved here to see me. That isn’t normal.
Me, Cole, Jack, Drake, and Drake’s friend from the delivery place, Jimmy, are all standing outside January and Drake’s home, securing rides for the night while waiting for Lief.
I laugh at them, but I’m secretly hoping Jimmy is kidding. Drake does not need to be married in a full body cast. "There he is now."
Lief pulls up to the curb of the house throwing the truck in park with a sudden stop. I furrow my brows when he jumps out quickly.
Jack starts clapping. "Finally! We’re about to get trashed on your sister’s front lawn if–”
Lief slams the truck door harder than necessary, and it makes Jack stop talking instantly. Something is wrong, and when he makes a beeline for me, I brace myself. His fists are clenched and his jaw tight.
"You asshole," Lief growls, stopping just in front of me, but I can still feel his hot breath on my face. His whole damn body radiates anger. "You got my baby sister pregnant."
I hear the hiss of the guys behind me and a fewoh shits. I try to speak, but before I can get a word out, Lief shoves me with two hands to my chest, completely catching me off guard.
"Don’t eventhinkabout feeding me some sorry-ass excuse, I swear to God–"
"I’m not," I say, putting my hands up and stepping back further from him. "I'm not making excuses."
“I saw the text.“ Lief glares and steps forward again, trapping me against the porch railing, and I worry he may actually swing on me right now. "You arenotdone. And if you ever make her cry again, I'm gonna put you through that goddamn windshield."
Him showing up here like this, on Drake’s day, picking a fight with me before he even knows my side, is pissing me off. I stand tall in front of him, noticing the guys are circling close, ready to pull us apart if need be. "I'm not going anywhere, Lief. I already told you this. I'm not running. Iloveher."
"And what about the other one?" His voice is hard. "You tying up all your loose ends, or is my sister about to find out you’re playing house with two different women?"
"It’s over. Savannah’s done. It has been since before I came back to Bluemoon." I drag a hand through my hair, frustration and anger still getting the best of me.
Lief steps closer. "You don’t get to stand here telling me you love my sister while someone else still thinks she’s got a shot at being Mrs. Bennett Hayes."
