Page 79 of Ocotillo Kisses
“I actually hired someone else, and promoted my assistant to manager. That freed me up to be able to come back here.”
“Wow.” Her business must be doing better than he thought. “Will your clients mind?”
“Some might, but I could also get some new ones, and I might even be able to hire someone else by the end of the year. I mean, I have seasonal staff, but I’m talking about another event planner.”
“That’s amazing, Britt, I’m so proud of you,” his mother said.
“Thanks.” Britt smiled at her mother then looked back at him. “It’s taken a lot of work to get where I am. But I’ve poured the past few years of why life into this business, and now I want to focus on life, you know? As in having one.”
“So I need to tell you something,” he said, and watched the color drain from her face before she glanced in Poppy’s direction. “No, not that. I’m taking my GRE next month, and asked for my transcripts. I’m going to apply to A&M. I know it’s not exactly in Houston, and I’m not sure where you live in Houston, but at least I’d be closer and—”
Her eyes were round. “You did it!”
“Well.” He pressed his lips together and looked down at his hands. “I haven’t done it yet, and don’t know if it will happen but I took the first steps.”
“And you’re going to make it, I just know it.” Her eyes were bright. “I’m happy for you.”
They needed to talk more about what his going to school meant for them. For the two of them. Sure, he could go to college without them having a relationship. He could, but did he want to make so many changes in his life if she wasn’t a part of it?
“Time for cake!” Austin called, and Con rested his hand on the small of Britt’s back as they made their way over to the cake table to sing “Happy Birthday.”
Britt moved marginally closer to Con as they sang, and since he knew it wasn’t because he was such a good singer, he grinned down at her.
Their friends gathered around as they all enjoyed cake, and after that, a few drinks, so he and Britt didn’t have more of a chance to talk.
Con’s mom leaned forward and put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry to do this to you,” she said. “But I need to get home.”
Con was irritated with himself that his first thought went to who could take her home besides himself, but almost everyone else lived in town. Britt stood when they did.
“I should be getting home, too. I pretty much just threw my luggage in the house and raced over. I didn’t want to miss it.” She gave Ginny a side hug.
“You know you’re just back here because you don’t trust us to pull off the celebration by ourselves,” Sofia said, also stepping forward to hug Ginny.
“I know y’all will do an amazing job, but yes, I wanted to be back here for it, and help any way I can. But I’m going to go home now, get unpacked. I’ll see you at The Wheel House tomorrow?”
It seemed like everyone at once turned to look at Con.
“Yeah, I think so. I’ll text you.”
Something that looked like doubt passed over her face, but she smiled and followed his mom out to the street. Alexis gave her a full hug before Con helped his mom into the truck. Then he turned back to Britt, who almost seemed uneasy as she stood on the sidewalk. He wasn’t accustomed to seeing Britt looking the least bit uneasy.
When his mom closed her door, he turned and slipped his hand around Britt’s waist, drawing her against him. Her smile chased the last bit of doubt from her face as he bent his head to kiss her.
“I can’t believe you came back,” he murmured against her hair.
“We’ll talk tomorrow,” she said, holding onto his hand as she stepped back.
He wasn’t sure what that meant, and the uncertainty he’d seen on her face crept into his own brain.
