Page 20 of Honeymoon Phase
“Stevie’s going to really miss you,” Wyatt adds with his lips turned down, using his daughter as a scapegoat instead of his goat like he did the first time I left.
“I’m going to miss you guys too.” I feel my chin begin to wobble as I look at the state of them all hunched and depressed. This summer has been incredible. I helped Uncle Calder launch his custom furniture brand and move his first serious girlfriend into his cabin. I loved on my cousin and got to watch Wyatt be an incredible dad and husband. Luke and I had countless deep conversations on Grandpa’s bench at the lookout point.
I’m going to miss those most of all, I fear.
Tears prick my eyes as I glance out at the view of Fletcher Mountain. Fall is coming and it’s going to look so beautiful. I never seem to get enough time up here. I owe some of my best childhood memories to this peak and my three crazy uncles. The influence they’ve had on me and my life? It’s insurmountable.
They deserve these happily-ever-afters. Only one more to go and my work here is done, and I feel like I can finally start living my own life to the fullest.
“Alright, enough mushy talk,” I sniff loudly and swipe at my damp cheeks. “I only have one more week with you guys, so let’s work together to kick Luke’s ass and turn him into a lumberjack so he can marry his girl!”
“I like the sound of that,” Calder says with a light shove to Luke.
The corner of Luke’s mouth tugs up into a shy grin. If Addison doesn’t see how wonderful and special my uncle is by the end of this...I will fly back from Dublin and end her.
Until then, I need to get my ass back to the life I’m creating over there. I struggled adjusting to Ireland my first year and spent many nights alone and completely out of my element, but things were looking up just before summer break... so long as that gold chain–wearing Irish boy gives me a wide berth.
Chapter 7
Fact or Fiction?
I like dead people.
Addison
Me:Drinks after work tonight? We can go out or I can come up the mountain if you want.
Luke:Sorry, swamped with work.
Me:It’s been a month of this. What is your brother doing to you?
Luke:Since Calder is working on his furniture stuff more now and not for the company, I have to pick up the slack. Sorry.
Me:I thought you said you were my best friend. Fact or fiction?
Luke:Fact. BFF4L
Me:Best friends see each other more than once every couple months.
Luke:Don’t worry, I’m coming to Man of the Mountain, so I’ll see you there. Let’s hang after.
Me:That’s still three weeks away! You already know you’re busy for the next three weeks?
Luke:Yes, but after that I’m wide open. I’ll be around so much you’ll get sick of me, I promise.
Me:Fine.
I sigh heavily and thunk my phone onto the dashboard of my SUV, irritated at my so-called best friend for the third time in a month. For a whole month he’s been too busy to hang out. For a whole month he’s been slow to answer my texts. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s pissed I didn’t accept his second marriage proposal, which is ridiculous because he should be grateful I’m not taking him up on his offer. I’m a lot to handle.
And living with Luke for a whole year? What would that even be like? I’d drive him nuts with my messy sourdough baking and the amount of dishes I go through when I cook. Plus, I don’t sleep at night because of my insomnia, I mix my colors with my whites and leave cups of water on every end table I can find. Marrying me would for sure ruin our friendship. Mankind is lucky I never plan to marry anyone for real.
Not that suitors are lining up with offers.
The foulmouthed daughter of the local lumberyard isn’t exactly the kind of girl guys are dying to take home to meet their parents. Not to mention I’d have to be in a relationship first for that to even be an option. I’ve never even had a boyfriend—which was fully by choice!
I’m good on my own. Great, even!
I slide out of my car and stretch for a minute, adjusting my sports bra and shorts before I walk through the familiar wrought iron gate that leads into Blue Mountain Cemetery. This cemetery is a quiet little jewel outside of Boulder that I run through on a weekly basis. It has a great view of the Boulder Flatirons and big green space on the other side. And it has some seriously cool old headstones that I love to check out.
