Page 51 of Honeymoon Phase
“I know, okay? I already heard it enough from her, I don’t need to hear it from you too. I’ve had a lot on my mind. This shit is like... getting real now.”
“I’d say! Grandma said she’s planning a wedding?”
For fuck’s sake, how long was I asleep? “Yeah, it’s something Addison’s dad wanted done before the end of the year I guess.”
“You better plan it over my Christmas break so I can be there or I will straight-up kill you. I’ll use one of those logger supplies and gut you in your sleep.”
“Good grief.” I roll my eyes and look out at the pine trees, wondering how much it would hurt if I just jumped out of the moving truck right now. “Text me the dates and I’ll discuss it with Roe. We won’t do it without you.”
Everly murmurs some expletives under her breath before asking, “So what’s your plan now?”
“I have no idea.” I frown and lift my shoulders helplessly. “You told me not to worry about phase two until we were done with phase one.”
Everly eyes me speculatively. “How is it living together? What’s your sleeping arrangement?”
Calder and Wyatt exchange another look that has my eyes narrowing. It is fucking humiliating doing this in front of all of them. But I suppose I asked for this the moment I let them help train me for the lumberjack competition.
“Addison is set up in the guest room.”
“And last night was your first night together?” I nod. “How did it go?” she adds.
“Fine I guess. She was busy unpacking a lot. And she must have been up real late because she had freshly baked bread for the guys this morning.”
Everly puzzles over this. “That’s kind of weird, isn’t it?”
I lift my shoulders. “She’s mentioned she doesn’t sleep well so I don’t know. Maybe it’s normal for her.”
“Making bread in the middle of the night is only normal if you’re hammered drunk.”
“She wasn’t drunk, Everly,” I snap, my body tensing at the accusation.
“I know that. I’m just saying if she’s up making bread all hours of the night, it has to be a mental thing.” She taps her fingers to her lips, already in plotting mode. “You should try to find relaxing activities to do in the evening with her to help her feel more at ease. Watch a movie or something. Talk to her more maybe?”
“I know how to act around a woman, Ev, especially Roe. We are friends after all.” I grumble, my face feeling like it’s in a permanent state of scowl because I feel like a kid being toldwhat to do by his mom when he’s at sleepaway camp. “And we talked plenty when we ate the food Trista made us and I fed Rufus with her.”
My niece perks up at that. “What do you talk about?”
“I’m not going to tell you every conversation I have with her,” I growl and pull the phone away.
“Fine, jeez. Stop being so testy. You must not have slept well either.”
Hell. I am in hell.
“After talking to Grandma, I decided I think you should definitely be a part of the wedding planning.”
“Really?” I ask, cringing because what the fuck do I know about wedding planning?
“Try to contribute some ideas to the wedding that you know Addison would love. Think about her personality and make it all really cute and personal. Plus, these are the moments you get to spend more time with her. You do want to spend more time with her, don’t you?”
“Of course I do,” I reply honestly and flinch when I realize how true that is. It was fucking hell going to sleep in my big bed all alone while she was just a couple walls away from me, also alone... and apparently naked under that T-shirt.
I turn the phone away, horrified at the fact that I just pictured my wife naked while my niece was on the phone with me. That’s sick even for Fletcher brothers standards.
“I’m going to text Grandma with some wedding planning ideas I have so just go with it, okay? We’re still maintaining the secret from Grandma and the ladies.” She pulls out a pink notebook with a furry pen and starts jotting some things down. “Let Addison settle in a bit this week but start thinking about what else you can do outside of wedding planning. This is your time to woo her, Luke. Listen to what her interests are. Try to anticipate her needs. Act like a husband, not a roommate. Set themood in the cabin. Maybe pick up her favorite coffee on your way home from work one day. Decaf if she has sleep issues.”
My brows furrow as I contemplate all of that. “Why are you acting like this is so urgent? We’ve got a year to do all this, Evs.”
Everly shakes her head from side to side. “She has to fall in love with you before the wedding ceremony, Luke.”
