“He’s not always Prince Charming,” she warned with a grin, eyes flicking to the house. “Sometimes, he’s a real pain in the ass.”
“It’s okay. You are too.” I flicked a fallen helicopter seed her way, the maple pod spinning perfectly in the air to ping off her forehead.
She scowled, attempting to return the gesture, but hers flopping forward an inch at most. “I’m trying to be serious, you turd.”
“You’re trying to be serious, but you called me a turd,” I teased, launching another her way, this time bouncing off her shoulder. “I know kids have ups and downs. I don’t expect him to be pleasant 24/7. I’m not.”
I had a few crabby days ahead, at least, day one of no cigarettes harder than I remembered. Luckily I had plenty of mints and gum around to keep my mouth busy. Plus, I always had Josie if oral fixation became an issue.
Worry tugged at her mouth, the playfulness slipping away. “I don’t know the right way to handle all this, honestly. It’s new. He’s never been around anyone I’ve dated before.”
“We take it slow,” I replied with a shrug. “We can just be friends for now as far as he’s concerned. You aren’t on a time crunch. You do what feels right.”
Everything that felt wrong about her current living situation appeared in her driveway, Dan pulling in in his obnoxious red convertible.
“You’ve got company.”
She turned, rolling her eyes with a sigh. “He didn’t text or call.”
“Good thing you’re over here. Want to go inside?” I was more interested in going over to confront him about the creep-fest, but I knew she wouldn’t be down.
“Nah, I’m enjoying the view.” She grinned, watching the clueless Casanova stroll to her porch with flowers in hand, knocking and waiting in his polo and khakis.
I grinned, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. “So, what are you doing July third?”
Josie
Willits Bend, Vermont was the last place on Earth I thought I’d be on a Thursday.
It was also the last place I thought Jason Barrett would end up living, the eldest brother more suited for the streets of New York City than a small mountain village.
I didn’t think I’d be attending his wedding either, but there I was, the guest of the best man, staying with the brothers in a cabin.
Well, what Luke called a cabin.
I pictured a the standard wooden hideaway with a fireplace and maybe a stuffed deer head on the wall like my family’s one upstate, but as we rolled in after the four-hour drive, I realized he’d meant mountain lodge, the sprawling castle in the woods anything but a cabin. It was at least five times the size of my parents’ house — a manor that was obnoxious in its own right.
We pulled in behind a Range Rover, a Mercedes-Benz parked in front. As Luke rolled to a stop, my stomach clenched.
The last time I’d seen the other Barretts, both were less than excited, though Ethan seemed particularly ready to go to war.
“Ready?” Luke smiled my way, grabbing my hand to press a kiss to my wrist, the gentle caress icing over worries.
The days since Liv’s wedding had been a dream, and if it were a taste of what was to come, I was ready to gorge myself on Luke Barrett.
I smiled, reaching out to stroke his cheek, the roughness of his beard scraping my knuckles. “Ready when you are.”
As we went to the back to get our bags, he caught my hand and pulled me in for a kiss, lingering a second too long to be deemed innocent.
“What do you think of it up here? Want to run away to the mountains?” he asked devilishly as he pulled away.
I glanced around, taking everything in, the rolling mounds of Earth dotted with trees as far as the eye could see. It was beautiful but had nothing on Briar, the seaside town forever home, especially our remote stretch of paradise.
I kissed his cheek, nose scrunching at the scruff. “I’ll stick to the inlet,” I replied, showering him with a dozen more pecks before hugging him close. “Though you do look at home up here, mountain man.”
He laughed, whistling for Tally, who happily hopped out of the truck, a lacy white collar replacing her usual pink one for the occasion. With a snap of his fingers, she sat and waited while he unloaded our rolling overnight bag. He whistled once, and we started toward the front door hand in hand, Tally leading the way with her tail in the air.
When he knocked on the door, it was the moment of truth, the big reveal. He hadn’t told either brother a thing, wanting to explain everything in person, because the facts were bizarre, cruel, and downright awful.
It was the bride-to-be who answered the hulking wooden doors that were more suited for a castle than a home. “Josie!” she squealed, hauling me into her arms, beaming in her flowing white maxi dress, long brunette waves flowing like a goddess.
“Hi, Future Mrs!” I greeted, hugging her back, grateful for the ally. I was sure I’d need every one I could find when it came to Ethan. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you!” She pulled Luke in for a quick hug, glancing behind us and pouting. “No Linc?”
“He’s staying with my sister,” I replied, sidestepping so Luke could slide inside.
It was the furthest I’d ever been from him, and I missed him like crazy already, but Liv was excited to have the company. Alex’s schedule kicked into overdrive after the wedding, his last few months of residency grueling with long hours at the hospital.
“He could’ve come!” She swatted playfully at Luke with a scowl. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“No, really, he’s having a blast!” I insisted. He really was, literally. They were headed to the first round of fireworks in Portland, a show much larger than any in Briar.
Elena bent to pet Tally, laughing as she spied her
