AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“A girl can dream,” I say, sighing dramatically, making us both laugh.
We talk a little while longer. It’s not until we hear deep voices that we know we’ve been up here most of the day, just talking, and planning, and catching up. “I’m surprised your husband left us alone this long.”
“Stop.” She playfully rolls her eyes. “Come on, I’m starving, and we need to make sure the guys don’t eat everything before we have a chance to make our plates.”
“Did you forget how much food you have left over? You’d have thought you were feeding a wedding of one hundred, not less than twenty.”
“I know. My mother-in-law and I might have gone a little overboard.”
“Might have?” I tease.
“Fine, way overboard, but it was the perfect day, and now we have those who are closest to us here to help us eat what’s left.”
“You did it on purpose.” I call her out, but I already know the answer.
“I’ll never tell,” she sings, but the wink she gives me tells me I’m right.
My best friend, she has no idea that we’d all be here, food or not, if they invited us. That’s what you do for your friends. You show up, you offer support, and you be their shoulder when they need it. Emerson will always have that from me, no matter where life takes us.
CHAPTER
THREE
Legend
When I pull into the driveway, I see that I’m the last to arrive. I should have been here earlier, but when I left my parents’ place, I drove around for a little while, just trying to wrap my head around today. Talk about a mind-fuck.
I never could have imagined what would be in that letter. I hate that I never got to meet my grandparents, and on some level, I understand my grandmother’s need to make things right. However, forcing me into marriage, even if I get to choose my bride, is not the way to do it. Besides, it’s too late. They’re both gone, and the chance to get to know them has long since passed.
Grabbing my keys and my phone, I climb out of the truck and make my way up the sidewalk. I knock once, and a chorus of voices that are more than just Roman’s and Emerson’s voices say “Come in.”
I smile.
For the first time since reading that damn letter, the same one that’s shoved in my back pocket, I smile. These are my people, and tonight, spending time with them is exactly what I need.
Stepping into the room, I see that the gang’s all here. Roman is sitting in the recliner with Emerson on his lap. Forrest and Lachlan are on the couch, and Maddox is in the other recliner. Monroe is sitting on the love seat and laughing at who knows what with this crowd. It’s always a good time when we get together.
“What did I miss?” I ask, stopping next to the love seat.
Monroe wipes at her eyes. “Nothing, really, but these two”—she points to Forrest and Lachlan—“made the mistake of looking up a labor and delivery video.”
“Don’t do it, man.” Lachlan shudders. “You’ll never see pussy the same way again.”
“La-la-la-la,” Forrest says, placing his hands over his ears. “I’m not talking about this shit. She’s my sister,” he grumbles.
“And she’s my wife, and trust me, the pu—” Rome starts, but Emerson manages to slap her hand over his mouth before he can finish what we all know he was going to say.
I laugh, because how can you not? That shit’s funny. Forrest is Emerson’s big brother, but with the age difference of ten years between them, he helped raise her, and well, he did more for her than their deadbeat parents ever did. So, in a way, he’s her father figure. I don’t have kids, but yeah, if I had a daughter—hell, if I had a sister—I’m certain I’d feel the same way as Forrest does right now.
It’s still funny as hell.
Monroe taps the cushion next to her on the love seat, and I plop down next to her. “What got this started?” I ask her.
“So, Maddox asked Rome if he was nervous about the delivery. Then I spoke up and said that Emerson would be doing all the work. One thing led to another, and they ended up on their phones, and it all went downhill from there.” She wipes another tear caused by her laughter from her cheek.
“Well?” I look over at Rome. “Are you nervous?”
“Yes.” He nods, his face sober. “It’s going to be hell on my wife, but I’ll be there every step of the way, for every single one.”
