“Fine. What is it?”
“You know the old farm next door that’s mostly overgrown?”
“Yeah?” Liam confirms hesitantly.
“Well, I bought it so we can eventually expand the farm! I don’t think we’ll have time this year with our honeymoon and the music festival, but eventually, we can do a corn maze, or a bigger pumpkin patch, or get more animals. Maybe a playground, a hayride, ooh, or a roller coaster! There’s so much room for activities now!”
Liam’s jaw is hanging open, and he doesn’t respond for a long moment. “You… got me a farm?”
“No, babe,” Blake corrects with a smile. “I gotusmore land forourdream.”
“I don’t know what to say, B. Thank you. I can’t believe this.”
Blake leans in for a quick but very passionate kiss. When he pulls away, he turns to us. “Now, who’s ready to party?”
“Me!” Chad eagerly agrees, but he hangs back until I’m done packing everything up to actually join the reception.
We walk back across the field to the barn where the music is already playing. Before we make it inside though, Chad grabs my arm to pull us toward a man I vaguely recognize talking to Ash.
“Think about it. We’d really love to have you on the nextseason,” the man says, and I realize he’s Andy, theLove Without Labelsshow host. “You’d likely be the only person we ever invite directly, but the crew really loved you in the moments they got with you, as did the audience. We’re rooting for your happily ever after.”
“I really appreciate the invitation, I do, but it would blow up my entire life,” Ash mumbles.
“It’s definitely a big decision, but here’s my number.” Andy slips him what must be a business card. “Call me and let me know either way; we’re in the casting process now.”
Andy walks away from Ash, who’s left staring off into space.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but you should totally do it, Ash!” Chad encourages. “This would be so good for you! Look how amazing it turned out for Blake and Liam! Oh, Jace and Kieran, too. Clearly there’s some magic happening on that show.”
“I wish I could. It’s tempting, but you know my family would never approve. I’d be forced out of the law firm and?—”
“Who cares? You hate that place!” Chad cuts him off.
I don’t really feel like I should be a part of this, but Chad is still gripping my arm, and leaving in the middle of what’s clearly an emotional conversation seems more awkward than standing here.
Ash furrows his brows “I do hate it, but?—”
Unsurprisingly, Chad cuts him off again. “And no offense, but your family sucks for not accepting you.”
“I know they do,” Ash quickly agrees. “But they’re still my family. Can I really risk losing them forever? Even if they do suck? It’s just a lot to think about.”
“You don’t have to decide right now. But whenever you want to talk about love, you call me. I’ll be your voice of reason,” Chad says seriously, and I snort a laugh at the idea.
“What do you know about love?” Ash teases.
Chad opens his mouth, but thankfully, something else catcheshis attention. I turn to see the donkeys being led into the barn, and yeah, that makes sense why he’d lose focus.
“Oh my God!” he shouts, sprinting over to them. “The donkeys are fully dressed in their wedding attire! Oh my God, oh my God. My babies, look at you two, so fancy, all dressed up for this special occasion.”
They both have their saddles on with flowers draped all over that match the rest of the wedding day florals. Buckets are attached to their saddles and filled with ice and beer. It’s definitely a very Blake thing to have at a wedding, that’s for sure.
“This is so amazing,” Chad exclaims to the handler.
This girl Blake hired must be used to people freaking out, because she calmly nods. “They are. It’s definitely a big hit at weddings.”
Chad’s smile is frustratingly hard to look away from as he continues talking to her. “I still can’t believe it’s a real thing and how much I love these two already.” I attempt to sneak away into the barn like Ash did while he’s distracted, but he reaches out for me as I do. “John, look! They’re so cute. I need one!”
I roll my eyes. “No, you don’t.”
