Page 33 of First Moon

“You think?”

“If we’re careful, we can keep it a secret,” Ivy said.

“Do you think it’s available for the whole month?”

“We can make it worth their while.”

“Maybe we can write a Christmas song while we’re there.”

She laughed. “You and me. What a pair of workaholics. But yeah, maybe we can.”

“Let’s do it.”

“This December?” she asked.

“I’m not waiting another whole year, so yes.”

We kissed again and then lay on our backs to look up at the perfect Tennessee sky. A happy cloud shaped like a rosebud traveled through the blue.

“I can’t be a Titans fan. I’m telling you that right now,” I said, lazily. “Seahawks forever.”

“As long as you keep that between us, you’ll be fine.”

We laughed, kissed some more, then shared a peach so juicy it ran down our chins. I knew the memory of that day would never fade. I couldn’t wait to make more with my favorite person in the whole world.

I’d been searching for a home and so had she. We just hadn’t realized home was a person, not a place. “Finally Home” and Madeleine’s interference had brought us together.

“Do you know how many times Mads said we should meet?” Ivy asked. “She thought we were made for each other.

“A lot?” I asked.

“Dozens of times. I should have listened to her sooner.”

“We’re here now. And who knows if we would have been ready if we’d met earlier.”

“Do you ever think Mads and Knox will stop fighting?” She placed a hand on my warm chest, looking up at me with her beautiful eyes. “She seems tough, you know, but under all that is a really sweet person. I wish he’d be a little nicer to her.”

“I have a theory about them,” I said, drawing circles on her shoulder with my finger. “I think they’re in love with each other.”

“No way. Really?”

“No one fights like that unless there’s passion,” I said. “I’ve been watching them go at it for ten years. I thought they would have fallen into bed long before now.”

“Interesting. I will say, she talks about him a lot. I mean, a lot, a lot. But usually because she’s mad.”

I laughed, watching Ivy’s wheels turn.

Ivy’s eyes sparkled. “Perhaps we’ll put them together as much as possible during the month in Montana. Maybe getting them outside of their usual environment will change things.”

“Or they could burn down the entire state of Montana with their fiery sparks,” I said, laughing.

“Who else will we invite?” Ivy asked. “Our families, obviously. Luci and your mom. My parents and brothers. Hunter Sloan and his wife Seraphina.”

“Holly Stone,” I said.

“Holly? She’s the one y’all grew up with, right? Rhett’s high school sweetheart?”

“That’s right.” My gaze drifted to the leaves above our heads. “He still talks about her. She’s come to some of our shows and always spends time with us afterward. But then she goes home to Stonehaven. She’s invested in the community there. Trying to improve it. Whereas Rhett never wants to go back there.”