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“Well, it’s not only that I want to be there, my life is there. The ranch, my family. My job.”
“Rip.”
I rolled my eyes. “Easton, we’ve had this conversation a million times. Rip and I are only friends. And I have hardly spoken to him since he moved back to Oaks Springs.”
“Yeah, besides the daily texts the two of you send back and forth,” he reminded me as he dropped back into his seat. “I know the whole story. Best friends since kindergarten, he’s like a brother to you. All I’m saying is the way he looks at you like he wants you, and the way he looks at me like he’s ready to kill me, says he thinks your relationship is very different than the way you see it.”
I scoffed. “Trust me, he doesn’t. I already told you, there is nothing between us and there never will be.”
“I still don’t like the way he looks at you.”
Sighing, I placed my fork down and let out a frustrated sigh. “Are we really going to talk about Rip when we have a much bigger item to discuss? You assume I’m going to be the one to move.”
“Chloe, what in the hell am I going to do in Oak Springs? I have a degree in petroleum engineering. I’ve already been offered a job.”
“I already have a job, as well.”
He laughed. “Working on your family’s ranch?”
Folding my arms across my chest, I glared at him. “You mean one day running my family’s ranch. Are you degrading the business my family is in?”
“No. Chloe, you know I’m not doing that. I’m just saying you’re going to work for your family. I’m going to work for a top oil and gas company and I’ll be starting out at $140,000 a year. What am I going to do in Oak Springs for that kind of money? Work on the ranch?” He let out a sarcastic laugh.
My chin wobbled, and I looked away.
“Jesus, I’m sorry. The last thing I want to do is fight.”
I swallowed hard. This was going to be a battle I knew I would not be able to win. Facing Easton again, I took in a deep breath and let it out. A part of me knew I had rushed into answering him. I should have asked for time to think about it. Let the idea of leaving my family and moving so far away sink in.
“I’m not asking you to move to Oak Springs. What I am asking is for you to be patient with me. I don’t want to move to Houston until after we’re married. I’d like to at least be home with my family for a while. My mother and Alyssa can help me plan the wedding.”
“It will be hard not seeing you, but I’m more than happy to let you have that. I’m guessing you’ll want to get married in Oak Springs. I’m perfectly fine with that, too.”
A sharp pain hit the middle of my chest. “No,” I quickly said. “I think we should do it halfway between Houston and Oak Springs.”
He smiled. “You’re sure? I figured you pictured a country wedding growing up.”
“Yes, when I was little, but I let that dream go a long time ago.”
The night I told Rip I wanted more from him, to be exact.
Easton tilted his head and regarded me for a few moments before he said, “Okay. Then somewhere halfway. I’m sure we can find a beautiful venue to exchange our vows. Now we just need a date. My mother will be hoping for a wedding close to Christmas.”
“Christmas?”
“Yeah, she loves decorating for Christmas and thinks a Christmas wedding would be amazing.”
I smiled as I thought of Rip’s mom Kristin. She was fanatical about decorating for Christmas. Trees started going up at the end of September and it was all set up by the day after Halloween.
“That’s seven months away, Easton. And don’t you think I should be the one picking out a theme?” I said, hearing the doubt in my own voice.
“You can pick out the theme. And, what if it is seven months away?”
“Well, I mean I don’t think we can plan a wedding that quickly.”
“I think we can. Besides, I want you in Houston so I can be with you. If that means we have to hustle a bit more to plan a wedding, then we will.”
My mouth dropped slightly as I let his words settle in. Immediately a clock started ticking in the back of my mind with the timeline he envisioned.
“Did you want a long engagement, Chloe?”
“Yes. No, wait. My goodness you just asked me only moments ago and now we’re talking about a wedding in seven months in a location I don’t know, and I haven’t even told my parents. Easton, you have to slow down a bit.”
