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Mom called yesterday to invite us over tonight to celebrate our engagement. “My parents love you. You know that.”
“Of course they do. Who wouldn’t?”
Garrett opens the door when I knock, and I tackle him in a hug before he knows what hit him. He laughs and squeezes me back. “Mom didn’t tell me you were coming!”
“I’m in town for a few days.”
Garrett and Alden do that half hug slap on the back thing guys seem to favor. “You’re a brave man, marrying my sister. Don’t you remember when she tied you to the fence out back?”
“Hey! I was ten! And he let my jar of lightning bugs go after I spent hours catching them!”
“Not this again,” Mom says when we enter the living room. Oliver, Breanna, Mom and Dad are seated around the living room, drinks in hand.
“Mom! Pops!” Alden exclaims. “How are you?”
Both of them crack up laughing. It’s a sudden change from Mrs. and Mr. Stokes but neither seem displeased.
“Doing great, sport,” Dad teases. “Are you staying out of trouble?”
“Of course.”
“What’s that bandage on your wrist?”
“Ella bit me when I tried to steal her fries.”
Everyone laughs while I smack him on his uninjured arm. “He brought a plunger to a bat fight.”
Dad grins and nods to Oliver. “He already filled us in. Just wanted to hear him say it.”
Oliver gives me a small smile. He looks like he’s a couple of drinks in already. “Congrats, Ella. Future sister-in-law.”
“What about me?” Alden asks while we grab a drink and take a seat.
“You just got lucky.”
Alden beams at me. “Damn right I did.”
Breanna regards me. “Have you set a date yet?”
“Not yet. We want to live together for a while first.”
Alden points at me. “Youwant to live together first. I’m ready to fly to Vegas tonight.”
“My baby is not having a Vegas wedding. We need time to plan,” Mom says.
The wedding talk leads to me, Breanna, and Mom going over ideas and searching websites in the kitchen while the guys do their own thing in the garage. Which involves weed judging by the smell.
“Neither of us wants a church. I was thinking of the arboretum.”
“Oh, that would be a beautiful spot,” Breanna says. She grins at me. “I can’t believe you’re marrying Alden. Remember when he brought you to Poke Creek and pissed you off? You spent the night hanging out with Leo.”
“Want to know what I remember best from that night?” Alden interrupts, stepping into the room with Garrett.
“Sure, by all means, tell my mom what your favorite part was,” I dare him. There are multiple moments from that night that I’ll never forget. Stripping naked in front of Alden, walking home in the rain with him, the smashed coins that we both held onto. I wonder if he still has his.
Mom looks up at him while his mouth opens and closes like a fish. “You know, I forgot.”
Mom shakes her head and glances over at Garrett. “Where’s your dad?”
