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“Hey ladies, we’re throwing lunch on the grill. Who wants steak, and who wants chicken?”
“One of each, please?” I asked. “I’ll take one for lunch tomorrow over salad.”
“Roger. Brex?”
“I’m feeling steak today!”
“Good deal, beautiful. Ready in fifteen.”
And then we were alone. Brexley commenced her packing as I handed her things from the open drawers. “So,” she eventually hedged. “What’s the deal with you and Jameson?”
“What do you mean?”
“Seemed like you two warmed up a bit last night.”
“He momentarily forgot to be an asshole, and I might have liked it.” It turned out Jameson could be exceptionally kind, albeit still quiet and gruff in his delivery. But between Max, Broderick, and the Rhodes boys, dinner had been one ongoing standup comedy routine. For the first time since arriving on this mist-shrouded rock, it felt like home.
“He called you Noel when we were leaving.”
“He did.”
“How much does he know?”
“The bare bones of it.” It was true. I’d told him I was running from poor choices and an ex I didn’t want to talk about, and thought a fresh name for my fresh start would be fitting.
“Ahh, okay. So, does he know why you’re here?”
“Vaguely.”
“Enough that I don’t have to feel like you’re five thousand miles away with nobody watching your back, or…?”
“I’m watching my own back. He knows I have a shitty ex I don’t feel like talking about.”
“Good. You should tell the boys, at least. They’ll watch out for you.”
“Rhyett keeps telling me that.” You know, only a dozen times a day. Once for every sibling. Okay, that might have been an exaggeration, but still, it was a lot of pressure to dump my baggage on their doorstep. Although, more often than not, it was Jameson he encouraged me to open up to.
“Maybe you should listen.”
“Maybe,” I allowed, shifting uneasily and hoping to redirect her focus as quickly as possible. “I need coffee. You want something?”
“I could use some peppermint tea. Trying to cut the caffeine, you know?”
Hesitating in the doorway, I glanced over my shoulder. “Hey, Brex?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re already a wonderful mom.”
* * *
There were absolutelyno objections when Rhyett and Brexley announced their plan to elope on the Alaskan mountainside when they got back from applying for their marriage license. As a matter of fact, Elora and Alice whisked us away to their room so quickly my head spun, pulling out all of their cocktail dresses and accessories and displaying them in neat little pods on their beds. If they kept showering her with compliments and suggestions, Brexley’s face might permanently stain salmon pink. But it was fun to see the way they welcomed her. She needed that.
“Okay, so we’ll go down to the spa at two for mani-pedis and facials, over to the salon at three for deep conditioning, split ends, and a blowout, and then come back here to prep heatless curls and food for tomorrow.” Elora was freaking adorable, like befriending a bumblebee, happily buzzing from one task to another and never ceasing her efforts. She was most elated she happened to be in town for this. It was all…so easy. Freakishly easy. I wasn’t willing to point it out to Brexley in case she freaked out and thought it was a jinx.
Milo was the officiant and deeply honored they asked. Juniper’s best friend was the local florist. Alice loved few things in life as much as baking, and had already whipped together muffins and sugar cookies frosted black with their initials in white icing, and was going to make a small cake, too. Leighton and Kaia were either future cosmetologists or were seriously wasting their talents. They’d done two trial looks for Brex in the following days, both of which were exquisite...and true to her.
Rhyett and Jameson spent the afternoon before the wedding building a beautiful wood arch they could easily assemble on top of the mountain. Axel’s latest date owned the local cafe and had a banquet room in the back with the Rhodes name blocking out the day. Maverick was—obviously—in charge of music for the evening.
