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Jerome’s expression is a cross between them all.
Did Lucas’s brothers know he was going to ask me to marry him? Did Lucas pull the short straw when it came to who would be tying the knot, and I happened to be convenient due to our shared history?
“Is that why you guys were so awkward when you saw each other earlier at Treats?” Zara asks. “Was that because you were trying not to jump each other’s bones?”
“Yes, it was exactly that,” I say in a rush. That excuse works for both Treats and when Lucas showed up here. Thanks, Zara, for saving our asses.
“This isn’t because of what I said this afternoon, is it?” Troy’s winter-harsh tone makes it clear what he thinks of our announcement. “For Christ’s sake, I was joking.”
Appearing more confused than before, Emily turns to him. “What are you talking about?” Her gaze cuts to Lucas. “What’s he talking about?”
“Robert and Tuuli Wakefield are starting to have second thoughts about selling the land to us,” Troy says, not giving Lucas a chance to answer. “Not because of the drug charges. But because none of us are married or dating.”
Kellan nods as if he’s analyzing our news from all possible angles. “It might work.”
“Might work?” Troy exclaims. “It’s an idiot idea.”
Lucas snorts a laugh, the sound more irritated than amused. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Troy’s glare homes in on Garrett, who doesn’t so much as flinch. “And what do you think about this?”
“It might work. Or it might explode in our faces.” Garrett’s voice is deep and even, not giving away what he’s really thinking.
“We’re marrying because we’re in love.” My words sound a little sturdier on their feet than when I blurted Lucas and I are engaged.
The clock-ticking silence returns for an encore. So I bandage up old wounds and fasten a smile on my face. I can do this. Aiden would’ve loved the brothers’ plan for the outdoor program for vets. It fits right up there with his college degree.
After our parents died, Aiden was there for me. When I woke from nightmares during stormy nights, he would sneak into my bedroom and hold me until I fell asleep. Grams had done everything she could to make things easier for us during those early years, but Aiden was my lifeline.
My reason to keep living.
I owe this to him.
Lucas’s arm circles my waist, and he pulls me to him. He’s more muscular than he was the last time I was with him, but otherwise, there’s a familiarity about him that hasn’t changed.
“Simone’s right. We’re marrying because we’re in love.” He kisses me on the temple, and I swear I hear dreamy sighs from my girls.
Emily grins like the mother of the bride and walks over to us. “Well, in that case, congratulations, you two.” She throws her arms around us, and I laugh at her exuberance. “I always suspected something was going on between you two back in college.” She steps away from us and holds out her hand to Zara and Kim. “Okay, you two, pay up.”
Zara shakes her head. “We made that bet during our freshman year of college. It doesn’t count anymore.”
“You bet that Lucas and I were involved?” How did I not know this?
Emily laughs. “This is a small town, what else did you expect us to do?”
Except, we were in Eugene at the time. And Eugene is a city.
“How come you never mentioned this before? You never asked me if we were sneaking around.” And here I thought I’d done a great job of hiding Lucas’s and my secret. And if they’d figured that out, what else have they figured out?
Kim lifts a shoulder, eyes gleaming with barely suppressed laughter. “Because it was a forbidden fling, so we didn’t expect either of you to own up to it.”
Emily nods, all kinds of emotions on her face, but mostly eager. Maybe a little too eager. “Plus, we thought it was romantic.”
Kim and Zara each hand Emily a single dollar bill.
“That’s all you bet?” Talk about making me feel cheap.
“What did you expect? We were nineteen at the time.” Zara gives Lucas and me an enthusiastic hug, which is followed by Kim hugging us with the same level of enthusiasm.
