Chapter 36 Aspen
Aspen
“So, basing it on this hot dog, how big is Broo—” Jazz starts to ask, while holding up a hot dog we’re prepping for the grill.
I hold up my hand and shake my head. “No. Do not finish that sentence.”
“Oh, come on! Just hold your hand around to show me.”
“No way!”
Her shoulders slump, and she throws the hot dog back on the plate. “You’re no fun.”
“I know. I know.”
Brooks chooses this moment to walk in from the back door. “Ladies, is the meat ready for the grill?”
“Oh, the meat is definitely ready,” Jazz declares.
I laugh, but Brooks looks unamused. That’s what he gets for inviting all of the ranch staff over for a cookout. Apparently, it’s something his parents used to do, and he continued it for a little while until it got too overwhelming for him with everything else he had to handle.
Last week, we were sitting outside at sunset, and he started telling me about it.
He has so many great memories from these cookouts.
I could see by the dreamy smile on his face that he missed them.
I immediately suggested we do it again. We decided to do a potluck to make it a little easier.
He’d grill burgers and dogs while everyone else brought their favorite sides or desserts.
He was worried no one would come. Honestly, I would’ve called it a success even if it was just the two of us, Jazz, Harper, and Beck.
But it turns out, people at Moonlight Ranch do actually like Brooks (I don’t know why he’s surprised by this), and now we have a full house of employees sharing stories and food out back.
Brooks has been beaming all night. This is just what he needed after everything we’ve been through the past few weeks.
Brooks rolls his eyes at Jazz, which makes us both laugh. “Can you bring it out here, please?”
“Yes, sir!” Jazz grabs the plates of burgers and hot dogs we prepped and heads outside while I finish cleaning up in the kitchen.
I’m not even alone for two minutes when someone says my name. I look over my shoulder to see Harper taking a seat at the kitchen island.
“Hey, Harper. Having fun?” I ask.
“Yeah, I’m so glad Brooks decided to start these up again.”
“I know. It’s great having everyone here together. I hope it’s not too cold, though.” The Calloways used to do this during the spring, but Brooks didn’t want to wait. So we bought some portable heaters and made sure to have a nice big fire going outside.
“I think everyone is super comfortable.”
I nod in relief.
“You know I don’t think I’ve told you this, but I’m really happy you and Brooks are together.”
“Really?” So far, it seems like all our relationship has done is cause issues.
“Yeah. I’ve never seen Brooks this happy. I think he’s been going through the motions for so long, and everything has always been about the ranch. But then you walked in, and his face lit up again. He came alive. He’s genuinely happy for the first time in a long time.”
“Thanks for saying that, Harper. That means a lot coming from you.”
She smiles and nods. “So, how has he been holding up with the whole Zach situation?”
I sigh. “It hasn’t been great. I think he’s at the point now where he’s trying to give Zach some space. He’s texted him a few times but hasn’t gotten anything back.”
“It’s probably going to take some time.”
I nod in agreement. “I just… I just hope we didn’t make the wrong decision.”
“About what?”
“Us being together. I hate that I’m the reason they had a falling out.”
“Aspen, honey, this has been a long time coming. Zach has been looking for an excuse to cut Brooks out of his life for awhile. All you did was help speed that up a little. I know Brooks wants that relationship with him, but it was never gonna happen. Zach made up his mind years ago, and all he’s done is drag Brooks along.
I hate to say it, but I’m glad this happened.
I’m glad Brooks is finally thinking about himself. ”
“I know. I kind of agree, but I know Brooks is hurting.”
“I’m sure, but hopefully he’ll get over it eventually. What about you? Have you heard from Zach since his little outburst? I still can’t believe he said those things to you.”
I shake my head. “No, I haven’t. I’m sure he’s blocked me, which is fine. I have nothing to say to him.”
It still hurts when I think about the way he yelled at me that day.
I understand his anger, but I don’t think he needed to express it like that in front of everyone.
I didn’t do that to him when he cheated on me.
I calmly removed myself from the situation.
With Brooks’s help, but still. I didn’t berate him in front of everyone he knows.
“Good. If he does start bothering you, let me or Beck know. We’ll handle it.”
My body instantly relaxes. I know that she truly means that, too.
I never thought I would have people who actually cared about me in the way the people at Moonlight Ranch do.
If you had told me earlier this year that I was going to fall in love with a small town in northern Georgia and never want to leave, I wouldn’t have believed you.
But now, I can’t picture myself anywhere else.
This is home.
These people are my family.
This is everything I’ve ever wanted.
“Thanks, Harper.”
“No need to thank me. We look out for our family around here.”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m starting to see that.”
“Come on, let’s get back to the party.”
The two of us walk out back and see Jazz and Brooks bickering by the grill.
Beck is playing catch with his daughter.
We’ve set out chairs and tables, and everyone is sipping on a drink while they chat.
The best part is the sun getting ready to set.
The late autumn chill has set in, making the bonfire the perfect centerpiece for the night.
“Hey, darlin’, come here,” Brooks calls when he spots me.
I excuse myself from Harper’s side and head toward him.
“Did you need me to grab you anything?” I ask.
“Nope. Just need a kiss from my woman.”
Jazz makes a gagging noise before she walks off. I smile and lean in to kiss Brooks. His hand wraps around my waist, pulling me in closer before he kisses me.
Every time we kiss, it’s like a sense of calm washes over me. I have no doubt that this is the man I’m supposed to be with. We had an unconventional start, but that’s not going to stop us from having the most amazing ending.
“I love you,” I murmur as I pull back.
“I love you, too,” he says before giving me another quick kiss. “And I wanted to say thank you for planning all this. This place and these people mean a lot to me, and I’m so grateful that you’ve accepted all of this into your life.”
“We’re a team now, right? That’s how it works.”
He swallows down the emotion I see forming in his eyes. “Yeah, I just… I guess I never thought I’d have all this. And now I do.” He gestures to the backyard filled with people. “My life feels right all of a sudden. And that’s because of you, Aspen.”
“And you make me feel like I belong. I’ve never felt more content than I do right now. And that’s because of you.”
He kisses me again, but it’s interrupted by a small voice and someone poking Brooks’s leg.
“Excuse me, Mr. Brooks.”
We look down to see Beck’s daughter, Jade.
“Hey, Jadey. What can I do for you?”
I take a step back so he can focus his attention on the little girl who can’t be any older than five.
“I’m hungry,” she explains.
We both laugh.
“Me too. What do you want, a hot dog or a hamburger?”
“Hot dog, please!”
“Coming right up.”
Brooks finishes grilling the meat, and I help him get it all set up before everyone digs in.
The two of us stand by the back door, sipping spiked apple cider while everyone fills their plates.
This year has been such a season of change for me, and I can’t help but be grateful for everything I have.
My life feels like the perfect example of everything happens for a reason.
If I’d had a good family life, I never would’ve moved to Atlanta.
I never would’ve met Zach. Which means I never would’ve moved to Blue Haven and met the love of my life.
All the pain, all the heartbreak. It was all worth it to bring me to this moment with my new family. The family I chose for myself.
“Hey, lovebirds! Come eat!” Jazz yells at us.
Brooks and I smile at each other before we make a plate and situate ourselves between our friends.
I guess happily ever afters really do exist.