Choosing You (The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge #6)

Chapter 1

“Holy crap, that’s a lot of babies. It looks like a nursery threw up in here. And smells like it too,” Sloane Donovan murmured as she scrunched her nose. Thankfully, none of her relatives had spotted her yet, so she took a moment to just observe.

Her sister Hailey had her baby just three weeks ago. Her cousin Billie had her baby five weeks ago. Then, there was her other cousin, Chloe, whose baby was two months old, while Chloe’s twin sister Ashlynn’s baby was five months old.

And right now, they were all in Hailey’s living room.

This was a spur of the moment trip; she was here the day her beautiful little niece was born but felt the need to come and visit again.

Which wasn’t a simple task considering it required two flights and taking time off from work.

Still, she’d been in a funk lately, and ever since Hailey moved to Sweetbriar Ridge, she really missed her.

“Oh my God! Sloane!” Hailey cried out excitedly, causing all the babies to start crying. “What are you doing here?” She apologized to their cousins as she scooped up her daughter and quickly walked into the kitchen to greet her properly. “Why didn’t you call me?”

Rather than answer, she carefully reached out and took her crying niece into her arms. “Hey there, my sweet Layla,” she said softly. “Don’t cry. Aunt Sloane is here.” Gently, she rocked and swayed until the crying subsided. Then she grinned at Hailey. “Face it, I’m magic.”

“That you are. Now let me hug you.” And she carefully did so they didn’t disturb the baby. When she pulled back, she was smiling. “I love that you’re here, but…why?”

It was far too detailed to get into at the moment, so she lied.

Sort of.

“Work’s been a bit of a beast lately and I just needed to get away for a few days.” Then she glanced toward the living room. “So, um…what’s going on here today? Are you celebrating something?”

Her sister smiled, shaking her head. “No, silly. We’re having a playdate!”

“A playdate? Seriously?”

Hailey’s smile dimmed slightly. “Yes, seriously. What’s wrong with that?”

“They’re babies, Hales. Infants. They’re too young to play!” she explained with a small laugh. “And some of them can’t even hold up their own heads! I mean…come on. It’s kind of ridiculous.”

Clearly that was the wrong thing to say because her sister burst into tears.

Panic hit, and Sloane didn’t want to jostle Layla now that she was calm, but she also needed to comfort Hailey and…

“What in the world is going on in here?” her cousin Billie quietly asked. She was always the calm and levelheaded one in the group, so it was no wonder that she noticed and came over to them.

“Sloane thinks we’re stupid!” Hailey sobbed.

“I didn’t say anyone is stupid,” she sweetly argued. “I just thought that an infant playdate seemed…weird.”

That’s when Billie’s eyes welled with tears.

Oh, no…

It was time for damage control, so she carefully placed her niece back in her mama’s arms before saying, “I’m really sorry. This is all like…so not where my life is right now. I didn’t mean to insult anyone, okay? I just really wanted to come and visit and spend some time with you. The last thing I want to do is make you cry.”

For a moment, no one moved or said anything, but then—thankfully—Hailey gracefully maneuvered herself so she could effectively hug Sloane while holding Layla.

Whew…

“Okay, so we’re all good,” Billie stated with relief before joining in the hug.

That’s when Sloane started to cry.

Everything was a blur after that for a few minutes. By the time she got herself together, she was sitting on the sofa in the living room with her sister and cousins all sitting around her and watching her with a mixture of confusion and sympathy.

Wiping her face, she murmured, “Sorry about that.”

Reaching over, Hailey gave her hand a squeeze. “What’s going on that has you this upset?”

Where do I even begin?

Letting out a long breath, she looked at all of them. “Everyone’s moving on and getting married and having babies, and where am I? Stuck at a job I hate, dating guys I have zero interest in, and dealing with guilt and pressure from Mom and Dad.” Sighing, she leaned back against the cushions. “Mom’s gotten a little needy lately and she’s always calling and texting and…” Another sigh. “She was sick two weeks ago—it was just a cold—but I had to actually stay at the house because she was carrying on so much.”

“Yeah, I kind of got the feeling she was being a little dramatic,” Hailey commented. “But she kept telling me she was upset because she was going to have to wait longer to come back and visit us.”

“Oh, she’s obsessed with being here,” Sloane clarified. “Obsessed! Dad’s been here to oversee the work being done on the bar and so she’s complaining about being alone and missing out, and it’s exhausting!”

“It sounds like it,” Billie said. “We’ve all been there. Kind of. Parents tend to get like that. When our mom was in that car accident two years ago, it was an all day, every day thing. We all had to take turns staying with her. Why aren’t your brothers helping?”

“She doesn’t want them to,” Sloane replied. “She is hyper focused on me and my life.” Pausing because she felt herself getting choked up again, she let out a shaky breath. “Every time we talk, I end up feeling worse and worse about myself. Believe me, I wish I could meet a nice guy, but…but it just hasn’t happened yet.”

“Okay, don’t take this the wrong way,” Hailey began cautiously, “but maybe that’s because you tend to…you know…make light of everything. Like…like…the kissing booth obsession. You’ve been doing that since you were in high school, Sloane. You kiss random strangers and treat it like a joke. If you put as much energy into meeting a decent guy as you do into running around to every festival you hear of that has a kissing booth, maybe things would be different.

Her sister wasn’t wrong. The whole thing had started out as a dare at the spring carnival when she was a junior in high school, and it became a game she and her friends played.

A game that became a hobby.

A hobby that had her coming back to Sweetbriar Ridge every chance she got because of the hot guy who always seemed to be working at the booth.

It was far too quiet for a room with so many babies, and when Sloane looked up, she noticed that everyone was still warily watching her.

Except for Ashlynn. She was smirking.

“Fine,” she said with a huff. “I get what you’re saying and…you’re not wrong. I have spent a lot of time not taking life and relationships seriously. And now, I think I’m ready, and I want what you guys and all my friends have, but I don’t know how to turn off all the…you know…carefree playfulness?”

“You can still have some of that and be in a relationship,” Chloe offered. “You don’t have to totally turn off who you are. The things that make you special are the things that some lucky guy is going to love about you.”

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from making a sarcastic comment.

“Chloe’s right,” Ashlynn chimed in. “However, I’m not sure you’ll be able to give up the whole kissing booth fetish until you find…you know…the one.” Grinning, she added, “Do you go to a lot of festivals back in Florida like you do here?”

“Um…” And yeah, everyone’s eyes grew a bit wider while they waited for her response.

“There aren’t a lot of festivals back home,” Hailey said. “Sure, there’s the occasional carnival, but it’s too big of an urban area.”

They all nodded, but Ash was watching her with a knowing look.

“If you’re looking for one last festival, you’re in luck,” Billie said. “Jade has organized a brand new one—Meet in the Streets. It’s a festival to celebrate all the new businesses in town. It’s not going to be quite as big as some of our other events, but there is going to be a carnival on the middle school grounds.”

“With a kissing booth,” Ash added.

“So, um…when…when is it?” she asked, desperately trying to sound casual and failing.

Before anyone could answer, Chloe’s little girl, Charlotte, let out a cry—which triggered a few more from the rest of the tiny bunch. It was a great way to break the tension, and it wasn’t until they were all standing and picking up babies that Ashlynn gently guided her away from the group.

“The new festival is in two weeks,” she whispered. “There was just going to be a small carnival, but I was the one who suggested the kissing booth.”

“What? Why?” Sloane hissed.

“Oh, stop. I casually mentioned it to Jade and said it was always such a hit at all the other festivals, and she agreed. Apparently, you’re not the only fan of them.”

“Ew, Jade likes them too? Does Levi know?”

The cackle Ash let out had everyone looking at them, but she waved them off. “Sloane was complimenting how big my boobs are,” she said with amusement. “Is it time for lunch yet? I’m starving!”

“Ooh…good idea!” Hailey said. She placed Layla in her carrier and took her into the kitchen. Billie did the same with Julian, followed by Chloe and Charlotte.

“Food is always a great distraction,” Ash murmured. “But I really am hungry, so I’ll make this quick. If you can come back, I’ll find out what shift your hottie is working in the booth.”

She was rolling her eyes before she could stop herself. “If you know who he is, why won’t you just tell me?”

“Because until you’re ready to admit that you’re genuinely interested and not playing around, it wouldn’t be fair. You get to pack up and head back to Florida; I’ve got to live here. And if he knew you were a Donovan, he’d be able to track you down in a heartbeat. Especially since Hailey lives here now.”

“Damn. You’re right.”

“The ball’s in your court, Sloane. If you just need to get your kicks one more time? I can hook you up with the booth schedule. And when you’re ready for more? Then I’m here for you too.”

“Thanks, Ash. And thank you for keeping my secret all those times I came to town and didn’t really tell anyone.”

“Are you kidding? It was awesome keeping that just between the two of us. No one else would have understood. They’re all far too serious. Trust me.”

“Well, I don’t know about that, but I always had fun hanging out with you.”

“Can I let you in on a little secret?” Ash whispered, leaning in a bit closer.

“Of course!”

“It was fun going to those out-of-town festivals with you and hitting up their booths!” She laughed softly. “Now I have Reid, and I have no interest in doing that anymore, but I’ll certainly support you if you need a wingman. Or…wing-woman? Wing-person? I don’t know what to call it, but just know I’m here for you.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that.”

“Hey, you two,” Chloe called out. “Lunch is on the table!”

“Coming!” Ash replied before picking up her son. “Come on, Noah. Let’s see what your cousins are up to.” Turning, she winked at Sloane. “Brace yourself. Most of the time we have adult conversations, but sometimes it turns to all baby-related things.”

Nodding, she sighed. “It’s okay. I figured.” In the kitchen, she noticed that the table was covered in platters of sandwiches and a variety of salads.

“Help yourself to something to drink, Sloane,” Hailey told her. “I just have water out, but there are more options in the fridge.”

“Thanks.”

It took a few minutes to get her drink and make her plate before she finally sat down, and, as Ash predicted, they were all talking about baby stuff. Instead of trying to add anything to the conversation, she quietly ate her sandwich and covertly scrolled through social media on her phone.

Someone loudly cleared their throat and Sloane looked up in confusion. “What?”

“We’re sorry,” her sister said sympathetically. “Here we are talking and excluding you.”

“It’s fine, Hales. You guys had plans and I crashed them. You’re allowed to talk about whatever you like.”

“We talk all the time. We never get to hang out with you.”

“I was just here three weeks ago,” Sloane reminded her.

“I know, but I was kind of busy having a baby and didn’t really have time to sit and visit with you.”

“And it’s fine,” she said, thoroughly amused by the conversation. “We can just…”

“So, who’ve you kissed at the local festivals?” Chloe blurted out, and everyone’s heads snapped to look at her. Her eyes went wide. “What? What did I say? And I really am curious.”

“She doesn’t know their names, Chlo,” Ashlynn quickly replied. “That’s not how kissing booths work, right? It’s not like a round of speed dating.”

Nodding, Sloane agreed. “None of them wore name tags, so…”

“It’s usually the same four to six guys, from what I remember,” Billie added. “Keith Rowlands, who’s a firefighter. Then Russ Evans and Dave Williams from the bank, and Chris Overman, who teaches middle school science…” She paused for a moment. “And I think Eric Madden and Will Campbell from the auto body shop rounded the group out.” Shrugging, she went on, “I could be wrong, but those guys are the ones I’ve seen working the booths the most.”

So there was her list of names.

Unfortunately, it didn’t mean anything to her. Without pictures, the names were pointless.

“I think you’re right, Bill,” Chloe said after finishing a forkful of potato salad. “But I want to say I remember one of them asking around about a girl who came to the booth. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I feel like I remember one of those guys sort of going around town asking if anyone knew a specific girl he kissed. Was it Will? Does anyone else remember that?”

Sloane immediately looked over at Ashlynn, who seemed very focused on wiping a non-existent spot off of Noah’s cheek.

Will? Was her kissing booth guy’s name really Will? And he was looking for her?

That’s got to mean something, right?

Instead of commenting, Sloane picked up her sandwich and took a bite.

While silently trying to plot a way to look up all these guys on social media and see if she could finally put a face and name together.

If Jade Donovan walked in right now, he’d kiss her.

Like seriously take her in his arms and kiss her.

Of course, that might mean that Levi would kick his ass, but it would totally be worth it.

Will Campbell had never been more excited about a town festival than he was right now. Even though the town of Sweetbriar Ridge seemed to have more than their share of events in recent years, he had a feeling that this new one was going to be his favorite!

“What are you grinning at?” his boss Devin asked as he stepped away from the garage bay of Sweetbriar Ridge Auto Care and headed toward Will.