Chapter 19
DOVE
The entire flight I’m tense and electric.
All I can think about is what we did, and I try my best not to sneak glances at him every five seconds. I do my best not to blush and squirm like a silly schoolgirl keeping a secret.
So we told a harmless white lie to get Corey off my case. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s not like he’ll tell everyone. He’s too proud for that.
I hope.
Chewing my lip, I remember standing close, spinning our little web. Mav’s hand on my lower back, me leaning into his chest. Our lips so close…
Shaking away these thoughts, I try to distract my mind, be unbothered, cool like Mav.
I’ve never been on a private jet before, but I could get used to this type of luxury. When we boarded, the flight attendant met us with glasses of champagne.
Maverick took one, handed me one, and clinked his against mine before taking a sip. I sipped mine, and he gave me a wink, then headed to his seat.
My neck heated, but I guess that means we’re partners in crime now.
Gina didn’t even seem to notice. She also didn’t take a glass.
She led Maddie to the back of the plane where oversized armchairs are positioned in front of a flatscreen television.
Now they’re both wearing headphones and watching Because of Winn-Dixie.
Maddie has her head in Gina’s lap, her stuffed zebra cuddled at her side, and Gina’s tracing her fingers along the little girl’s arm.
They’re adorable, already a family, and Gina’s here to decide if she and Owen will get married in the orchard. I hope they do. I love their story and how they were pulled together by fate and dogs.
I’m holding one of Haddy’s romance books, but I can’t concentrate on it. I stretch in my seat, looking around at the leather interior, the wood trim, the plush blankets… Until my eyes stubbornly return to him. Again.
He’s reclined against the window dozing. His dark hair is pulled off his face in sort of a samurai style, and the scruff on his cheeks is darker, thicker.
He usually keeps his beard neatly shaved, but since the accident, he’s let it grow more. He looks more mature, formidable.
Another electric thrill races through my veins, and I can’t stop a grin when I picture what it will be like when Corey sees him again.
I want to lean my head back and laugh, but instead, I put my book in front of my face and try to read.
“You’re here, at last!” Mom runs out of the house as soon as we pull into the driveway, arms wide.
“I haven’t been gone that long, Mom.” I shake my head.
“It feels like a year.” She pulls me into a big hug while Mav and the driver unload our bags.
Maverick’s car service was waiting when we arrived at the small airport in Monroe, and we were all secure in the black SUV and headed this way so fast, I felt like a mafia wife.
Clearly, I’m the only country girl in the group, because Gina and Maddie never even batted an eye at our smooth transportation. We didn’t have to wait for anything or deal with rude travelers stepping in front of us or hitting us with their things or lost luggage or waiting on a rideshare…
I might cry when all this is over, and I have to go back to flying commercial.
Now we’re greeting my parents in the gravel drive behind the old white farmhouse where I grew up. It hasn’t changed a bit. Not that anything ever changes around here… or at least, nothing used to change.
Dad walks over and bends down to give me a hug. “We’ve missed you.”
His deep voice makes my eyes heat, and I shake my head, exhaling a laugh. “I’m going to have a talk with Pen. She’s clearly not spending enough time with her parents.”
Dad only chuckles, holding me close to his side. “Penny’s five minutes away, and we never see her.”
“Sounds like she’s enjoying college,” I tease.
“Maverick Murphy, I can’t believe how tall you’ve gotten.” Mom stands on her tiptoes reaching for him. “I could look you in the eye last time you were here. Now you’re as tall as your daddy.”
Standing back, I watch him bend down to hug my petite mom, answering with a polite, “Yes, ma’am.”
He moves next to my dad, shaking his hand. “Good to see you, sir.”
Dad takes his hand, squinting an eye at him. “I have to say, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this arrangement at first.”
“What… arrangement?” Mav looks from him to me, and we both frown.
“Taron Rhodes!” Mom walks over grabbing his arm. “Don’t even start with that. I told you, we were their age once, and we’re so happy y’all are together. I spent all day getting the cottage ready. Fresh sheets are on the bed, the mini fridge is stocked, and the window unit is running.”
“Wait, what’s happening?” Gina steps up, looking from Maverick to me. “What did I miss?”
The skin on the back of my neck prickles, and holy shit, Corey Hayes is not that proud. He blabbed to everyone.
I flash worried eyes at Maverick, but he holds out his hand, doing a little motion for me to wait, saying. “Appreciate y’all.”
“Gina Grace, you looked just like your mamma stepping out of that car.” Mom steps forward, pulling her into a hug.
“I’m so glad you’re here. Dove’s old room is all fixed up for you and Maddie, and we’d absolutely love it if you wanted to have your wedding here.
Mindy’s coming by tonight, and she can show you the decorations…
Boo’s wedding is going to be so beautiful. ”
Kelani lets out a little yip from her crate, and Maddie dives forward to open the door and take her out. “Look what we brought, Ms Noel! Uncle Mav said Dove had a dog just like this when she was my age.”
“Oh my goodness!” Mom’s eyes warm, and she lifts the puppy into her arms. “She looks just like Akela did. Taron, look at this.”
Dad steps closer, putting his hand on Mom’s shoulder and the other on Kelani’s little head. “She looks like a good dog to me.”
A knot clogs my throat, and I press my lips together, shaking my head as I laugh through misty eyes. “Can we stop being so sentimental please?”
Mom hugs Kelani to her chest, beaming hazel eyes at me as she laughs. “You’d better buckle up, Buttercup. It’s a wedding weekend. I bought extra boxes of tissues.”
“Who’s hungry?” Dad stretches out his hand. “Mav, you like fried fish?”
“Yes, sir!” Maverick says, lifting our bags. “I’ll put these in the cottage and meet you all at the house.”
“Let me help you.” Dad steps forward. “I heard you had a concussion recently.”
“It’s nothing.” Mav tries to play it off, but my dad lifts the heavier bag. “Hockey’s a tough sport.”
They drift away talking.
Mom puts her hand on Maddie’s shoulder, still holding the puppy. “Let’s get the rest of these things inside. Your uncle Leon is going to be so happy to see you. He’s been working hard to build berms in the south quarter.”
The two of them go ahead of us, but Gina dashes over to where I stand, holding me back.
“What’s going on?” Her eyes level on mine, practically squealing. “Why are you and Mav sharing the cottage?”
I don’t know what to do. I need Maverick here to help me. We made this bed together, and I’m not lying in it all by myself.
“Ahh…” I look over my shoulder to where my dad and he are entering the foreman’s cottage.
It’s where my dad stayed when he first came to our family’s orchard before I was born. It’s where my parents first fell in love, and my stomach tickles thinking about sharing such a special place with Mav.
Granted, they completely renovated it in the years since all that happened. Now it’s a much nicer guesthouse, still only one bedroom but with updated interiors and a larger, full bathroom.
“We just sort of…” I’m searching my mind for anything to say that will get me off the hook until I can talk to him. “...are.”
“Well, I think it’s about time you came out of the closet!” She lifts her chin, giving me a smug grin. “Haddy is going to be so pissed that I’m here and she’s not.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, good lord! Maverick has been pining for you since we were kids!” Her voice goes high. “Important note, Knox is the worst at keeping secrets. Don’t ever tell him anything you want in the vault. He’s worse than Haddy.”
“He… has?” My chest squeezes.
We’ve reached the back door that leads into the kitchen, and I look over my shoulder at him walking up the hill with my dad.
“I can’t even tell you how happy everyone is going to be. When word got around you were moving to LA, Sage wanted to start one of those wagering pools where we could all bet on how long it would take before y’all were sleeping together.”
“Y’all bet on that?” My ears heat, and I pull my hand away.
“Of course not!” She laughs, taking my arm again. “It was just for fun. To make things interesting. And we’d be betting for you, not against you.”
“Wait, so you did or you didn’t?”
“The idea was floated, but it doesn’t matter now. You’re together! I can’t believe your mom knew before we did.”
“Yeah…” I climb the steps behind Gina, and we enter the warm kitchen where Maddie is standing at the bar chatting with my mom and Kelani dances around her feet, looking up at everyone and doing her little breathy yips.
About that… “Mom, how did you know about Maverick and me?”
“Hmm?” Mom’s eyebrows lift, and she bends down to take a large baking sheet of garlic bread from the oven. “Oh, Darcy just texted the planning group chat letting us all know. I think Boo was worried you’d be the only one without an escort.”
That word again.
“Best weekend ever!” Gina gives me another squeeze, and when the screen door opens, she skips over to her cousin. “Maverick, you sneak. I wondered what that little toast on the plane was all about.”
“You saw that?” He huffs a laugh. “You didn’t say anything.”
“I just figured it was some roommate thing or something with Kelani. I had no idea!”
“Hey, I thought I heard voices.” Uncle Leon enters the room, and I can’t keep the smile off my cheeks.
He’s wearing beat-up, faded jeans and an old, long-sleeved plaid shirt. His hair is shaggy and needs a trim, but his eyes are full of love.