Chapter 15 #2
Wyatt joins in too and, before I know it, the entire Fletcher family is wrapping me up in a big hug and offering me and Luke their congratulations. Luke receives several pats on his back from his brothers and I begin to see the reason why Luke wanted to keep this all a secret from them.
They are a lot.
But he’s the one who chose to live up here with them all on the mountain. He’s the one who volunteered his home for us to
live in. This was all his idea, as a matter of fact. And it took three proposals to get us here. Did he not realize how hard
this might be?
“Calder, go to our cabin and grab that prosecco in the fridge,” Dakota says, whacking her boyfriend’s tattoo-covered arm with
a sense of urgency.
“What’s prosecco?”
Dakota rolls her eyes. “The champagne.”
“Oh . . . what do I bring for cups?”
She winces and then shrugs. “The red Solo cups are fine.”
“So bad for the environment,” Wyatt growls under his breath as Calder turns to do as his lady told him.
Trista comes in close, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Let’s see the ring!”
“Oh, um . . .” I hesitate before Luke interjects.
“It’s coming still.” Luke smiles awkwardly at me and glances down at my empty hand. “Like I said before, this was all really
impulsive and spur-of-the-moment so there’s a lot we still have to figure out.”
“Impulsive is fun!” Dakota smiles, showing me all her teeth. “I could totally tell you two had the hots for each other in
Mexico.”
“Oh, is that right?” I giggle woodenly, my eyes flashing nervously to Luke.
“This boy is smitten with you,” Trista adds, grabbing Luke’s arm playfully. “You snagged a good one here. Heart of gold.”
“Definitely,” I say around a laugh as Calder appears, popping the cork and sending it flying down the mountain.
“You’re going to go find that,” Wyatt drawls and Calder rolls his eyes.
Dakota pours everyone some bubbles and as she tries to pass a cup to Johanna, she holds her hand up to refuse. “None for me,
thanks.”
“Are you sure?” Dakota asks with a frown.
“You kids go ahead and celebrate. I should be getting home.” She turns to make her way back to her car and Luke follows her,
worry all over his face.
“I’m really sorry for not telling you sooner, Mom,” he drawls, looking like a lost puppy begging for a home. “It’s been such
a whirlwind. We’re getting Roe moved into my place right now. We haven’t had a moment to breathe.”
She glances at the truck bed full of my belongings and offers him a weak smile. “Congratulations to you both.”
She turns to leave and Luke stands there looking completely destroyed. The sight of him devastated over hurting his mom is
killing me to witness so I step forward, red Solo cup in hand and say, “Johanna?”
“Yes, dear?”
I swallow the knot in my throat, feeling all the Fletcher family eyes burning into me. “Um . . . Luke and I are planning a
proper ceremony we want to do in a couple of months. My dad really wants to walk me down the aisle and everything.”
“Yes, he mentioned that. That’s so nice,” she says, opening her car door and holding the frame like she needs to get going.
“Yeah, um . . . I don’t know anything about wedding planning so I was wondering if you’d . . .” I lick my lips nervously,
my hands sweaty around my cup as I cast a terrified glance to Luke. “Would you maybe help me with everything?”
Johanna stares back at me, her eyes as wide as saucers. “You want me to help you plan your wedding?”
“Only if you want to,” I rush out, terrified that maybe she hates the idea. “I’m just not really a girlie girl and have no idea where to start, but I could probably hire a professional if you’re too busy or—”
My voice is cut off as Johanna eliminates the space between us and crushes me in a big, giant hug, her arms trembling around
me.
I hold my breath as my entire body tenses in her embrace and I stand there with my arms out, plastic cup in hand, refusing
to hug her back.
It’s nothing personal really. I have the same trouble accepting affection from Edith. It’s just . . . one of my quirks. I’m
not big on physical affection, especially when it comes to women. Raise your hand if you have mommy issues!
“I’d love to, sweetie,” she murmurs into my hair before pulling away, her eyes red rimmed as she smiles, looking genuinely
happy for the first time since she came up here today. “This is going to be so much fun! You leave it all to me.”
“Thanks, Johanna,” I murmur through a forced smile.
“Call me Mom or Jo. Whatever feels right.” She chucks me under the chin and squeals before hugging me one more time. When
she lets go, she cuts a menacing look to Luke, still obviously not ready to let him off the hook. But he looks mildly relieved
when she turns around and says, “Pour me some of that champagne, Dakota!”
“You got it, Jo,” Dakota calls back and does as she’s told.
Luke sidesteps to wrap his arm around me. “I owe you big for that one, Roe,” he murmurs into my hair before pressing his lips
to my temple.
A flush of heat spreads through me as he stands there, holding me like it’s the most normal thing in the world. And strangely,
it does feel normal. Luke feels good to me. Comforting. A stark contrast to how I felt with Johanna’s affection. What the
hell does that even mean?
“It’s the least I can do,” I croak quietly, and we both exhale a heavy breath and sip champagne on the mountaintop with his family, celebrating our happy union.
And it is happy . . . so far. This marriage is what I wanted to get the lumberyard, which is the bigger thing that I wanted.
I can handle this Fletcher family. I can handle a little wedding planning with Luke’s mother. It’ll be a piece of cake. Wedding
cake, that is.