Chapter 4
Chapter Four
JULIE
I leave Tucker alone, assuming that’s probably what he wants anyway, and thunder back down the stairs to seek out my mother. Tucker doesn’t understand the gravity of my worry—or the situation. There should be Christmas lights on the house by now. As I make my way into the kitchen, my eyes land on Jessie, Carson’s wife.
“Julie!” She throws her hands up in the air, her dark waves bouncing as she rushes to me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I’m so sorry that I didn’t greet you when you first got here. I was helping Carly with these.” She releases me, and then makes her way to the oven, popping it open for me to see Christmas cookies, cut in various shapes.
“Those are cute,” I tilt my head, trying to make out what each of them are. It’s clear they were the efforts of a preschooler, with their shapes mostly indiscernible.
Jessie, as if reading my mind, laughs. “She’s only four. A for effort. She’ll have a ton of fun decorating them in the morning.”
“I mean,” I gesture to what I think is a Christmas tree. “I know what that one is.”
Jessie eyes me. “I did that one.”
We fall into silence, and then both burst into laughter. I love my sister-in-law. How in the world my brother landed such a gem is beyond me. She’s everything he’s not—sweet, funny, and actually pleasant to be around .
Just as our laughter is dying down, I catch sight of Tucker, slipping out toward the front door, more than likely to get his luggage.
“So, that’s the boyfriend, Tucker, huh?” Jessie nudges me. “He’s handsome.”
“He’s alright,” I snort, and then instantly catch myself at the funny look she’s giving me. “I’m kidding. He’s super-hot. Very cowboy. Very, um… Manly…”
“Very your type,” Jessie muses, giggling.
Do I even have a type?
“Where’s everyone else at?” I turn to her, ready to drop the subject. “And why are there no decorations?”
Jessie raises her brow. “Oh, didn’t you know? Your dad threw out his back a couple of weeks ago. He’s just now getting around to doing all the decorating but having to catch up on work first. Carson is going to get started on it tomorrow, I think.”
I narrow my eyes. “Mom told me all he did was strain his back, and that he was perfectly fine. She never tells me what actually happens.”
Jessie laughs, squeezing my shoulder. “I don’t think she wants to worry you, Julie. You have enough on your plate with work.”
“I’m a content writer for a dairy farm blog , ” I argue. “I can come home whenever I want—and work from here. I can help whenever they need me. I don’t have to be kept on the outside…”
“Yeah, but…” Jessie’s voice trails off as Tucker steps back inside, only carrying one duffle bag.
“Is that all you brought?” I call out to him, saying what I know Jessie is thinking.
Tucker freezes, turning to face the two of us. “Uh, yeah? I mean, there’s a washer and dryer here, right? Not everyone needs to bring their whole wardrobe. Though,” he pauses, glancing down to his bag. “This is basically mine.”
“Yeah,” Jessie grins, “I like him.”
“Oh,” I stop, realizing my rudeness. “This is Carson’s wife, Jessie.”
“Nice to meet you.” Tucker tips his hat to her like a gentleman, and I find myself staring at the way his greenish-blue eyes sparkle under the entryway lights. Have they always done that?
“You’ll meet Carly, my daughter, in the morning,” Jessie tells him. “She’s already in bed for the night. She’s an early riser, so be prepared. She’s spending the night here with Gramps and Granny.”
Tucker gives her an awkward, lopsided smile. “Cool.” He then disappears back up the stairs, leaving the two of us staring after him.
“He’s a man of few words,” Jessie comments, nodding. “He’ll do well with Carson, since he never shuts up.”
“Yeah, right,” I snort. “Carson hates him.”
“What?!” Jessie spins to face me, surprise written all over her face. “Why? He doesn’t even know him… I swear, I’ll go talk to him right now?—”
“He does know him,” I correct her. She’s not from Hillsdale, having met Carson while the two of them were seniors in college. “They went to high school together… Tucker is… Tucker was…” I can’t bring myself to spit it out.
“He was Nathan’s best friend,” Carson scoffs as he steps into the kitchen, a repulsed look on his face. “And I don’t like him. The two of them were nothing but trouble, Tucker especially. That guy got himself into trouble constantly.”
“He was a kid,” Mom reasons, following right behind my brother. “Give the guy a break. You were a handful, too, you know. Besides, the holidays are for second chances, and Lord knows I need one after the comment I made earlier…”
“He’ll either earn his keep or he won’t,” Dad’s deep voice carries above everyone else’s as he, too, enters the kitchen. “Until then, I don’t want to hear anyone bad-mouth Julie’s boyfriend. I’m happy you brought someone home, honey. Everyone should be happy.”
I meet his gray eyes, and instantly feel guilty at the pure joy I see laced in his irises. “Thanks Dad,” is all I manage—and then I change the subject. “I had no idea you hurt your back so bad.”
“Oh, it was nothing,” Dad chuckles, shaking his head. “I bounced right back.” But as the words leave his lips, the look on my mom’s face tells a completely different story.
“He’s full of it,” Carson speaks for her, shaking his head. “I take it you noticed the Cooper Christmas Wonderland is amiss, yeah?”
I nod, just as Tucker appears in the opposite doorway, joining the rest of us. “I’m sure Tucker would be more than happy to help with all the decorations.”
“I bet he would. He has a lot of sucking up to do,” Carson retorts, shooting daggers at my fake boyfriend. I cringe at the animosity. I won’t lie, I had completely forgotten just how much Carson disliked Tucker. I was only hoping to remind my dad that I didn’t need to be set up.
I had no idea I was opening this can of worms.
“It’s fine,” Tucker says, his voice flat. “I’ll help.”
I raise my brows in surprise, as everyone starts chatting about what needs to be done. Taking a step closer to Tucker, I lean in. “Look at you, being a good boyfriend.”
“The best, actually,” he smirks, shooting me a look that has my stomach doing somersaults. “And I better get some major brownie points for putting up with your older brother. I guess he doesn’t believe in that whole let bygones be bygones thing . ”
“Obviously,” I mutter, eyeing Carson—and noticing that he’s staring at the two of us, daggers in his eyes. I turn to Tucker, threading my arm through his, and then drag him out of the kitchen into the foyer. “And speaking of, why does he hate you so much?”
Tucker shrugs, as if my question is irrelevant. “I don’t know. Probably because I was a troublemaker. Probably because I kicked his butt in bronc riding at every rodeo we ever competed in. Really, could be anything.” He starts to sound more bitter. “Also, could be that he blames me for Nate being such a handful. Everyone said I was the bad influence. You know,” Tucker pauses, his voice dropping. “Rebellious foster kid, always up to no good, bouncing from house to house, ten years ago…”
I sigh, brushing my hair from my face and pulling my arm from him. “Okay, I get it. Seems like you’re still a little resentful yourself.”
“Never,” he drawls. “Not even a little.”
I roll my eyes, shaking my head as I glance back to the kitchen. “Just play nice.”
He makes a face. “Clearly, your brother is the one you need to have this conversation with. Not me.”
My shoulders fall, but before I can say anything else to that, my mom’s voice comes from the doorway. “Come on, you two, we’re going out to sit by the fire and have some hot cocoa. We’re all dying to hear how the two of you reconnected.”
Tucker and I both exchange a look of borderline panic, but his fades to amusement. “Of course. Julie loves telling the story. Don’t you, honey ?” He pats me on the head as he passes by, and I glare after him and my mother, who luckily both have their backs to me. I follow behind the two of them, trying to conjure up some way that the two of us ended up reconnecting…
Less than ten minutes later, we’re all sitting around the fire on the outdoor patio, holding our mugs of hot chocolate and staying warm by the glow of the flames.
“Well,” Carson begins, nodding to me. “Like I told everyone when you and Tuck went to have a private conversation, I’m just dying to know how the two of you ended up together. Last I heard, Tucker had made a beeline to Oklahoma.”
“The internet,” I say plainly, deciding to take the easy way out. “It’s not really all that romantic. He slid into my DMs, and that was that.”
No one looks remotely enthused.
“ Actually, ” Tucker clears his throat, resting his red Santa mug on his thigh. “I ran into her first. It was a little honky tonk at the stockyards. I was there on business, and that’s where the writing firm she works for is located.”
I furrow my brow. How does he know that?
“I almost didn’t recognize her,” Tucker continues, his eyes on his hands. “She was different, more full-of-life, I guess. We talked and I bought her a drink. She slipped out without giving me her number, and so… Then I slid into her DMs.” He looks up, meeting my gaze. “I’m not the kind of guy who spends enough time on the internet to go messaging random women.”
“Yeah, you just creep on them afterward,” Carson snorts.
I glare at my brother, suddenly feeling defensive. “It wasn’t creepy. I thought it was cute.”
“It is cute,” Jessie chimes, leaning against her hand, her eyes starry. “Carson did the same thing. He didn’t have the nerve to ask for my number.”
My brother’s face grows red. “I was only twenty-one…”
“Yeah, and dating does not get any easier as you get older,” I mutter, shaking my head. “It’s nearly impossible to meet anyone. Let alone someone that’s actually interested in me. ” I ignore Tucker’s gaze as I clear my throat, plastering on a completely content smile.
“Well, they don’t know what they’re missing,” Mom chimes, her expression sympathetic as she sips on her hot cocoa.
“Nope,” Tucker’s deep voice rattles my chest. “And the ones before just took her for granted. Didn’t know what they had.”
I whip my head up and meet his gaze, surprised by his words. My lips part, and I’m about to ask what he’s talking about—but my brother interjects.
“Well, this is all cute and such, but I gotta work tomorrow.” Carson tips back his mug and drains the rest of the cocoa, and then heads for the backdoor, tapping on Jessie’s shoulder. “Come on, Jess. We need to get home… Take advantage of a kid-free night.”
I shudder at the wink he gives her, and she hops up, giggling as she grabs his hand, interlacing her fingers with his. My disgust shifts to a pang of jealousy as I watch the two of them enter the house, talking in hushed happy voices.
Tucker clears his throat once the door closes. “I think I’m gonna call it a night, myself. I’m pretty tired.” He pushes himself to standing, nodding to my parents. “Thank you for having me, and for the hot chocolate.”
“Of course,” Mom answers, a huge grin stretched across her face. “We’re more than happy to have you. Get some rest.”
Tucker nods again, and as he passes me, his fingers graze my hand, sliding down and interlocking with mine. I catch my breath at the heat in his touch, and he squeezes my hand. “Night, Jules. See you in the morning.”
“See you,” I choke out, surprised by the lump in my throat—and the heat blazing my cheeks. “Goodnight.”