Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Preston
Brody’s place felt smaller than usual. Of course, our family was growing more and more every day with girlfriends, fiancées, and new partners.
And when everyone turned up for family dinner hungry and loud the way that we Lyons always were, the house I grew up in felt tighter than normal.
And just like when I was a kid, I was on the constant lookout for an escape route to get outside and into the forest to flee the chaos.
It wasn’t that I didn’t love my family and these ridiculous weekly dinners.
I did. Well, mostly. But my family had an annoying way of seeing things I didn’t want them to see.
And with all the conflicted feelings I had swirling through me since my beers with Jess, the very last thing I needed was anyone trying to play therapist on me.
The kitchen was already crowded when I walked in. But it smelled delicious. “What’s for dinner?”
“Hey.” Brody glanced up from the sink. “Grab the plates and set the table. We’re almost ready.”
I grabbed the stack of plates right as Quinn walked in and handed them directly to her. My niece gave me a look that told me she knew I was passing the buck. But she was a good kid, and took them with only a dramatic sigh and roll of her eyes.
Reid was at the counter, slicing a French loaf with precision.
Delaney was at the stove stirring something that smelled like garlic and tomatoes, periodically swatting Ethan away when he tried to peer over her shoulder.
Grayson leaned against the fridge, beer in hand, watching it all like it was the most entertaining show he’d seen in weeks.
“Harper at the restaurant?”
Grayson nodded. “Her part-timer called in sick, so she needed to be there for the dinner rush. But she’s hoping to join later.”
I accepted the beer he handed me from the fridge with a nod of thanks, feeling guilty for the flash of jealousy that washed through me that Harper was allowed to skip family dinner because she was the owner and head chef of the busiest restaurant in town.
It really wasn’t that bad to spend time with my family.
They were some of my favorite people, after all.
Still.
I took a drink of my beer and followed Grayson into the dining room, where Reid’s wife, Avery, was helping Quinn put the finishing touches on the table. As soon as the last plate was laid out, my niece slipped into her seat and pulled her phone out of her pocket.
“I’m pretty sure your dad will say no phones at the table,” Grayson said with a lift of his brow and tilt of his head.
“I know, I know. I just need to…it’s just that…”
“Is this about a boy?” Avery asked, and Quinn immediately flushed red, giving us the answer.
“No!”
It was a lie, but nobody was going to push her on it. And the question had the desired effect as Quinn shoved her phone back into her pocket.
And just in the nick of time, as the others joined us. Brody placed a big bowl of salad on the table, Reid held a platter of perfectly sliced bread, and Delaney carried a steaming bowl of stew.
My stomach growled. “It smells delicious, guys.” I reached for a piece of bread. It had been too long since I’d eaten a decent meal. Probably exactly a week ago, the last time my family fed me.
The chaos from the kitchen carried right over to the dining room, and the volume level ratcheted up as chairs scraped, dishes were passed, and everyone tried to talk over one another.
I was ladling a big scoop of stew into my bowl when my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I ignored it at first. Family dinner had rules—spoken or not—and pulling out my phone was a good way to get called out.
When it buzzed again, I glanced down.
Committee Group Chat
Tilley:
Important announcement! I’ve decided our next step is NOT sitting in a room. Thoughts??
Chase:
You had me at “not sitting.”
Becky:
Does this involve another hike? Because Mason would love to come.
Jess:
I’m in favor of hiking.
I grinned and typed out a quick reply before Brody could catch me.
Preston:
There’s a loop off Alder Ridge we didn’t cover. Different terrain. Less traffic.
As much as I wanted to keep reading to see what everyone thought of my plan, I didn’t want to risk my big brother’s wrath. Besides, setting an example for Quinn, who I was pretty sure had noticed my texting, was important.
I silenced my phone and tucked it back into my pocket before anyone could call me out.
Jess
My coffee had grown cold by the time I noticed.
Again.
I’d been at my desk in the new sales office in the middle of the plaza, with all my files spread out in front of me.
The evening sun was still streaming in from the huge window at the front of the mostly empty sales office.
It was a beautiful day outside, and with the days getting longer and longer, it would have been a perfect evening to go for a hike. Or even a mountain bike ride.
When was the last time I went for a bike ride?
I couldn’t even remember. My bike was probably covered in dust or, more likely, seized up from lack of use. Because all I did was work.
With a sigh, I leaned back in my chair and let my eyes scan over the stacks of papers again—the blueprints, the plans for the entire development. I flipped through the proposal again and forced myself to focus and really look at it.
I unfolded the map. It took over my entire desk. My gaze followed the colored lines that marked the existing trail system. I let my finger run along them, up until the spot where the new, red line crossed it.
The reroute.
My finger drew an X over the existing access point that would be removed.
On paper, it all looked good. Clean and efficient. But the longer I looked at it, the more uncomfortable I felt.
I couldn’t help but hear Preston’s voice in my head explaining how the new trail would be in the backyards of the new units.
I could already imagine the No Trespassing signs. The hikers bursting up against fences where there should have been trees. The animosity that would brew between the tourists, locals, and new residents.
It wasn’t right, and Preston had a point. It could be done better.
I pulled out the napkin that Preston had used to sketch out, grabbed a pencil, and started drawing out the changes in front of me.
It could work. The service road would have to be shifted a little bit, and we’d have to give up a few lots closest to the ridge.
I exhaled slowly. It would never fly with Trevor or the investors.
And yet, thinking about the trails I’d just been hiking with Preston and the others, I knew I’d have to at least try.
Maybe losing a few lots wouldn’t matter too much to the bottom line. The numbers were solid.
Better than solid. They were good. Really good.
The new development made sense, and not just because of the booming tourism industry in Trickle Creek.
This was more than that. This development would bring affordable housing to the people who already lived here and those who couldn’t afford the increasing house prices in what used to be an affordable little mountain town.
It would be good for business. It would be good for the whole town.
It would be good for me.
I’d be lying to pretend otherwise. The commission on this project would change things for me financially in a big way. Never mind what they’d do for Trevor.
Of course, we hadn’t really discussed money and what our finances would look like after we got married. There was a lot we hadn’t discussed yet.
With a sigh, I closed the map and reached for the folder that contained my wedding details and growing to-do list.
I regretted it the moment I flipped it open.
~ Flowers
~ Music list
~ Guest List follow-up
~ Catering confirmation
My chest tightened.
Maybe it’s worth slowing down. On all of it.
I hadn’t expected his words to stick with me. To be fair, I hadn’t expected any of my conversation with Preston to stick with me. But it had. He’d been so easy to talk to.
Too easy.
And those words had been echoing in my head at the worst possible times ever since.
Why had I told him those things?
I shook my head, annoyed with myself as I shoved the wedding task list away again and reached for my phone.
A text thread blinked at the top of the screen.
Committee Group Chat
Tilley:
Important announcement! I’ve decided our next step is NOT sitting in a room. Thoughts??
Chase:
You had me at “not sitting.”
Becky:
Does this involve another hike? Because Mason would love to come.
Jess:
I’m in favor of hiking.
A few seconds passed before another message popped up.
Preston:
There’s a loop off Alder Ridge we didn’t cover. Different terrain. Less traffic.
My lips curved before I could stop it.
Jess:
That works. Maybe a week or two from now?
Chase:
Put it on a weekend, and I’m there.
Becky:
Same. As long as it’s not at dawn.
Tilley:
Perfect! A hike it is! I’ll bring snacks.
Chase:
If you bring that trail mix again, I’m feeding it to the squirrels.
Tilley:
Rude. It was artisan. Besides, you have to have trail mix to hike.
Chase:
Not whatever that stuff was. It didn’t even have chocolate in it.
I laughed quietly, the sound easing something tight in my chest.
I set the phone face down and looked back at the map, at the lines that didn’t quite work and the ones that might.
For the first time in a while, I felt like there might be another way.
Even if I wasn’t ready to admit exactly what that meant yet.
Preston
Conversation flowed easily from topic to topic as we ate the delicious meal. As much as I resisted the craziness of the family meals, it was nice to catch up on everyone’s lives and stay connected. It took a while, but the conversation eventually circled around to me.
“So.” Ethan tipped his beer toward me. “How’s the whole civic engagement thing going? You guys making any decisions?”