Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
DARBY
It’s been a week since the incident at the Kincaid ranch, and I’m still uncomfortable in clothes, but with the help of the antibiotic, the pain cream, and a man who hovers like I might need him at any second, I’m healing quite well.
Certainly faster than I ever did when I was a kid, which tells me that getting medical attention was the right thing, even if I felt embarrassed about Blake seeing my back.
Today, I’m spending the afternoon with Harper and Ava at Ava’s place in Silver Springs so we can start going over wedding plans. I may not be Chad’s biggest fan, but I want to support my friend. If this is what she wants, I’m happy for her.
“I come bearing gifts,” I inform the girls as I walk into Ava’s adorable house.
She’s in the heart of town, not too far from the elementary school, and the house is just cute as a button.
It’s spotless and looks like it came out of a magazine, with beautiful rugs, the coziest furniture, and pretty touches that I’d expect from a highly sought-after interior decorator.
I texted ahead to get their coffee orders and stopped by Buzz, the local coffee shop, on my way over.
“You’re a godsend,” Ava says, accepting her cup and taking a long sip. “Their coffee is the best. Don’t tell your sister-in-law.”
“I’ll never tell. The older lady that works there is hilarious,” I say with a laugh. “And nosy as fuck.”
“Henrietta Hazelhoff,” Ava says with a knowing nod.
“Or, just Etta. The woman is the town gossip, and if you told her anything, the rest of the town will know by the end of the day because she’ll post all about it on Facebook.
She thinks she’s a news reporter for social media.
I’m surprised she didn’t have a live video going and ask you to introduce yourself to the whole town while you were there. ”
I blink at her and then laugh as I pass Harper her drink.
“No, she didn’t, and I’m so glad I didn’t answer any of her questions.
I got you decaf,” I say to Harper, and peek in on a sleeping Belle, who looks like a perfect angel, with her rosy cheeks and tiny lips, making a sucking motion as if she’s dreaming about eating. “Since you’re still feeding this one.”
“And we do not need to give girlfriend another reason to be up all night,” Harper agrees as she takes a sip. “She has all of her own reasons.”
“This is really great birth control,” Ava says.
“I mean, I have the best of all the worlds. I get to snuggle her, read to her, spoil the fuck out of her, and then when she’s up all night, I’m fast asleep in my bed, dreaming about a threesome with Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans. A Chris sandwich, if you will.”
“Does Chad know about this sandwich?” I ask her with a knowing grin.
“Chad’s not there to care,” Ava replies with a smile. “Charlie’s on her way over too. She’s wrapping up a meeting in Bitterroot Valley.”
The doorbell rings, and I grin. I didn’t realize my sister would be here today.
“Never mind, she’s here,” Ava says with a laugh and stands to answer the door.
“Hi, sissy.” I smile as my sister immediately walks over and hugs me, but then gasp when her hand lands on my shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” Charlie scowls, and I brush her question off, as if it’s no big deal.
“Sorry, I have an injury back there that’s still healing. I’m okay. Let’s talk all things weddings.”
My sister eyes me for a second and then sets her laptop and notebook, along with her giant tumbler of water, on the table and turns to Ava, but I can tell that she’ll be asking me questions later.
“Okay, let’s get down to business. We have the venue figured out,” Charlie begins. “You’re sure you want to get married at your family’s ranch?”
“I mean, it’s free, it’s beautiful, and I grew up there, so it makes sense.”
“It’s not exactly free,” Charlie says, and I’m so fucking proud of her as she puts her boss-babe hat on, commanding the room.
“You’ll have to rent a tent, a floor, bathrooms, and that’s just the beginning.
Which is not a problem at all, and I have no issue with organizing all of that for you, I just like to remind my brides that although it seems free, it never is. ”
“That makes sense,” Ava replies with a nod. “You’re right, it’s not really free, but I can afford all of that, so I’m still on board with it. I have the best spot chosen for it.”
“Is this perfect location close enough to the house that we can run electricity?” Charlie asks.
“Yes, that won’t be a problem.”
Charlie nods and makes some notes. “Great, now let’s talk about some fun stuff. Flowers, cake, dresses, honeymoon. How many attendants will you have?”
“Three.” Ava smiles at both of us. “Juliet’s working today, otherwise she’d be here.”
Stunned, I stare at my friend. “Wait. What?”
“Oh yeah, will you please be a bridesmaid? I know, I should have done something Instagram-worthy with a touching letter, or balloons, or a proposal of some kind—”
“That feels excessive,” I say, and Harper snorts.
“—but please, will you? I need the three of you up there with me.”
“Of course. Aww, friend.” I lean over and squeeze her hand. “Thank you.”
“She should be thanking us because she’s marrying Chad, so we’re taking one for the team,” Harper says, and Ava glares at her.
“You know what?” Ava says, leaning her elbows on the table. “That’s enough of that. I get it. You don’t love him. Fine. But you’re my sister, and you’re supposed to love me. If I want to marry Jeffrey fucking Dahmer—”
“He’s dead,” Harper mutters.
“—I’ll do it, and you’ll smile your way through it. I need you guys to support me and not fling the fact that you don’t like him in my face all the fucking time. I never would have done that to you when you were seeing Blake.”
“You’re right,” I say softly and eye Harper. “She’s right. We’re going to love you no matter what.”
“I do love you no matter what,” Harper says with a sigh. “I just worry about you.”
“And that’s noted,” Ava says. “If I need you, I’ll let you know.
But for now, this is a fun thing, and I want you to be present for it.
I need you to be excited for me, just like I am for you.
And if you can’t do that, then you can go.
I don’t want you to be part of this because I need all the good vibes I can get. ”
Harper’s eyes fill and she nods. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
“It’s okay. Now, let’s move on to the fun.”
“I want to know all about the fun,” I say.
“Me too.” Harper adds.
“When is this happening?” I ask, taking a sip of my coffee.
“In August,” Ava says, and I blink at her.
“Of next year?”
“No, this year.”
Harper and I share a look.
“Honey, I’m not going back to being a Debbie Downer, I just need to point out that that’s in two months. As in, two months. One, two.”
Ava’s nodding, and Charlie presses her lips together, not wanting to rock the boat for a client, but Ava’s not my client, she’s my friend.
“I know,” Ava says just as the baby starts to cry.
Same, Belle, same.
Harper picks Belle up and pats her on the back and says, “Aves, you could push it out to next spring and give Charlie enough time to work her magic. Belle might be toddling about by then, and she would be adorable in a little dress with a flower crown.”
“Belle’s going to be adorable no matter what. I’m ready to get married,” Ava insists. “Really, we could just go to the justice of the peace and take care of it, but I want a pretty dress and a party.”
Suddenly, the front door opens, and the man himself walks inside and pauses when he sees all of us sitting at the table.
“Uh, hi.” He smiles and walks over to Ava, who tilts her head back for a kiss, and he obliges her, but it’s a quick, almost thoughtless peck that barely hits her mouth. And I know we’re here to be her supportive friends, but I don’t like him. “Hey, baby doll. I didn’t realize it was girl’s day.”
Baby doll?
I turn to Harper, who’s doing her best to keep her face neutral. Coming out of someone else’s mouth, that might sound sexy, but out of Chad? It gives me the yucks.
The thing is, he’s not a bad guy. I hear he’s good at his job, and he seems to care about Ava, but there’s something that I can’t quite put my finger on that makes me rebel at the thought of Ava hitching her wagon to his for the rest of her life.
“We’re just talking about the wedding,” Ava tells him with a cheerful smile. “This is Charlie, our event planner.”
Charlie stands and offers her hand for Chad to shake, and the man looks confused as fuck as he obliges her.
“It’s kind of early for this, isn’t it?”
Harper and I share another look of surprise.
“You’re only giving me two months,” Charlie says with a half laugh. “Trust me, it’s not too early.”
The confused smile drops entirely from Chad’s face, and he whips his attention to Ava.
“We said August,” she reminds him.
“Of next year,” he replies, suddenly pale and looking panicked. “We can’t get married in two fucking months, Ava.”
“Why not?”
He rubs his hand over the back of his neck, and I suddenly wish I had popcorn for this show.
“Because I have two huge cases this summer, in addition to all of the other work on my plate. I’m slammed through the end of the year, so the wedding can’t happen until after the holidays, at the earliest.”
Ava’s eyes dim, and her shoulders slump just a bit, and I suddenly have the urge to key Chad’s car.
What an ass. If he was obsessed with her, he’d give her the fucking wedding whenever she wants it. Take a weekend off and get hitched.
It’s not hard, Chad.
Stay neutral, Darby. You’re here for Ava.
“Honestly, whether it’s August of this year or next,” Charlie interrupts, “it’s never too early to get started planning. There’s so much you can do now, and things book up fast around here. I know you have a venue that doesn’t have competition at the ranch, but—”
“What ranch?” Chad asks.