30. Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Calista
I t’s been a few days since Evan talked to Cody and we are going to family dinner. Tonight, we plan to come clean to my parents and my brothers about us.
Evan and I have also talked in detail about Cody’s offer for Evan to work at the distillery. It’s a lot to think about and consider. He told me how he’s been feeling about having to go back to work and his thoughts on what Skye and I would go through. I assured him if it’s what he wanted, we could handle it and I’d be there for her.
After much discussion and talking, we both finally feel at peace with the choice we made. Tonight we plan to talk to Cody about it, too.
“Wear one of your flowy skirts and comfortable shoes,” Evan says as I’m getting ready. He winks at me and then leaves telling me he has something planned.
I do as he asks and then help Skye do her hair. She is sitting on the bathroom counter facing the mirror with a big grin on her face, giggling as she tells me about some girl name Violet in her class. When I look up, I see Evan leaning against the bathroom door frame with a smile on his lips. When he catches me watching him, he walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist and rests his chin on my shoulder.
“Don’t move,” I tell them and reach for my phone, snapping our first official family photo. It may be in a mirror and in the bathroom, but it’s of us and that’s what matters.
“We should book a family photo shoot. You can guys wear long flowy dresses and even dress me up,” he says kissing my cheek.
“Yes!” Skye’s clearly on board.
“I might know someone for that,” I wink at him.
Then we walk to the car and head to my parents. It’s warm and we don’t need jackets, but I grab them anyway because the temperature drops fast once the sun goes down.
On the way to my parents, Skye sings along to the radio, and Evan and I are content to let her. It’s comfortable being with Evan, holding hands and enjoying Skye entertain us. Every so often I look over at him and I can’t believe he’s mine. I know there might be some resistance today about our news, but we will face it together.
We are the last to arrive, and Skye immediately runs off, soaking up everyone’s attention. We get a few looks about arriving together, but no one says anything.
“Okay! It’s dinner time and you can all chat and gossip at the table!” Mom calls after she says hi to Skye.
Cody and I swap seats so I can sit next to Evan. This time Dad doesn’t let it go.
“Why are we playing musical chairs?” Dad asks.
“Because apparently those two are getting married,” Cody says, smirking.
I have to admit that I’m surprised when the whole table erupts with cheers and talking until a piercing whistle fills the air.
I know that whistle. It’s Dad and he’s used it a few times over the years to get our attention.
“I didn’t think you’d ask her so soon, but I’m glad you did,” Dad says and my jaw drops.
“You don’t think I’d have asked you to marry me without talking to your dad first, did you?” Evan says.
“Was that the day you sent Skye out of the room with me? When was she wearing her gold dress?” Mom asks.
“Yep. I went and proposed right then and there,” Evan reaches for my hand at the table.
Mom wants to see my ring, so I show it off, proving I said yes.
“I didn’t even know you two were dating.” Colt says from my other side, giving me a side hug.
“Neither did I,” Cody says still smiling.
My brothers’ freeze.
“How is he still standing?” Drew asks.
“Oh, he has it coming once he’s not a cripple anymore. But we eventually worked it out,” Cody says.
“Yeah, once she said yes, I went to talk with him. Though maybe I should have had it with him sooner,” Evan says.
“I had no idea you two were dating! Tell me everything,” Mom demands, as she passes the food around.
The next few minutes I tell her how it all happened. Though I make sure to keep it PG and use a few code words for the little ears in the room.
“It’s so romantic!” Mom says with a sigh.
“Also, if you are absolutely sure you want me working at the distillery, I’d like to take you up on it,” Evan says to Cody.
The table goes quiet, with everyone looking at Cody.
“Hell, yeah! You are the only one we trust in that role beside Calista. But we all know she doesn’t want that job,” Cody says.
I wrinkle my nose at him. I’d do it to help him out, but it really isn’t my thing.
“Cal, if you don’t have any other commitments, we would love to have you help out with decorating, designing the new add on, and working the retail store layout and inventory. Completely flexible hours and four brothers on call to move anything you need,” Cody says. Then he teasingly flutters his eyes at me.
“How can I say no to that? Something flexible sounds great especially around wedding planning and getting settled.” I look at Evan to see is reaction.
“It’s perfect,” he says, kissing me on the cheek.
“They do that a lot,” Skye says to my mom, making everyone at the table laugh.
“Well, now that Evan has gone after what he wants, it’s time for you to do that same Cody.” Dad gives him a pointed look.
They stare at each other for a moment before Cody nods. Then, as quickly as it came up, the subject is dropped.
“Any idea what that's about?” I whisper to Evan.
“Nope, but he’s hinted at a possible girl. No idea who,” Evan whispers back.
Interesting. I know Cody though. He won’t share a thing until he’s ready.
The rest of dinner is filled with distillery talk and some wedding discussion thrown in.
Once dinner is finished, Evan pulls me aside.
“Let’s sneak out. Cody said his cover for us,” Evan says trying to pull me to the back door.
“Where are we going?” I stop until he answers me.
“To the one place I ever saw you truly free growing up,” he says.
Instantly, I know what he’s talking about.
“Take Me to the Valley, Fiancé,” I say, and he smiles.
We decided to walk because the weather was so nice. It’s a short hike through the trees from my parent's backyard. But growing up I’d spend hours here reading on a blanket in the sun or dancing with my Walkman among the wildflowers.
And Evan is right. It’s the one place I truly felt free. He caught me out here a few times when I’d sneak off, but he never told anyone that this is where I’d sneak off to. Though I suspect my parents knew.
We stop as we near the edge of the trees and the Valley appears with the first batch of wildflowers of the season.
“I think this is where we should get married,” Evan says as we stop and stare at the field. He walks up behind me, wrapping his arms around me and setting his chin on my shoulder. I’m finding he is doing this frequently, and I really like it.
“This is where I fell for you. Watching you here, was something I couldn’t get enough of, and made my crush grow,” he says.
“I remember finding you out here,” I smile.
“There were many times you never saw me. I’d like to hide behind this tree here,” he says. Turning, he pushes my back up against one of the large trees in the area.
He kisses me with such desire and love that my heart feels like it’s going to explode with happiness. This is a full circle moment. Back then, those kids had no idea what was coming.
“I think this is the perfect spot to get married,” I say, smiling up at him.
“Then I think we need to consummate it just to be sure.” Evan says it with a wicked smile and his eyes burning hot.
“Evan, anyone could come out here!”
Ignoring me, he moves to the side of the tree to hide us from the path.
“They won’t.” He pulls my shirt and bra off along with his shirt. “We just need to be quick.”
This man is going to be the death of me in the best possible way.
In a split second, he’s pulling my skirt and panties off as he falls to his knees in front of me. Then his head is between my thighs. Fuck, the things this man can do with his mouth. Before I can catch my breath, he has me coming all over his tongue.
Then both our phones are going off, breaking the silence. Enjoying my post orgasm buzz, I let him check his phone.
“Time to go back,” he says.
I reach for him. I want to take care of him before we go, but he grabs my wrist gently.
“Not right now. Trust me, when we get home and get Skye to bed, you won’t be getting much sleep,” he smirks.
We get dressed quickly and hike back to my parents’ house. Only slightly disheveled.
Yeah, for the foreseeable future, I think we’ll be getting less sleep because we can’t keep our hands off each other. I was beginning to think I’d waited too long and missed my chance.
But who knew it started in this Valley all those years ago, and I just had to look up and see it.