Bonus Epilogue
Posey
Ogling my husband, I admire how handsome he is in his new Stetson cowboy hat, but especially when he’s driving. One hand on the steering wheel and the other squeezing my thigh.
“Why’re you starin’?” he drawls without looking at me.
“’Cause you’re mine and I can.”
He digs his fingers deeper into my leg. “Keep givin’ me those eyes and we aren’t gonna make it to the hotel on time.”
“Off-road backseat truck sex? Oh no, not that…” I say sarcastically.
He chuckles and brings my hand to his mouth, kissing sweetly over my knuckles while staying focused on the road.
We’re headed to Sugarland Creek for my cousin Wilder’s vows ceremony, but we’re also utilizing the weekend as a long awaited couple’s getaway.
The last time we had a vacation was when we went to Charleston for our honeymoon last summer. I wanted to see the beaches and shop. It was so charming and relaxing after a stressful year of wedding planning.
We utilized the Willow Chalet as our venue, which made things a bit easier. But since I was the first daughter to get married and Silas’s the baby of his family and the last to get hitched, everyone had an opinion about everything and kept suggesting new ideas.
It was worth it, though, because at the end of the day, I married the love of my life. Warren got to be his best man and Bellamy was my maid of honor.
Letting her be in charge of my bachelorette party is how we ended up drunk off our asses in Nashville, singing bar karaoke, and riding a mechanical bull until we face-planted on the mats.
The seven of us—Mom, Aunt JoJo, Maisie, Amaya, Jamie, Bellamy, and me—had to call Warren, Dad, and Silas to come pick us up because none of us were able to drive home the next day.
But we had a blast.
Totally worth the hangover.
It’s still hard to believe it’s been almost two years since he proposed and that we’ll be celebrating our first wedding anniversary this summer.
Time goes fast when you’re living your best life with your soulmate.
After our honeymoon, we started on the cabin expansion project since the childcare center finished early and opened sooner than anticipated. Dad was so impressed with how Silas managed it and even gave him a five-figure bonus.
I was so proud of him, I gave him a little bonus of my own—a surprise clit piercing—and although we had to refrain from sex for six weeks, we found other ways to pleasure each other.
Since my cabin has plenty of land around it, we added two more bedrooms, another bathroom, and expanded the kitchen for more space.
Marjorie hated every second of it.
Silas’s tools and supplies constantly went missing.
Every time he plugged in something, it’d randomly turn off in the middle of using it.
He had to plead with her to knock it off.
She finally did when he left Golden Girls playing on the TV for hours at a time. And then I kept her calm with a lavender and eucalyptus candle—her favorite scents.
Teddy and Bear had to stay at Uncle Warren and Aunt Maisie’s for a while since the noise was too much for them. But after a few weeks, Warren got annoyed with them and threatened to feed them to his chickens if I didn’t come get them.
But after nine long months, it’s finally complete.
Silas worked on it in the evenings and almost every weekend since he wanted to do it himself and only contracted an electrician to make sure he didn’t accidentally kill himself or burn the place down.
I did my part by picking out the furniture and decor. Most of our engagement and wedding photos cover the walls and make me smile every time I walk past them.
We moved our bedroom into the new master suite, so now there’s plenty of space for the rat cage. But Silas makes me put a blanket over it when we’re having sex.
I told him they can still hear us, but whatever gets him naked and inside me.
Teddy the third and Bear the second got a new sibling that we named Winnie who arrived on Valentine’s Day a couple months ago.
Silas has replaced Bear once and Teddy twice after they died without telling me. He thinks I don’t know, but I noticed right away and didn’t have the heart to tell him.
It’s either psycho behavior or extremely sweet—either way, I play along to make him happy.
It also makes it easier on me emotionally so I don’t get too sad when they die only a couple years later. I got Teddy on a whim one day, so he’ll always be my special first baby, but I fall in love with the new ones, too.
Teddy II didn’t live long, and I think it’s because he was lonely since the original Bear was in mourning after Teddy passed. So once Bear II arrived, I suggested we get a third rat so they’d have more opportunities to socialize.
And now they’re all doing great.
Since we’ll be gone all weekend, Amaya and her boyfriend, Jack—our new goat yoga demonstrator—are house sitting so the rats aren’t left alone and Marjorie doesn’t worry about us being away.
But I’m waiting for the moment Amaya texts me and finds all the cabinet doors and drawers randomly open.
But I did warn Marjorie and tell her to be nice.
The wedding is at Wilder’s family property— Sugarland Creek Ranch and Equine Retreat.
We used to visit there a lot as kids or they’d come up and go camping with us, but we haven’t seen our cousins since our wedding.
It’ll be nice to catch up with everyone this weekend and actually have time to chat.
I usually hear any family gossip through my mom since her brother’s wife, Dena, is her best friend and my aunt. They’re always sharing each other’s kids’ tea, then relaying it to the rest of us.
Four months ago, Wilder and Delilah got drunkenly hitched in Vegas when they attended the National Finals Rodeo to watch Ellie compete in barrel racing.
Delilah used to date Wilder’s twin brother, Waylon, years ago. But then he started seeing Delilah’s little sister, Harlow, and now they’re together.
It’s as weird and complicated as it sounds.
But I guess everyone’s happy so that’s all that matters.
When Wilder and Delilah decided to stay together and not get an annulment, they planned for a summer vows ceremony for the whole family to enjoy.
But then she got knocked up with twins on their honeymoon.
So they pushed it up a couple months to April.
Funny enough, most of us met Delilah on their honeymoon since they stayed at our resort for a week.
“We’re here,” Silas announces, pulling into the parking lot.
There isn’t enough room for everyone at the ranch, so my family booked hotel rooms in town.
“Thank God, I gotta pee!” I bounce in my seat, eagerly waiting to jump out.
“We stopped thirty minutes ago so you could use the bathroom.”
I shrug. “Well, that slushie went right through me.”
After I race inside and relieve myself, I meet Silas at the front desk.
The rest of my siblings are already here, so we grab our luggage and head up to our floor.
Colton’s room is across from ours, Bellamy’s to our right, Bodie’s across from her, and then my parents are to our left.
Warren and Maisie booked a suite on another floor so they don’t get bothered.
Honestly, it’s smart.
Our siblings can be annoying.
“What time do we have to be there?” Silas asks.
Since the wedding rehearsal is for their immediate family only, we won’t need to go until tomorrow afternoon.
“The ceremony isn’t until six, but Aunt Dena said we can come at five for family photos.”
They’re having an intimate evening ceremony in one of their barns with tons of lanterns and fairy lights, so it’ll be super romantic. Then we’ll move to a big, white tent to eat dinner and dance the night away.
“Perfect, so we can actually sleep in is what I’m hearin’…” He waggles his brows.
“Sleep or sleep?”
“Always sleep.”
“In that case, I need to lie down for a bit.”
“Are you tired?”
“A little, yeah. But I’m a bit queasy too from that longer drive.”
Willow Branch Mountain and Sugarland Creek are about two hours apart, but it’s super hilly, so it always puts my stomach in knots.
“Go ahead, and I’ll unpack.” He kisses my forehead. “And get your dress hung up.”
“Thank you. Wake me up when it’s time to go to dinner.”
Since my whole family is here, we made reservations to go out to a nice restaurant and I don’t want to miss it.
I danced far too long, ate way too much, and didn’t sleep nearly enough, but the wedding was a blast.
When I wake up Sunday morning, my head’s throbbing from a lack of hydration, and I feel sick to my stomach. Silas’s passed out next to me, buck-ass naked, so I crawl out of bed in search of water and maybe some crackers.
There’s no water left and the bucket of ice has long melted, so I slip on my pj shorts, a tank, and sandals to go in search of something to drink and eat.
I open the door and carefully close it behind me so I don’t wake Silas, but as soon as I turn into the hallway, I find Amelia sneaking out of Colton’s room.
“Oh hey,” I say, surprised to see her here.
She’s one of Delilah’s bridesmaids who lives in the ranch hand duplexes with her two kids. From what I got to know about her, she works as a receptionist at The Lodge on the retreat side.
“Hello,” she says hesitantly.
“You okay?”
She’s still in her bridesmaids dress with her shoes dangling from her hand and her purse over her shoulder.
“Is there any chance you could drive me back to the ranch? My friend Raven watched my kids for me last night, and I gotta get back to ’em.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll grab my keys.”
This time, I let the door slam behind me and shake Silas awake.
“What?” he mumbles against his pillow.
“I’ll be right back. Gonna drive Amelia back to the ranch quickly.”
“Mm’kay.”
He probably has no idea what I said, but I kiss his cheek anyway. “Love you.”
After he rolls over and gives me a sinful view, he grunts out three inaudible words that echo the same sentiment.
Grabbing my bag, I meet Amelia back in the hallway. “Okay, let’s go.”
“I can’t believe how much I drank last night.” She shakes her head as if she’s disappointed with herself.
“It was a party. Everyone was drinkin’,” I reassure her, driving us out of the parking lot. “Although, I only had two drinks and feel sick as shit.”
“Oh really? Maybe it’s somethin’ you ate.”
“I hope not, but I’ve also been queasy and nauseous, and kinda sweaty. Maybe it’s the flu.”
She leans away from me toward the passenger side window.
I bark out a laugh. “Sorry. It’s probably not.”
“If not, maybe you’re pregnant.”
“Wait, what?” I snap my gaze toward her.
“I had early pregnancy symptoms with my kids that sound like what you’re experiencin’. Do y’all use protection?”
“No, but I’m on the pill.”
She chuckles with a huff. “Yeah, I was too—both times. They’re now seven and two.”
“Oh shit…” My heart beats faster. “Maybe I could be.”
“Might wanna stop at the store on your way back,” she suggests. “Could help ease your mind on why you’re feelin’ this way.”
“Yeah, good idea.”
I try to wrap my mind around the possibility.
Silas and I have talked about starting a family, so it’s not like it’ll be all that surprising, but I hadn’t expected to get pregnant this quickly.
“So…” I hesitate about poking into her business, but I’m nosy when it comes to my siblings. “Are you and Colt—”
“No!” she cuts me off frantically. “That was just a one-time thing.”
“Does he know that?”
Colton doesn’t do one-night-stands.
She lifts her shoulder. “I assume so. We only just met last night and I didn’t even give him my number.”
“Interestin’…”
“What is?”
“Um…” I contemplate how much to share with her. “Colt doesn’t really do casual hookups.”
“Well, it’s not like anythin’ can come about it. We don’t even live in the same town.” She frowns. “And most guys don’t wanna do the whole kids thing when it’s not theirs.”
I suck in my lips to stop myself from blurting out that single moms are exactly Colton’s type. But she’s right. Being two hours apart and living completely different lives won’t make it possible for anything more.
“If you don’t mind me askin’, are the kids’ father involved?”
“No.” She swallows hard, but doesn’t offer any further details, which is fine. I can tell it’s not a topic she wants to discuss.
“What’re your kids’ names?”
“Sam and Lily.”
“Those are adorable.”
“Thanks.” She fidgets with her fingers as I enter the long ranch driveway.
Everything is still set up from yesterday, but it looks much different in the daytime.
“I never go out or do this sorta thing, just in case you wondered,” she blurts.
“I wasn’t, but good to know.”
“Colt was still passed out when I left,” she admits. “We only fell asleep a few hours ago, so that’s why I didn’t ask him to take me home.”
“What was your plan if I hadn’t come out?”
“Call a ride share, though they’re pretty sparse ’round here.”
“Well, luckily, you found me.” I grin.
She directs me where to go and once we get to the cul-de-sac, I park in front of her garage.
“Thank you a ton, Posey.”
“You’re very welcome.”
“Good luck and congrats if you are pregnant.” She smiles sincerely and a wave of jittery butterflies swarm my already queasy stomach.
I snort. “Thanks. I’ll let you know through the grapevine if I am.”
“I don’t doubt it. No one can keep a secret here.”
She grabs her things and gets out, but I wait until she’s inside before pulling away.
My brain’s on autopilot as I drive to a convenience store in town. After grabbing some Gatorade and protein bars, I make my way to the woman’s health aisle.
Why’re there so many options?
I’ve never taken a pregnancy test before so I don’t even know what specific options I should look for.
After fifteen minutes of reading various boxes, I grab a digital test that claims to tell me six days before my missed period.
I guess we’ll find out.