Chapter Fourteen #2
Linc mumbles something incoherent in the background. "What'd he say?" I ask.
"He said, 'Of course we are' and rolled his eyes. But that just means he's excited," she says with emphasis on the word excited.
"It's perfect camping weather there in October.
It won't be too hot, and it shouldn't be freezing cold yet either.
It looks like the high could be in the seventies that week.
The lows will be a little cooler in the mornings and at night, but during the day it's supposed to be beautiful," I tell her, looking at my weather app.
I can just picture how stunning this place is going to be when we get there. I can't wait. Mindy and I get off the phone and there are ten text messages in our group chat, mostly of the girls being excited. I copy and paste the website for booking into the chat for them to browse through.
I go ahead and book our RV spot and shoot a message to Lawsyn on social media inquiring if Junk could have a word with the managers of the park about having a dog there for the wedding.
She replies immediately saying she will get it taken care of.
I send her the mock-up invite I just made and tell her to send it to Violet and Nova.
I need to send it to my mom tomorrow and have Cass let Clayton know, but I'm sure he will find out long before Cass tells him. I don't know how much longer it will be before Cass returns home, or has time to even think about our wedding.
I open my kindle again once I feel confident in the wedding planning that I've done and finish reading my book. My eyes are so tired by the time I'm done reading. It's after two in the morning and Buddy has long been out cold at my feet chasing rabbits in his sleep. I run a hand over his back.
"Come on, Bud. Let's go to bed," I say softly.
He raises his head, watching me as I rise from the couch and begin turning off the lights.
The thud of large paws padding down the hallway behind me makes my heart happy.
Always following me through the house. I lift the blanket and pat the bed.
Bud jumps in and gets into what is known as "his spot", which is just the space where my feet should go.
And if you don't lift the blanket, he will lay on top of it and trap your feet beneath it and you'll be fighting your way out from underneath him.
He does help keep you warm when the temperatures drop outside though, so there's a plus to him hogging the bed. Cass is narrowly affected by it though, because for some reason, Buddy has chosen my side of the bed as his spot and Cass gets free reign of his foot area of the bed.
I check my phone one last time before setting it on my pillow and closing my eyes. I keep it close so in the event Cass texts or calls it will wake me up. Sometimes texts don't wake me up but a call most certainly will. I sleep so hard that I'm not sure anything could have woken me.
I wake up with drool on my pillow and Buddy stretched out beside me.
He must have moved around throughout the night, which did not phase me at all evidently.
I open my phone and am blinded by the brightness.
I turn it down as low as it'll go and wait for my eyes to adjust. I've got one eye open and the other half shut, trying to focus.
Being half blind then blinded by the brightness is not a good combo first thing in the morning.
There are so many text notifications, but the one that I go straight to is the message from Cass.
Cass: I hear we have a wedding date.
I can't help the laugh that escapes me.
Lilly: Yes, we do.
He reads it and replies immediately.
Cass: Wednesday, huh?
Lilly: Everything good was built on a Wednesday.
My phone rings as soon as he reads the message.
Laughter echoes on the other end of the line. "So, you do listen when I speak," he says.
"Oh, yeah. I always listen. I might just ignore some of the bullshit that comes out of your mouth, though," I laugh.
"And there is a lot of that, ain't there?" Scott says in the background.
I can hear the truck noise in the background, so I know they're in the truck.
"Are you coming home?" I ask, unable to mask the excitement in my voice.
"I am, baby. I'll be home soon. Pending Scott's driving. He drives like a pawpaw," Cass chastises.
Scott laughs at Cass's complaint. "Great!" I say cheerfully.
"Well, don't get too excited. I won't be home long. I'm needed back in OKC," he says grimly.
My heart sinks, but I do my best to mask the disappointment. "When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow afternoon," he answers.
"Okay. Well at least we will have some time together before you head out. You could use the time to rest, I'm sure," I tell him.
"You're not wrong. I'll be home soon, baby. Love you," he says.
"Love you, too."
I drag myself out of bed and head straight to the shower.
I brush my teeth while the water heats up and then I wash the sleepy grime from my skin.
That first thing in the morning shower just hits different.
I towel off and half-ass blow dry my hair, get dressed, and search out breakfast in the kitchen.
Buddy comes barreling through the newly installed doggy door, scaring me half to death.
I swear he hits that damn door faster than should be physically possible.
I nearly drop the bowl of cereal I just poured, but somehow manage to catch it before spilling it all over the floor.
Buddy prances in, with wet and dirty paws and a wagging tail.
His cold nose nudges me and I offer pets as I sit down at the table to eat.
The sound of a truck pulling into the driveway has Buddy on high alert.
"Is that your dad?" I ask him excitedly.
His whole body wiggles along with his tail as he waits for the door to the carport to open. When the handle turns, Buddy nearly sprints to the door to greet Cass.
"Hey, Bud," Cass says cheerfully, petting him behind the ears. Buddy runs to the treat cabinet and sits down in front of it, pawing at the door. Cass chuckles as he obliges and opens the treat cabinet, giving him a bone. Bud takes it and disappears out of the doggy door into the backyard.
Cass looks tired and worn and he winces when he moves his shoulder so I know he's been utilizing it more than he should have.
"Hey, baby," he rasps, placing a hand on my cheek and pressing his lips to mine.
His kiss is everything I needed. His soft lips pressed to mine makes me melt into him, relaxing every muscle in my body.
"Miss me?" he asks as he pulls back to stare down at me.
"You have no idea," I whisper.
"So, tell me about this wedding," he says, sitting down in the chair beside me.
I laugh as I tell him about my decision.
"Everything good is built on a Wednesday.
Two is my favorite number. And October second is on a Wednesday this year.
It won't be freezing cold, or terribly hot.
And it's the perfect distance away for us to book at the park.
And we can take the RV and Buddy," I shrug. "It's perfect."
Cass stares at me, admiration in his eyes. "It's perfect."
"I already told most of the club ol' ladies and sent them the booking information. I need to book our RV spot today and need to figure out who is going to officiate. And I have to tell my mom, and you need to tell Clayton, which I'm sure he's already been told by one of the OKC members," I ramble.
Cass chuckles. "Oh, he already knows. I called him to tell him and he was already aware.
He told me to tell you he's honored that you want to say our vows in the same slice of heaven that he and Adelaide said theirs.
And said I'd better keep you happy because you're the best damn thing I've ever found and he knows an idiot like me could fuck it up in an instant," he says, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, well you know he's right," I tease.
Cass flips me off and I laugh, putting my cereal bowl in the sink. "Are you hungry?"
He shakes his head no. "Nah, we ate on the way home."
"Good. Hey, can I ask you something?" I ask, warily.
Cass nods. "Of course, baby. You can ask me anything."
"Is it over?" I ask, unsure if he will give me an answer at all.
"Yes, baby. It's over," he says reassuringly.
That is all I needed to hear. It's over. Now, hopefully we never have to hear the name "Moccasins" again.