Chapter Twenty-Three
Waking up sore in all the best ways, still tangled with Wyatt, is my new favorite way to start a morning, and I never want that to change.
My head still can’t wrap around the fact that he told me he loves me last night. Now today, we get to experience the small town Hallmark vibe Fourth of July festival?
Best. Day. Ever.
I roll over, running my hands along Wyatt’s chest. “Good morning, Officer.”
He grumbles in his sleep. “Ugh. Why are we awake? Aren’t you tired from last night? I’m tired.”
He pulls me close and kisses my forehead before pulling the blankets back up over us. “We need five more minutes. Please.”
“No way! Today is the festival, and I was promised Hallmark.” I hop on top of him. “Time to get up! I want a true, small-town Fourth of July like I was promised. And that starts with coffee and pancakes with strawberries, whipped cream, and blueberries!”
Swatting at his chest, I hop off the bed and throw on one of his tees.
“You might want to put on some shorts.”
Whipping around, I pout at him. “Why? Pants are so overrated.”
“Because Violet cooks breakfast. And then the girls want you so they can take you over to Coastal Rose Boutique and get matching outfits or some shit.”
Flopping back on the bed, I roll over toward him and whine. “But I wanted whipped cream… not from my pancakes.” I stroke his cock through the thin blanket.
He rubs his face, groaning. “Killing me. But you have two choices.” Taking my hand off his dick, he continues. “We can either have breakfast here alone, no whipped cream. Ooooor you can get the full Keaton experience of the festival, and I’ll celebrate with you later.”
“Ugh.” I throw my arm over my head. “Being a responsible adult is no fun.”
I slip off the bed, in search of a freaking bra and shorts. Stupid.
“This day better be one hundred percent worth it,” I continue, whining.
“Trust me. I promise to give you everything you want.” His arms wrap around my middle, and he kisses my neck, nearly making me choose a different option for breakfast.
“Nope.” I pull away from him, backing toward the door. “I am not falling for that. I want the full experience. Then after the fireworks, you can kiss me and give me… fireworks.”
Giggling, I run down the stairs to make both of us a latte to go. My phone is already pinging with messages when I find it in my skirt pocket that got left in the gym.
Emma: What time is everyone coming?
Evelyn: Just trying to get your brother up. He’s refusing to leave the bed.
Aubrey: Trying to wrangle Lily, then we’ll be on the way.
Me: Making coffee then coming.
Emma: You know Violet made coffee this morning right?
Me: Trust me you want your grumpy brother to have coffee before you see him.
Violet: I’m offended. I worked hard on that coffee.
Emma: You literally put ground coffee in a pot and hit a button.
Willow: Someone tell me why I married into a family that wakes up before the sun.
Evelyn: You didn’t even work the bar last night.
Willow: I still can’t go to bed until bar closing time. And I’m jet lagged from LA.
Emma: Ooooh no. Poor you traveling to California to be a big shot in the music world. Get your ass up and get over here now.
Emma: Ps. I love you. >
Willow: My love feels a little conditional right now…
Violet: I have lots of Fourth of July goodies if that entices you.
Willow: > I think something is enticing me more… See you when I see you.
Emma: Seriously? I’m eating your pancakes.
Willow: Don’t wake me up and I won’t have to gross you out.
Me: Have I mentioned how much I love this group chat?
Anna: Oh my. In case any of you girls need reminders I’m still here… I’m still here.
Willow: Shit. I didn’t realize you were in this chat! <>
Aubrey: hahahaha totally needed this laugh after my morning with Lily.
Me: Don’t you talk bad about my princess. Tell her Aunty Soph will be there soon.
“Who are you texting already?” Wyatt asks, coming into the kitchen.
“Your family. Willow sent a photo of a naked Gunnar to a group chat with your mom.” I laugh.
“One. Why are you looking at naked photos of my brother? Two. What do you say about me in the group chat?” He raises his brow.
“It was just a shirtless photo, he wasn’t naked. Well, he probably was under the sheet. And I don’t say anything because we haven’t gone official with anyone yet. Remember?” I snap the cap on his coffee and hand it to him.
“Do you want them to know we’re official?” He watches me closely.
“Um. Yes and no? I feel like they already know. But I kind of want to wait until this whole mess is over and I can be honest with your family first.” I slip into his arms, resting my head on his chest. “Does that make sense? Does it hurt your feelings?”
“Absolutely not. I get it. We do whatever you want, on your timeline. As long as I have you with me.” He drops a kiss on the top of my head then tugs me outside.
The ever dutiful Ripp sits in the driveway in his truck. When he sees us, he raises his coffee cup at us in greeting.
“You coming to get pancakes?” I yell to him.
“Sure am. Wouldn’t miss it.” He winks.
Ripp follows behind us to the inn, and as soon as we pull in, I’m excited for the day. The whole family is buzzing around the property.
“Sophia! You’re here, finally!” Aubrey runs over to the truck to greet me.
“What do you mean finally? I’m on time.”
Aubrey rolls her eyes. “Let’s go. I have your to-go box of pancakes. Hazel is opening just for us, and we’re all ready to go.”
I turn to face Wyatt. “I guess I’m going now.”
He laughs. “You can’t fight the Keaton women. Just accept it.”
Climbing out of the car, he walks around to my side, but Aubrey is already halfway to the inn when she turns to find out where I am. Wyatt is far too close for it to be a friendly gesture when she turns, and I can’t do anything to stop it.
She just witnessed him pull me in by the waist and lean down to whisper… well, some very naughty things in my ear. She also witnessed the giggle I let slip at his words. And now I know she’ll be getting me alone as soon as she can.
I give him a quick peck on his cheek before I run off to find which vehicle the girls are taking for our trek.
An arm loops through mine from behind. “Girl. You know I saw that,” Aubrey whispers.
“Saw what?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. Are you still hooking up with Wyatt?” She stops us before we approach Anna’s Suburban.
“Where are my pancakes? I can’t talk before sugar.”
She rolls her eyes, but hands over the takeout container.
“Thank you.”
Taking off, I run to jump into the car… in the way back. So I don’t have to talk to Aubrey who gets car sick.
I just want new clothes. Not gossip and judgement.
Anna joins us in the driver’s seat. “Okay ladies, who’s ready to shop til we drop?”
“Or until Hazel kicks us out.” Willow laughs.
“I can’t wait to get a good, old-fashioned small town Fourth of July,” I mumble over a mouth full of sugary goodness.
“Did your town in North Dakota not have a big festival for Fourth of July?” Violet asks.
Freezing mid-bite, I try to think of a lie. I didn’t plan this part out.
“Soph’s parents aren’t exactly the town festival type. Or the type that lets you go out.” Aubrey steps in for me, saving me yet again.
“Yeah. My dad was pretty overbearing, and if he wasn’t there, he stuck my brother on me. Kind of a buzzkill when it came to going out and having fun with friends too,” I offer before quickly shoving my mouth full again to buy some time to elaborate on the lie.
The truth is, the Chiaves weren’t welcome at any town events. We had plenty of cute small town events, but I was never invited. At school? I was the pariah. Only Aubrey would give me the time of the day at that one chance meeting at Buckles and Brews.
“Well, you’re in for a real treat. The Fourth of July Festival was the highlight of my childhood when I spent summers here with Gran,” Violet tells me.
“Ha! Only because you were holed up somewhere in your secret spot with Liam, only emerging for snacks until the fireworks started.” Emma points at her.
“We only came out for snacks if he didn’t get a picnic basket from Mimi K. We liked to stay holed up on our own.” She shrugs.
“Absolutely shocking that you guys never wanted to be anything more until you moved back.” Evelyn shakes her head.
“I just love hearing all your love stories,” I say dreamily.
Anna stares at me through the rear view mirror. “Are you still sure you’re not meant for your own?”
The other five sets of eyes turn to face me.
“Yeah, bestie. Are you sure?” Aubrey waggles her eyebrows.
“Wait. Are we missing something? Is she dating someone?” Willow asks. “Or am I the only one not in the know because I’m not here?”
“Girls. Sophia will tell us in her own time when she is ready.” Anna smiles at me. “Besides, we have shopping to do. Not gossiping.”
As she steps out of the truck, everyone else goes slack jawed, dropping open to the floor.
“Did she just…?” Emma starts, letting her question trail off.
“She’s just as bad as Esther and Gran!” Violet says.
“Oh gosh. She’s trying to play innocent, girls. And you know what that means.” Evelyn taps her chin.
“Um. I actually don’t. Newbie here, remember?” I remind her.
“That, my new friend, means that woman knows something she’s trying to keep secret.” Violet slaps my shoulder as she gets out of the car.
“And we will get to the bottom of it,” Emma says. “This family doesn’t have secrets.”
I swallow hard. I do. Big ones. How will they feel when they find out the truth?
“If it isn’t my favorite group of ladies!” A short woman stands on the sidewalk, welcoming us in. “Oh my, do we have a new addition, Mama?”
She saunters over to me, grasping me by the shoulders and taking me in from head to toe. “Size four. Tiny little thing. Small top, maybe a medium, because you’ve been blessed by the Gods in the boob area. Size seven shoe. Five foot three.”
Turning away from me without actually introducing herself, but accurately describing my sizing, she waves her hands in the air. “Come, come! I have new goodies for you!”
“That’s just Hazel. You’ll love her. She’s the best and has the most comfortable clothes that still look amazing,” Evelyn whispers as she passes by me.
The boutique is absolutely adorable. Racks of clothes line the walls and fill the middle of the store, leading to the perfect dressing room area.
A black leather couch sits to one side, chic wooden tables and chairs line a stage with a mirror, and on each side are two dressing rooms with black linen curtains.
“Okay ladies, I have these pulled for you.” Hazel rolls a rack full of red, white, and blue. “Personally, I love these dresses.”
She holds up a maxi dress that has all three colors. Where the red and blue meet the cream middle, it almost looks like a tie dye pattern. The sleeveless top makes it perfect for this heat today.
“That is so cute!” Emma steps forward, and Hazel starts passing out different sizes to everyone.
“Thank you,” I say, taking the dress she hands me.
“You’re so welcome. It’s nice to see that the final Keaton boy is getting his girl.”
“Oh, uh…” I stutter, trying to find something to say to that.
“Don’t worry honey, I see it’s still new. But woo, that man is fine. You are a lucky lady.” She winks before walking away.
Well this will be fun. Taking my dress over to the dressing rooms, I slip in with Aubrey.
“So Hazel is… something,” I say.
Aubs laughs. “You’ll love her. I promise. She loves the Keaton family. And Wyatt saved our lives. So that earns him extra points.”
“Sure. But I’m not his, not like she thinks.” I roll my eyes, slipping the dress over my head.
“Right. Is that the story you want to keep telling everyone in this family? Because I think we all know there’s more to it than you two are letting on.” She stares at me, scrutinizing my reaction in the mirror with her dress halfway on.
I don’t look at her or react. “I think I love this dress. Hazel was right.”
Moving to the side, I slip out of the curtain and into the shop. Aubrey’s laughter from inside the dressing room echoes through the small space.
“What is so funny in there?” Emma asks.
“Nothing. She thinks she’s funny.” I wave her off and walk around the back of the store.
I am not ready for this conversation, especially without Wyatt, with all these women who seem to be able to see through whatever I say.