Chapter 42
Fact or Fiction?
No one is a mastermind.
Luke
I’m on autopilot the next day, going through the motions of getting everything ready. Taking orders from Everly and my mom.
Managing my brothers with their sympathetic looks and my crazy nephew, Ethan, who keeps asking how long until the wedding
starts.
It’s my wedding day but, somehow, I feel like I’m preparing for a funeral.
When I woke up this morning, the bed was empty, and Addison’s car was gone. I wondered if she was going to leave me hanging
at the altar, but when I checked my phone, I saw a text from her letting me know she was going for a run.
I stare at the wedding band I bought for her today, wondering if she’s going to give it back to me when this is all done and
hating that idea. I’d rather she keep it. Even if we are over. I want her to want to keep it. I want her to keep at least
a piece of these last couple of months we had together, even if they didn’t mean to her what they meant to me.
At one point I feed Stevie a bottle and it’s the first time I feel good all day long. I hold my niece to my chest, and press
a kiss into her chestnut curls, aching inside because I know I’ll never have this. If I don’t have this with Roe, I don’t
want it with anybody. I’m trying to come to terms with the idea that I’ll always be the single uncle.
“You look great, Luke!” Everly says excitedly as she bounds into Calder’s living room where I’m slipping on my hunter-green wool blazer that I picked out weeks ago.
I turn on my heel and eye Everly’s navy velvet gown. Under normal circumstances, I would remark on how lovely she looks. How
grown-up and mature she’s become. But these aren’t normal circumstances.
I’m miserable.
“Thanks,” I reply flatly and force a smile I don’t feel.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, tipping her head to look at me closer.
“Nothing.”
“Not nothing. I can tell something’s up. What is it?”
I sigh heavily, knowing she’s going to get it out of me eventually, so I might as well tell her now. “Your mastermind plan
is a bust, kid.”
“What do you mean?”
I shrug half-heartedly. “Addison found out everything we’ve been doing last night, and she told me she just wants to be friends.”
Everly’s lips part. “What the hell?”
“We’re done. We’re doing the wedding to keep the peace with everyone, but after this Addison is moving back to Boulder. Doesn’t
sound like she’s inheriting the lumberyard anymore, so she doesn’t really need me anymore.”
“No, Luke,” Everly exclaims, her blue eyes wide with horror. “This can’t be the end. We can fix this. You just haven’t done
your grand gesture yet. Let’s think. There’s still time. We could—”
“Enough, Everly,” I growl, my tone harsh. “We’re done plotting. No more games.”
“But—”
“But nothing,” I snap, cutting her off. “It was stupid for me to take advice from you anyways. You’ve never even been in love.
You know nothing. You’re just a kid.”
Silence spreads in the room like a fucking wildfire and I look up to see hurt and pain all over Everly’s face.
“Fuck,” I murmur, pushing a hand through my hair. “I’m sorry, Everly, I didn’t mean it.”
“No, you’re right. I don’t know anything about love.” She steps back and tightens the brown fur shawl around her shoulders.
“I’m just gonna go check on Grandma.”
“Everly,” I call out, but she ignores me, rushing out the door and making her way down the hill to Wyatt’s place where the
ladies are all camped out for the day.
“Way to go, Luke,” I murmur to myself as I stare out the window at the snowcapped pines and the beautiful wedding setup. “Now
when you tell your mother you’re getting divorced in a few weeks, you will have made every woman in your life hate you.”