Chapter 22
Jude
A week after visiting Mom and Cap, we’re driving convoy style behind the two small moving trucks currently being driven by both sets of our twin siblings. EJ and BJ in one, Cass and Sutton in the other. Our destination—Timber Falls.
Em has been quiet and contemplative during the trip so far but I know it’s not because she doesn’t want this, it’s all of the ‘what if’ questions on her mind.
She’ll share her feelings and talk things through with me when she’s ready.
Until then, I’ve put her in charge of the road trip soundtrack to help distract her.
We’ve also been entertained by the bickering twins—yes, they have even been sniping at each other–over the two-way radios we’ve got running.
Just after we pass the sign telling us we’re ten miles from home, Em shifts in her seat, glancing down at our joined hands resting on the seat between us. Feeling the cold silver of her wedding ring against my skin, I can’t help but smile.
“I didn’t expect this,” she murmurs. “Comin’ back here with you, not realizin’ that it would feel different regardless.”
My brows bunch. “Different?”
“The last time I drove home it was with a sense of dread because I already knew how the trip would end.” I nod. “This time, I have no idea what’s goin’ to happen but it doesn’t scare me.”
“No?”
She shakes her head. “Because this time I’m doin’ it with my boyfriend at my side.”
I glance her way and raise a brow. “That’s cute, Em. But have you forgotten that I’ve had an upgrade since I agreed to be your boyfriend?”
“You have?” she gasps. “Why didn’t anyone tell me this?”
That gets her an eye roll. “Were you dissociated when you not only asked Cap for his blessin’ to marry me–despite us already bein’ married–but also insisted on proposin’ to me again in front of Mom, just so they could share in the experience of you makin’ me tear up?”
The next day, we found a jeweler and got the date engraved on our rings. We also may have found the nicest hotel with vacancy, put a do not disturb sign up, and lost ourselves in each other until morning.
Now, we’re taking the next step in our relationship, living together. Officially, anyway. But not before I support Em returning to the ranch she’s always called home.
“You’re still OK with us stayin’ in one of the cabins at Cooper Ranch until we decide where we’ll live?” I ask again.
Thankfully the biggest of the cabins we’ve been renovating for future farm stay accommodation had just been finished. When I talked to Will about moving in there for a while, he didn’t hesitate to say yes.
“Hubby, I mean this in the best possible way. I could live in a box as long as you were right there next to me.”
I snort out a laugh. “There ain’t no way I’d ever let us live in a box.”
“Me neither. Just know I would.” She sighs. “It sounded a lot more romantic in my head.”
Lifting her hand, I press my lips to her skin. “It is. You’re sayin’ you love me so much you’d give up life’s modern luxuries to be with me,” I say. “Lucky for you, I’m sayin’ that won’t ever happen. Doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the sentiment.”
I grin when she rolls her eyes at me, doing it with a wry grin. I’m just happy I’ve managed to distract her from her thoughts for a little while.
A crack of static fills the cab of the SUV.
“Come in, Cooper two.” Em giggles and picks up the radio.
“Just checkin’ the plans haven’t changed. We’re headin’ to the Wilson side and you two are goin’ to the Cooper side. Is that still the plan? Copy,” one of Em’s twin brothers asks.
I shoot her a side-glance. “It’s your call, wifey. Do you want to wait and psych yourself up for tomorrow, or rip off the Band-Aid and go to Wilson Ranch today?”
She bites her lip, warring between what she thinks she should do and what she wants to do. “I think–you know what? Screw it, let’s go now. It’s better than worryin’ about it all night and not gettin’ any sleep because of it.”
Squeezing her hand in mine, I let her go and gesture for the radio. “Wilson one, we’re goin’ to revert to the original plan like I mentioned before we left. Copy?”
“Really? Copy,” they reply in unison.
“Yep. Also means you owe me a beer at the Lion’s Lair next time we’re there. I told you she’d change her mind. Copy.” Em’s breathy laugh warms me from the inside out.
“I can’t believe you bet on this,” she muses.
I shoot her a smirk. “What can I say? I know my wife.”
Static cracks over the air. “One beer added to the tab, check. Final destination now updated to home and we’ll update Cooper one and let big boss daddy know. Copy.”
A check of the GPS display shows we’re just a few miles out of town now.
“Big boss daddy?” Em giggles. “That’s a new one.”
“I bet Dare hates it.”
“I think that’s a safe assumption,” I muse. “Can you tell if that was BJ or EJ on the radio?”
“Definitely BJ. EJ is drivin’ and he won’t do two things at once.”
“How can you tell them apart that easily?”
She shrugs. “Twenty years of experience. Over the radio with just voices, I have to rely on instinct. BJ talks more fully than EJ does so that’s an easy tell. They still finish each other’s sentences most of the time too. In person, BJ’s heterochromia gives it away.”
I frown, trying to remember where I’ve read about that. “Wait. How can he have eyes that are different colors if they’re identical?”
“Don’t ask me, I just know it is possible. They’re definitely identical otherwise. The eyes are the only way anybody else can tell them apart. EJ used to be so jealous growin’ up. He wanted to have one blue eye too.”
Spotting the ‘Welcome to Timber Falls’ sign, I reach out for Em’s hand again, my muscles relaxing as soon as she touches me.
“You ready, wifey?”
That’s when she floors me, something I’m starting to think might become a common occurrence in my life moving forward.
“With you by my side, I’m ready for anything.”
Funny, I’ve felt the exact same way the whole time I’ve known her.
The gate leading into Wilson Ranch is open when we arrive.
When I bring the car to a stop, it’s when I realize Wyatt, all of my brothers and their wives are here too. Who would’ve thought the Coopers and Wilsons would be gathered on the porch for Em’s homecoming.
Turning the engine off, I undo my belt and turn to see Em’s tear-filled eyes pinned to her family–our families. “I can’t believe I’m actually here.”
My brows furrow. “One of the things I love most about you is your determination once you’ve set your mind to somethin’.”
She pins me with a knowing stare. “Says the man who waited for his chance while I played runaway bride.”
A snicker escapes me before I brush my thumb over her wedding ring. “I’d have waited longer if I had to. Especially if it meant bein’ right here with you now, my ring on your finger and our families gettin’ along like there was never a rivalry to begin with.”
Em moves closer, letting go of my hand to cradle my jaw and pull me in. “Thank you. For bein’ here, for lovin’ me, and for bringin’ me back when I was ready.”
Well, hell. My own eyes sting at the love shining back at me. “You humble me, wifey.”
“Just accept it and kiss me like you mean it, Jude Wilson-Cooper,” she whispers. “Better make it a good one. We’ve got an audience.” She brushes her lips against mine then leaves them there, staring deep in my eyes as she does it. “Let’s make my brothers lose their minds again.”
When we kiss–and kiss we do–it’s for a damn good while, and although none of her brothers lose their minds, they make sure we hear all about it afterward.
Then again, so do mine.