27. Summer
Summer
The Timberbeast buzzed with activity. I recognized a handful of the patrons—mostly locals who’d been into the Copper Kettle.
A group of gray-haired men with varying degrees of baldness traded gossip over their beers, while a handful of twentysomethings played darts.
The stools at the bar were all occupied, as were most of the tables.
I hoped Reese and his brothers would arrive soon.
I’d grabbed a table, but people kept asking if I needed all six chairs.
Nate was spending the night at Annika and Levi’s so he could hang out with Thomas, and Reese’s sister-in-law Melanie had suggested we meet for a drink.
She and Luke were joining us, along with Theo and his fiancée, Penelope.
Which meant, yes, I did need all six chairs, thank you very much.
Other than that, I didn’t mind waiting. My feet were tired from working all day, so being able to sit was all I really needed.
My phone buzzed with a text from Reese, letting me know he’d be there in a few minutes. A smile stole over my face as I read his message, and my skin tingled.
That man. He couldn’t just kiss the life out of me. He’d done things to my body I’d never known a man could do.
Inviting him into the bedroom might have been a mistake, but one that was hard to regret. At least with the memory of what it felt like to have him inside me still so vivid.
He hadn’t gone back to the couch since, sleeping in bed with me the last few nights. There seemed to be an unspoken agreement between us not to have sex again. Yes, he was in the room, but we weren’t really a couple, and we needed to remember that.
Yet every night, we succumbed to temptation.
But how was I supposed to resist? His mere presence lit me on fire. And I could hardly move in that bed without brushing up against him.
The truth was, I’d had a crush on Reese Haven for a long time. And now, sharing a bed with him without giving in seemed impossible.
I didn’t know what it meant, if anything. But I wasn’t naive enough to believe sleeping with him meant I could keep him. I’d done it anyway. And I knew when we left the Timberbeast and went home, I’d probably do it again.
A guy with a sharp jaw, cocky grin, and backward baseball cap appeared next to my table and put his hand on one of the chairs. I was about to tell him I was saving it, when he pulled it out and sat.
My eyebrows drew together. “Hi?”
“Hey.” He leaned back in the seat, sticking one leg out in front of him, like he had nowhere else in the world to be. “How’s it going?”
“Fine. What are you doing?”
“I’m Connor. And you are?”
“Summer, but you didn’t answer my question.”
He grinned. “Can I buy you a drink?”
My eyes flicked to a group of guys watching us from a nearby table. They were clearly his friends, and snickered to each other in amusement. Connor was either hitting on me based on a dare, or this was typical bar behavior for him, and his friends were enjoying the show.
“No, thanks.”
He didn’t make a move to get up. Just kept grinning at me. “Are you sure? It’s just a drink.”
“I’m meeting someone.”
“He’s not here, is he? Come on. One drink before he gets here. No one has to know.”
“Are you trying to win a bet? Or do you not know how to take no for an answer?”
He opened his mouth to reply, but whatever he was about to say died on his lips and his eyes widened.
Reese stepped next to the table and put a hand on my shoulder. His sleeveless T-shirt displayed his massive, tattooed arms, and his voice was deep and menacing. “That’s my wife.”
My wife. I almost melted into a puddle on the floor.
Connor shot to his feet with his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Sorry, man. I didn’t know.”
Reese stared him down as he retreated to his friends. They laughed, but as soon as any of them glanced over and made eye contact with Reese, they stopped.
It was all fun and games until Reese Haven eyed you like he’d rip your face off.
“Are you okay?” He scooted the vacated chair back to the table and sat.
“Yeah, fine.” I smiled. “The mild annoyance was worth it to see you almost make him pee his pants.”
He cast another glare at their table. “Dumbass should know better.”
Maybe, but could you just say “she’s my wife” again? Tucking my hair behind my ear, I swallowed before I blurted that out. “Do you want a drink, or should we wait?”
As if on cue, Luke, Melanie, Theo, and Penelope arrived together. We exchanged greetings, and they took their seats while Reese went to the bar to order for the table.
I’d met them all before. Theo had an athletic build and a friendly smile. Penelope was adorable, with long brown hair, glasses, and a little smudge of green paint on her shirt.
Luke draped his arm around the back of Melanie’s chair. His beard was a little thicker than the last time I’d seen him, and he wore a Squirrel Protection Squad T-shirt. Melanie’s dark hair was up, and her wedding ring sparkled on her finger.
Theo got up and helped Reese bring our drinks to the table, and when they returned and sat down, Luke held up his bottle.
“Cheers,” he said simply.
We clinked our bottles and glasses, and all took a sip.
“Where’s your son tonight?” Melanie asked. “With Paul and Marlene?”
“He’s at Annika’s having a sleepover with her kids,” I said. “They’re having a cartoon marathon. Apparently, they all love the same show.”
“Enchanted Hollow?” Luke asked.
“Yeah, that’s the one. Nate’s a big fan.”
“Of course he is.” Luke said. “My wife is in it.”
Melanie nodded. “I’m a voice actor.”
“Wait, really?” I asked.
Luke grinned. “She plays the hot evil queen.”
Melanie smiled at him, and he leaned over to give her a quick kiss.
“I can’t believe the wedding is right around the corner,” Melanie said, switching gears and nudging Penelope. “Are you nervous?”
Penelope adjusted her glasses. “No, not nervous. Mostly excited. And hoping we haven’t forgotten anything important.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Melanie said. “Even if you did forget something, once the day gets started, it won’t really matter.”
“Oh no.” Penelope grabbed Theo’s arm. “We did forget something.”
“What?” Theo seemed unconcerned, like he had it all under control.
“The invitations went out before Reese and Summer were in town.” She turned to me. “I’m so sorry. I hope you can make it.”
Theo waved a hand. “They know when it is.”
“I’ll have to ask for the day off, but I’m sure that won’t be a problem.” I glanced at Reese. “You were planning to go, right?”
“Yeah, we’ll be there.”
“Do they make suits that fit those shoulders?” Luke asked.
“That’s a good point.” Theo tilted his head, eyeing Reese up and down. “Do you have a black suit already?”
“Yeah, but not here. It’s at my house.”
His house. Not the house we shared—temporarily and for faking-it reasons only. His house in Arizona. The one he’d be returning to when this was all over. The subtle reminder felt like a pinprick.
“I bet the guy we went to can tailor something,” Penelope said. “He did a great job with yours. We just don’t have a lot of time.”
“Why do I need a black suit for your wedding?” Reese asked. “I didn’t think it was formal.”
“It’s not, but if you’re in it…” Theo shrugged and took a drink.
“In it?” Reese asked. “Wait. I’m in your wedding?”
“Yeah. I know it’s last minute, but Luke’s a groomsman, and so are Zachary, Garrett, and Josiah.”
“And Levi Bailey,” Penelope added.
Theo nodded. “Yep, even the brother-in-law. It would be weird if you weren’t.”
“Way to make it sound like you’re including him by default,” Melanie said with a teasing smile.
Theo scowled at her. “I’m not including him by default. When we were planning everything, I didn’t think he’d be here. But he is. So he should be in the wedding.”
“You’re such a guy,” Melanie said. “Have you asked him to be in the wedding?”
“I don’t think he needs a proposal,” Theo said.
Luke chuckled. “Yeah, Mel. It’s a brother thing.”
“Oh!” Penelope’s glasses slid down her nose, and she pushed them up with her finger. “I just thought of something.”
Theo gave her an affectionate grin. “What’s that, Penini?”
“Well, if Reese is in the wedding—and I think he should be—that means we have an uneven number of bridesmaids and groomsmen. Which isn’t the end of the world, so there’s no pressure. But, Summer, would you like to be a bridesmaid?”
My mouth dropped open, and for a second, I had no idea what to say. No one had ever asked me to be in their wedding. I’d never even been to a wedding—not a traditional one, at least.
“Don’t worry about the dress,” Penelope said. “The store accidentally ordered an extra one and I haven’t returned it yet. If it doesn’t fit, we still have time to get it altered. And if that won’t work, I don’t know, we’ll figure something out.”
“Summer and I could get different matching dresses,” Melanie suggested. “Then there’d be four bridesmaids in one dress and two in another. That wouldn’t look weird.”
“That’s a great idea,” Penelope said.
“Oh…I…” I sputtered a little as emotion washed over me. “Thank you. I would love to. But are you sure?”
“I’m positive. I know this is”—she gestured between me and Reese—“you know, what it is. But that’s okay. I’d love it if you were a part of our wedding.”
“I’d be honored,” I said. “I’ve never been a bridesmaid.”
Penelope smiled. “Then it’s even more perfect. Nate’s also invited, of course. All the kids will be there.”
“Thank you.”
I took a slow breath as I processed what had just happened, while Theo and Luke started talking about football.
Melanie and Penelope leaned closer to have a side conversation about wedding details.
Reese casually put his arm over the back of my chair, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Was he doing it because we were in public? Or was something else going on?
I didn’t know.
And as happy as I was to be connecting with his family—it would be invaluable to still have friends once he was gone—it was hard not to feel the weight of reality resting heavily on my shoulders. Plus, the threat of Axel was still never far from my thoughts.
I needed to reach out to my mother. I’d never expect her to openly help me, but she might let something slip.
Reese caressed my shoulder as he talked, almost as if he wasn’t aware of it. His body language was protective, and I found myself leaning closer, sinking into his strength. It felt good.
Too good.
Because it wasn’t going to last. And I was going to have to figure out how to live with that.