Chapter 27
EBBA
Before I know it, we’re catching our flight to California for Noah and Sabrina’s wedding weekend.
I can’t believe how quickly the past two weeks went by and how much I enjoyed Fisher’s company.
He cooked me dinner the last few nights and I had to admit to myself that I could get used to having him around.
I was a little hurt the night he denied me when I tried to initiate something between us, but I also recognized his point and it’s annoyingly gentlemanly of him. I know I could all too easily convince myself that things are purely physical with us if we went down that path.
Fisher isn’t just talking a talk. He wants to prove to me that we’re the right match.
When we land in San Francisco a car takes the four of us to a small town nearby—a quaint little place Noah and Sabrina fell in love with on a vacation a while back. The drive is mostly quiet as the car winds around the busy roads.
Soon, we’re arriving in the small town with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
“I wonder how they found this place?” my brother muses as the car pulls up to an inn on the bay.
“Sabrina said they were looking for unique vacation spots,” I reply, waiting for the minivan door to slide entirely open before stepping out with my cane.
Travel days really do a number on my leg.
The lack of movement with being confined allows for stiffness to settle in.
I’ll try to take a short walk later to help stretch the muscle.
Fisher climbs out from the third row—gracious enough to give Whimsy and I the middle while Elias sat up front with the driver.
“How’s your leg?” he asks in a hushed whisper.
A few weeks ago, him asking that question would’ve made me bristle, but now I appreciate him checking in.
“Tired,” I reply. “But I’m going to go for a walk later to try to stretch.”
“I’ll come with you.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him that’s not necessary, but I swallow down the urge. I promised him I’d give this a real shot and I’m trying. That means sometimes swallowing down the urge that first overtakes me. “Sounds great,” I reply.
His eyes narrow slightly, like he’s searching for a trace of sarcasm in my tone but when he finds it lacking, he smiles.
A staff member from the inn comes out and gathers our bags from the car, directing us to go ahead inside.
The inn isn’t big, but it’s stunning. Right on the bay with weathered siding and large windows. Noah and Sabrina have rented out the entire inn for our stay. It’s still a few days before the wedding and I’m kind of glad that they built in a little down time.
The lobby is small and intimate, but there’s a buffet of fruits and treats waiting for all of us to snack on as we arrive.
Envelopes sit in a little basket with all our names written in elegant script.
I’m not at all surprised to see my name and Fisher’s on the same envelope.
Whimsy bumps my shoulder lightly when she notices and waggles her brows.
I shake my head at her antics.
Fisher scoops up the envelope and taps his fingers against it.
He doesn’t ask me if I’m okay with this arrangement, because at this point why would I protest?
Except for the first few nights, he spent almost the entirety of the last two weeks sleeping in my bed because I’m a sucker and felt bad with him on the couch.
It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I sleep better when he’s in the bed with me.
“Do you want to grab a snack?” He gestures to the waiting spread.
I’m not that hungry but I grab a plate anyway. “I’ll get enough for both of us.”
I pile the plate with fruit, crackers, and cheese. We end up taking the elevator up with Whimsy and Elias, but they get off on the floor below us.
The elevator doors open again and we step outside. The breeze has my hair fluttering around my shoulders and a small shiver makes its way up my spine.
“Cold?” Fisher asks, fishing out the key from the envelope.
“I’ll be okay once we get inside.”
He slides the key into the lock and turns the door, letting me go in first.
I stop, looking around in shock. I immediately turn back around and nearly smack into Fisher’s chest. He reaches out to steady me by my elbow. A lone grape rolls off the plate, and he bends down to scoop it up.
“I think we have the wrong room.”
“Huh?” His brows knit. “Why do you say that?”
I step aside, allowing him room to pass. “Just look.”
He takes a few steps forward and frowns. “Oh.”
The bed is covered in flower petals. There’s a wine bottle and glasses waiting, along with chocolate dipped strawberries.
“You think we got Noah and Sabrina’s room?”
I lift my shoulders in a shrug. “I assume so.”
We head back down to the lobby in search of the bride and groom and find them in a room off to the side, greeting guests alongside Maddie.
“Hey, guys,” I say, abandoning my plate temporarily on a side table.
“You guys are here!” Sabrina pulls me into a hug. “Do you love your room?” She winks and gives my elbow a squeeze.
“About that,” I start, watching Fisher head over to Noah a few feet away. “I think they might’ve given us your suite by mistake. It’s large and there were flowers and wine.”
Sabrina laughs. “It’s not a mistake. Noah and I wanted to treat you guys to a special suite.”
My mouth pops open. “Are you guys playing matchmaker?”
“Well, you are technically already married to the guy, so it’s more like we’re trying to save you from having to spend money on a divorce.” She shrugs and her mouth stretches into a huge grin she can’t suppress.
“I feel like all of you are conspiring against me,” I mutter.
“Who’s conspiring?” Noah asks, joining us with Fisher at his side.
Fisher gives me a funny look that I interpret as him being told the same thing I was.
To think, years ago we hid our relationship from Noah and Elias, and now they both seem to be working to get us together for real.
“You guys are.” I flick a finger between Sabrina and Noah. “And my brother and Whimsy too.”
Noah chuckles, wrapping his arm around Sabrina. She immediately melts into his side. I don’t think she even realizes how she gravitates to him. They truly were meant to find each other.
Fisher slides his hands into the pockets of his jogging pants. “I guess if there’s no mistake with the room we should head back up then.”
With a sigh, I nod in agreement—but only because I really want to take a shower and change out of my travel clothes before I go for a walk.
I scoop up the plate of food from where I set it and follow Fisher back to the elevators.
“Our friends are insane,” I mutter.
He looks down at me, his eyes raking slowly over my face. “They just want us to be happy and in love like they are.”
I let out a sigh. I can’t deny the fact that I’m warming up to Fisher, falling into those same patterns as being in a relationship before, because it’s just so damn easy with him. But it’s terrifying to hear that word—love.
Fisher, thankfully, takes my silence in stride.
We return to our suite, our luggage waiting inside for us this time, and I sit down at the table at the corner, snacking on some of the things I took from downstairs. Fisher swipes up a piece of melon and pops it in his mouth.
“Are you going to cut your hair before the wedding?” I blurt out.
He slides his glasses further up his nose. “Uh…I hadn’t thought about it, but I probably should. I’m sure there’s a barber somewhere in this town.”
“I could do it for you.”
I don’t know what makes me volunteer. I’m not a hair stylist. I’ve trimmed my own hair here and there—my travel schedule making regular appointments difficult at times—but I don’t have any formal training and I’ve never cut a man’s hair.
He cocks his head to the side. “You’d do that?”
This is my chance to walk it back, but I don’t. Instead, I say, “Yeah. We can grab some scissors from the drug store.”
“Sounds good to me.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal at all to have me cut his hair.
I’m pretty sure I’ve lost my mind.