19. Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Finnley
“So, um, when are we doing this?” I ask, a nervous flutter filling my belly. I’m standing in the kitchen, stirring cream into my coffee, the morning after agreeing to marry my best friend. Hudson is sitting at the counter in the same spot he was the other day when he opened up about being unsettled.
Last night, I woke up multiple times to find him wrapped around me, or me around him. It should have felt weird, given our conversation just hours prior, but it didn’t. It felt comfortable and right. Like there was no reason whatsoever for him to not be in my bed; like we were already an engaged couple.
My God, I’m engaged. Sure, there’s no ring, and it’s for completely pragmatic reasons, but if someone would have told me yesterday that I would wake up engaged this morning, I would have laughed in their face.
Hudson shrugs, looking up from his phone. “I think you can get a license same day. Just have to set up an appointment with the county for the actual ceremony. Unless I talk to Hutch. As soon as you decide what you’d like to do, we can pick a day. Maybe next week? ”
My mouth drops open. His expression is light and unaffected. “Next week?”
I don’t know why I’m surprised. For as long as I’ve known Hudson, he’s never done anything half-assed. It’s no wonder he’s already done his research. I kind of love that about him. And I also love that he’s leaving the ball in my court. He knows I don’t have another solution to get insurance. So, leaving the choice of ceremony up to me at least makes me feel like I have control over something. Even if it's just the illusion of a choice.
“Sure, why not? You need a new pump, and the sooner we get hitched, the sooner you can get an appointment with your doctor. After that, it’s just a matter of calling the insurance company.”
God, this is crazy. Completely, undeniably insane. What’s crazier is that I’m actually excited. Being Hudson’s wife, even if in name only, sounds strangely…perfect. But as I study him, my stomach does a little somersault. Is this the right thing to do? Is it fair to marry him when there’s a real possibility that my feelings for him are changing?
I mean, it’s not like I’d ever act on them, right? We’re still just two friends, getting married for completely practical reasons. I’m probably overthinking things. I’m confusing his helping me with something more. And just because I don’t want him to date anyone else, doesn’t mean I want more with him. It just means I like having my best friend all to myself. Who wouldn’t?
“Jameson?” he asks, eyebrows raised.
I shake my head and screw the lid on my travel mug. “Sorry, what?”
He takes a sip of his coffee and levels his hazel eyes on me. “Should I talk to Hutch?”
I think about the courtroom I spent an afternoon in when I had jury duty a few years back. It likely wouldn’t look exactly the same, but the thought of getting married in some dark, old, wood-paneled room with an elderly judge and generic brass flagpoles makes me cringe. People get charged for DUIs and disorderly conduct in those very same rooms.
Getting married there sounds awful. Especially when my mind conjures up the property out at Hutch’s. The lake, the mountains, the trees, and wildflowers. We spend a lot of time there during the summers, and even though none of our family will be there to witness it, it really does sound perfect. There are a lot of memories out there, which has another thought springing to mind.
“What about witnesses?” I ask, running my braid through my fingers.
Having a courthouse wedding would provide its own witness in the form of court clerks, but if we want to do it at the lake, it will require telling someone besides Hutch. I’m not sure how I feel about that. A sting of guilt sparks in my stomach at keeping this from Wren. But if I tell her, she’ll want to tell Hank. And though he isn’t one for gossip, the fewer people who know, the better. Especially when this all ends.
Hudson drums his fingers on the countertop, thinking. “What about Allie and Skye?”
Considering it, I tilt my head. It’s not a terrible idea. Neither one of them are from Timber Forge, and they’re both college students. So, they’re young enough that they don’t run in the same circles as Hudson and me, or any of our family or friends. It could work. I’d have to get someone to watch the B he’s pretty private. But it’s for that reason alone that I’m sure, out of all the siblings, he’s the one that will agree to be a party to our secret.
So far, I’ve stripped two beds, done a couple of loads of laundry, served and cleaned up breakfast, remade those same two beds, baked a batch of Nat’s chocolate chip cookies, and checked my email. I already sorted through the mail and picked what needed picking in the garden.
It’s almost four p.m., and I’m booking a customer on the phone, when I look up from the desk to see Hudson coming through the door to the B&B. He wipes his work boots on the mat and steps inside, shooting me a grin. He’s still dressed in his work clothes and covered in dust, but looking tanned and handsome .
I smile at him and hold up a finger. I watch as he nods and snatches a cookie off the plate near the door, stuffing the whole thing in his mouth. As he chews, he strolls over to what used to be the living room. Since the renovation, it’s all one big, open-concept space now.
My stomach surges with butterflies. The thought of him being my husband in a possible few short days feels so surreal. That is, of course, if everything went ok with Hutch. If it didn’t, we’ll have to make other arrangements at the courthouse.
“We look forward to your visit, Mrs. Booth. You should receive an email confirmation for your stay in the next few minutes. Is there anything else I can help you with today?” I say, watching as Hudson picks up and flips through a coffee table book about Timber Forge.
“Ok, then. Thank you for choosing Timber Haven Inn, and we’ll see you in September. If you do find you have questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Have a great day,” I say, cheerfully, and disconnect the call.
“Hey,” I say. “How was your day?”
Hudson replaces the book and ambles over. “Good. How was yours?”
“Good. Been trying to stay busy.” I can’t wait a second longer. “Did you talk to Hutch?”
He nods and takes a couple of steps toward the door to grab another cookie, then pops it into his mouth.
“And?” I drag out the word, which makes him chuckle.
He rests his forearms on the desk in front of me and nods. “He’ll do it.”
A slow grin spreads across my face and my stomach flips. “Really? What did you tell him? What did he say?”
He chuckles and nods again. “I told him the truth. You need insurance, and I’m going to help you get it.”
My stomach somersaults, but I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. I know Hutch will keep our secret, but it’s more than that. It’s one thing for Skye and Allie to know about us, but having someone in his family know makes it feel all the more real.
“Does he think we’re nuts?”
Hudson smirks a little, biting back a smile. “He said we already act like a married couple. So, might as well make it official.”
I laugh. “He sounds like Wren.”
His eyes widen in surprise. “You told Wren?”
I’m quick to shake my head. “No. She just likes to tease me about how close you and I are.”
He huffs out a small laugh. “But Hutch did say it’s got to be soon. He’s heading out of town in a couple of days, and he’s got a full dig schedule starting the week after that.”
“How soon is soon?” I ask, pressing the edge of my thumbnail between my teeth.
“The next day or two,” he says, straightening up and folding his arms over his chest. “Is that too soon?”
I’m surprised at how quickly I shake my head. “We only have two guests right now, and they’ll both be checked out by eleven tomorrow morning. So long as no one books in the next day or two, we could make it work.” I hate to turn customers away, but if we can get the marriage license tomorrow and have the ceremony the next day, it would keep me from having to ask someone to watch the B&B while Skye, Allie, Hudson, and I are out at the lake.
“Can you turn off online booking for a day or two?” Hudson asks.
“I’d have to call Ginger, but I’m sure it can be done. I’ll just tell her I need to close for something if she questions me, which I doubt she will.”
I hear a car pull up into the gravel drive outside the open front door. It’s probably Allie coming for her night shift.
He nods, his lips tipping up at the corners just a fraction. “So, we get the marriage license tomorrow and do this thing Saturday then? ”
Excitement and nerves buzz through me as I watch him. Are we seriously doing this? God, this is so weird. But in a good way. My skin flushes and I break out in goosebumps.
I bite my lip and nod, smiling a little. “Saturday.”