Page 7 of Flirty Situationship

“Winston?”

The sound of my name coming from the doorway behind me startles me. I turn to see Kylie standing in the doorway. Instead of her usual black Stump and Stem Plant Shoppe shirt, she’s got on a stunning floral dress. Her beautiful cheeks are tear-stained.

I hop to my feet and take her in my arms. “What are you doing here? How long have you been listening?”

“I’ve been here long enough to know that I love you. I love you, Winston. I want you to know that… But what areyoudoing here?”

“You love me?” I let out a deep breath. “That’s such good news because I adore you. I love you with all my heart but if you’ve been here a while, you already know that. I thought a lot about you last night. I couldn’t sleep. I thought about your mom and I knew without a doubt that before I tell you that I want to be the man by your side for the rest of your life, I needed to get permission from the woman who made you who you are. She deserves that. So I came here to talk to her and tell her you havechanged my world and that I’m not planning on letting you go. I love you, Kylie.”

Tears well in her eyes, but this time, they are paired with a smile. “I’m in this for so much more than a situationship. I want to be a part of your chaotic life in every way.” She pushes past me and sits in the blue chair across from her mom. She takes Mrs. Buckner’s hand in hers. “Mom, this is Winston, I’m in love with him and I want to tell you all about it…”

I stay for an hour sitting hand in hand with Kylie while we tell Mrs. Buckner all about how we’ve fallen in love. Kylie leaves out the good parts just in case she understands more than she’s letting on. A sense of calm washes over me as the pieces of my life finally start to fall into place.

When Kylie pulls a list out of her pocket, I take it as my cue to give them some space.

“Okay, I’m going to let you ladies catch up.” I stop in the doorway. “But I do have to tell your sons about the fact that I’m in love with their little sister soon, so if you could put in a good word when you see Beau, I’d really appreciate it…”

EPILOGUE, ONE YEAR LATER

“I’m not sure why the hell they wanted me up here to talk about these two knowing I didn’t take it too well when I found out that this guy was after my sister.” Bear’s deep voice echoes in the microphone.

“Yeah, everyone knows it should’ve been me up there,” Beau shouts from the crowd and more laughter ripples through.

Bear continues, “Like I was saying, I didn’t have a great reaction when I found out he washanging outwith my sister. I told her not to date a lumberjack, but I should’ve known that Kylie wasn’t going to let that fly.”

I nod my head and Winston takes my hand in his. Having our wedding my little greenhouse behind Stump and Stem Pant Shoppe turned out to be the perfect space. With lush greenery and white twinkle lights, this night has been pure magic.

“Immediately she required me to come up with a concrete list of grievances about why she and Winston shouldn’t date. I’m not one to back down from a challenge when it comes to my sister, so I got to work… and here’s what I came up with.” Bear tucks the microphone under his chin and pulls a list from his pocket while I bite back a laugh. “For starters, he’s too old and mature at just five years older than her. He has too good of ajob while she’s opening a fledgling plant shop. He’s got a terribly demanding boss at Timber Logging. Makes too much money. He’s too stable. He’s too generous. He’s always on time and we know Kylie loves to be on her own schedule… and the list goes on. When it came time to read my list to Kylie I realized that Winston wasn’t the problem at all… She was.”

Laughter bubbles up across the gathering of friends and family sitting on the massive log benches outside of Stem and Stump Plant Shoppe. Seeing all of our favorite people gathered at my favorite place in the world makes my heart melt.

Bear continues, “I’m just kidding. The problem was that I still see Kylie as a fourteen-year-old kid that’s how old she was when our father passed away. Beau and I started looking out for her then, the idea of another man permanently broke my heart if I’m being honest.”

Tears stream down my face in an instant and Winston pulls closer to me. I’m so lucky to have my brothers.

Bear inhales, dabbing tears from his eyes. “But it didn’t take very many times to see the three of them together in their new little family to know that Kylie is in good hands. Winston, a man I respect and love like a brother is going to love my sister for all her life. Seeing Kylie be a mom to River, it almost broke me. It’s a beautiful thing. I can’t think of a better outcome. That being said, I want to ask our Mom to come up here to the front and help me make a toast to the happy couple.”

Beau stands, he’s handsome as ever in his suit. He puts his arm out and escorts Mom up the aisle at our wedding reception. The three of them stand side by side at the front of the room, holding champagne flutes in a toast to my relationship with Winston.

Beau takes the microphone from Bear with a chuckle. “At least let me do this part. No one wants you up here crying anymore… Here’s to new dreams in old places here’s to newfamilies and old friends. Here’s to my sister getting the happy ending that she’s so deserving of. Finally, here's to our family growing and changing together. To the happy couple. Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

Winston comes behind me, wrapping his arms around me and I lean back into his chest. Being with Winston feels like home. I still want my adventures, but now I want all of them by his side.

The champagne flows as the night goes on. The dance floor gets full as the glasses get empty. A half hour later Winston and I are making our way around the room. I feel like I’m floating on a cloud in my white lace wedding dress and Winston has never looked sexier. He has breathed new life into my world and I’m more in love than I thought possible. Winston has made all of my dreams come true in the one place I thought I had to give up. Being here with our friends and family feels like a promise of new adventures to come.

“Cheers to my best friend getting her happily ever after. I knew you needed a lumberjack in your life.” Ash holds up her glass to mine as she wraps her arms around me.

“Thank you for being here. I… Wait, who are you looking at? Found a lumber-snack did you?” I turn to follow her line of sight. But when I find her gaze trained on Beau, I shake my head. “No. Don’t even think about it. He’s nothing but trouble.”

“And look where Trouble has gotten us.” Ash smiles and gestures to the dance floor.

River is rocking back and forth with Trouble nestled into his arms. With both of them working as official groomsmen, they are wearing matching bowties and the sight brings tears to my eyes.

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