Page 69 of Boston
“He does great at Silver Sage,” Cora said. “He leads a lot of our outdoor excursions and adventures, and everyone I’ve talked to speaks highly of him.”
“Oh, he’ll get the job done all right,” Bryce said.
“He did great on Harry’s tour too,” Codi said.
“He’s a pro at managing a lot of details.” Bryce grinned and glanced over to Lynnie. “Anyway, I haven’t said hello to you either, Lynnie.” Bryce moved into the middle of the circle and took the woman into his arms. “When are you and Matt gonna move back here?”
Lynnie laughed and shook her head as she stepped out of the hug. “We’re not moving back here, Bryce.”
“Oh, come on,” he said. “Everyone comes back to Coral Canyon sooner or later. You might as well make it sooner.” He grinned at her, and then turned when someone called his name. “Be right back,” he said, and he turned to go over to Joey.
Boston stepped next to Cora, and she moved back to make room for him in the circle. Before she knew it, everyone had joined it, and they shifted around to make room for the girls, then Harry and Belle, and finally, their hosts, Joey and Adam.
Cora looked around at all of their faces, mentally reciting their names so she could remember them. They’d made her feel so welcome and comfortable, and Cora knew from experience that was a skill someone either had through natural talent or had worked to develop.
She suspected the Youngs—especially Harry, Bryce, and Joey—came by it naturally. The others definitely seemed quieter, and Cora stalled on one of the younger women until she remembered Corrine, who stood next to Liesl. They looked quite similar, in fact, with their dark hair and eyes, and she only got it becauseCorrine held hands with her boyfriend, and Cora knew Liesl had come with her best friend.
“Why is everyone looking at me?” Harry said, and Cora switched her eyes to him as well.
“You always say something,” Joey said.
“This isn’t my party,” Harry said. “You guys had a bonfire at your house.” He glared at Adam.
He slid his hand along Joey’s waist and tucked her against his side. He grinned out at everyone and said, “Yeah, I should probably say something. Harry’s right; itismy house.” He gazed down at Joey, the love he had for her extremely obvious. “It’ll be me and Joey’s house soon,” he said. “And we’re real happy you could all make it tonight.”
Joey nodded and looked around the circle too. “We’re only missing Cash tonight,” she said. “And he’ll be here next month.”
“He wants to host it at his vacation rental,” Harry said.
“I hope it has a pool,” Bryce said.
Cora grinned, because she could only imagine this party transplanted to Silver Sage. She looked at Boston, her eyebrows raised, but he clearly didn’t get what she was asking. She could schedule a night where they would have a whole pool and hot tub to themselves, and she could get the kitchen to make anything she wanted.
Pool party.
It sounded like an amazing time, especially with all these people. She could invite Kat and Jeremy too, and Cora’s mind worked through perhaps doing more private pool parties or simply open pool parties at the resort for all guests.
“I’ll find out,” Joey said. “But Harry managed to get the sour grapes, and Reggie brought an entire theater’s worth of popcorn, and we have potato chips and potato salad to go with your tin foil dinners.”
“We can do s’mores and Starburst roasting at any time, and we’re just really glad to have everyone here,” Adam said. He looked at Joey again.
She surveyed everyone and took a deep breath. “I want all of you here to be in my wedding party.”
Surprise coursed through Cora, because surely that didn’t apply to her.
“It’s fine if you don’t have someone to walk with,” Joey said. “We’ll work it out. But obviously Harry and Belle, Bryce and Codi, Kassie and Reggie, you guys will go together.” Her eyes landed on Boston and Cora, and a certain awkwardness filled the air. “If you guys would like to walk down the aisle together, that would be great.”
“If we’re still together by then,” Boston said, and Cora scoffed and bumped him with her hip.
“He’s always saying that like he’s trying to give me a way out.”
A few people laughed, and Joey smiled at the next people over, who were Matthew and Lynnie. “If you guys can come to the wedding, we’d love to have you in the party.
“And then, of course, Corrine, if you’re with Wells still and your parents think it’s okay….” She spoke slower and sort of trailed off, and then quickly added, “You can definitely walk in the party too.”
Something was definitely happening there, but Cora didn’t understand the family dynamics well enough yet to know what.
“And then we’ve got Liesl, Rosie, and Cole,” she said. “So maybe we’re only one man short.” She looked at Adam, her big blue eyes wide and full of hope.
