Page 360 of Boots, Bucket Lists & Bad Ideas
“And what about the wedding?” Faye plants her hand on her hips.
Her tea dress has a large key embroidered across the front. “Will they spring it on us?”
“Or let us plan?”
Neither, but it’s not for them to know.
“Alright, ladies, enough with the commentary. I’ve got a woman to see.”
Some might say we’re rushing, buying land together after only a month, but when you’ve loved from a distance for as long as we both have, it’s never too soon. I want her to have the world, and I want to be by her side for every step.
The door chimes behind me as I step out into the spring heat. My phone buzzes as I climb into my truck.
“Hart, you busy?” It’s Levi.
“Is the baby here?” Since when is this a question I ask?
Since I realize it’s safe to ask. Safe to care. Safe to show them I care. And I do.
He chuckles. “No.”
“Any day, now, man.” I start the truck, and the air hits me.
“Listen, I need you at the North Wilde Ridge property.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Dean went up there alone. And there’s been a situation.”
“What kind of situation?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“You don’t know? But you’re sending me up there?”
“Look, he called me all weird and breathy, then the line cut out. Said he needed help. Something about the fireplace or the back room, or maybe a raccoon. He wasn’t making sense.”
“He called you. So you go over.”
“Listen, it’s your property.”
“It’s not my property.”
“You asked me at the rodeo to help you fix it up.”
I groan. “I just wanted y’all to shut up. I would’ve agreed to anything at that point.”
“Yeah, well, agree to go meet Dean and fix whatever mess he’s gotten himself into. Maybe he fell. Maybe he locked himself in the crawl space again. Or he tried to fix the water heater and blew half the basement off, I don’t know.”
“Jesus, Levi.”
“I don’t know, maybe there’s a bear in the house.”
I rub a hand down my face. “Why would there be a bear in the house?”
“I don’t know. Point is, I’m with Hope, and you’re closer. I just need someone to check. Just make sure he’s alive and not bleeding out under a pile of insulation or something.”
“Fine.” I glance over my shoulder as I reverse the truck. “But if there’s a possum, I’m putting him in your truck.”
