Page 62 of When It's Us
She turns her gaze on me, eyes hooded with arousal when they meet mine, and I don’t have to wonder a second longer.
A bratty little smirk tips up her lips. “Promise?”
Ginger
It’safterfourwhenwe pull into the driveway of a cute little two-story twin home, off Main Street in Timber Forge. I spot Wren’s mustard yellow pickup behind what must be Hayley’s gray Subaru, even though she’s not due back from her girls’ trip until tomorrow.
The cottage-style house is set back from the street, and with its steep-pitched roof and porch overhang, it looks like something out of a perfect little small-town storybook. The two sides mirror one another, like someone has cloned one side of the house and squashed them together. Surrounded by trees on two sides and the back, the siding is a welcoming dusty gray-blue, and both front doors are painted a warm, buttery yellow.
There’s a white bench on the left side of the first door that’s missing on the other side. Colorful throw pillows and several pots of bright flowers sit on the porch, and two more potted baskets of flowers hang at the end of the porch closest to the driveway. It’s adorable, and from what I know of Hayley, it fits her personality perfectly—colorful, cheerful, and bright.
“Looks like you’ve got a welcome party, even with Hales out of town,” Hutch says with a nod to Wren’s mustard yellow truck before shutting off the engine.
“Looks like it,” I respond with a small smile. Wren had insisted on being here when Hutch dropped me off, and I’m grateful for it.
There’s also a bit of nervous anticipation, knowing she’s going to ask about things between Hutch and me. She’s my best friend, but I don’t know if I’m ready to share all the details.
Hutch opens his door to climb out, and I follow. I’ve only got one foot out of the Vanagon when Wren bursts onto the porch.
“Omg, you’re here!” she squeals, a glass of wine in her hand. “Hey, Hutch!”
Wren’s followed closely by an extremely pregnant Finnley, who gives both me and Hutch a tired smile and a small wave.
Hutch smiles and gives a two-fingered wave before opening the side door so I can grab my bags.
Wren bounds down the stairs and launches herself at me, nearly spilling her wine and bowling me over in the long driveway.
I let out anoofwhen she slams into me and wrap her in a big hug.
“Holy shit, I missed you so much,” I mutter into her hair as we rock back and forth.
“Me too!” she exclaims and then leans back to look at me. “How was the trip?”
I nod, hoping I’m not blushing as much as it feels like I am. “It was good.”
“Hey, girl,” Finnley says, stepping up with a grin. “I love your hair.”
“Thanks. Trying something new,” I say, catching Hutch's slight smile before grinning back at Finn.
If they only knew about all the new things I am ‘trying’.
“I love that you’re wearing it natural. It’s been years since I’ve seen all that curl,” Wren praises, reaching up to give my hair a little fluff with her fingertips.
I shrug like it’s no big deal. But it is. I’ve always been self-conscious about my super-tight, natural spiral curls, and Wren knowsit. But something about the last three days has changed that. At least, a bit.
“Look at you!” I say, reaching for Finn. I squeeze her hands and then hold her arms out, taking in her baby bump.
She’s getting so close to delivering with weeks until her due date, but she’s ridiculously adorable in a sports bra and leggings that show off her generous bump. She recently cut off her waist-length hair and absolutely rocks the just-above-shoulder-length bob.
“I’m gigantic,” she mutters self-deprecatingly, and I shush her as I pull her into a hug.
“You’re gorgeous,” I assure her.
“Where are my idiot brothers and the gremlins?” Hutch asks, hefting the heaviest of my suitcases onto the driveway now that we’ve all said hello.
“At the ranch,” Finn says. “Paige has been bugging Huddy to take her riding for a week, and today was the first day he’s had a chance.”
“And let me guess, Hank’s working and Mom and Pop have the twins?” Hutch asks Wren as he unloads the last of my bags.
