Page 35 of By Your Side

She bursts out laughing, shaking her head. “Oh my god. Aren’t we a pair? Okay, let’s shake this off and focus on other things.”

Chuckling, I ask, “Like what?”

“Like . . . what are you going to wear to the masquerade ball. I know you’re not sure where things stand with Owen, but that could be a night to really make an impression.” Her eyes twinkle.

Cocking my head, I shake my head. “I wasn’t planning on going.”

Raelynn wiggles in glee as she takes another sip of wine. “Oh no! You definitely have to go. It’s a staple in this town. Everyone goes. They have it annually, raising money for different charities or repairs that need to be done around the town. This year they’re raising money for the animal shelter. Besides, it’s a great evening of getting dressed up and being with friends.”

Her excitement is contagious, so I agree to go.

The tone of the evening lightens and I’m glad we move past the seriousness of everything that haunts us. Sometimes it’s nice to just live in the moment without having to work through something or come to an “a-ha” moment.

We polish off the bottle, both of us a little giggly when there’s a knock on Raelynn’s door.

Glancing at Raelynn, I frown at her mischievous smile. “What’s that look for?”

“I realized about an hour ago that one bottle of wine wasn’t going to be enough, so I called for backup.” She shimmies her way to the door, swinging it open to Elise.

She takes us in and starts to laugh. “Good thing I brought coffee and pastries.”

Raelynn frowns. “I thought I said to bring wine.”

She drops down next to me, resting her head on my shoulder. Laughing silently, I gratefully take the coffee Elise offers me. She reaches into her bag and pulls out another bottle of wine. “I didn’t let you down but drink the coffee and eat something first.”

We agree and I shove all thoughts of Owen and the what-ifs out of my head to enjoy the evening with the girls.

The next morning I haul my hungover butt home, groaning when I think about the mountain of snow I need to clear. My head throbs and all I want is some more coffee and a nap.

I’m so focused on the pounding of my head, I’m halfway up my driveway before I realize it’s been cleared. Parking in the garage Owen and his crew built while they worked on the barn, I grab my things and run to the house.

The dogs greet me, eager to get outside and sniff while Nora weaves between my legs, demanding breakfast.

I get the animals taken care of and head upstairs, forgoing coffee for a nap. My phone rings as my head hits the pillow.

Groaning, I swipe my finger and mumble, “Hello?”

Owen’s chuckle perks me up. “Well, someone sounds like a ray of sunshine.”

“Too much wine.” Burrowing under my covers, I think about my driveway. “Hey, did you clear my driveway?”

“I did.” His tone shifts, but I can’t pinpoint what’s going through his mind as he says, “I didn’t want you freezing on that little tractor when I have easy access to a heated one.”

“You’re a lifesaver.” Yawning, I close my eyes again and feel sleep pulling me under. “I need some sleep. Can we push back work until this afternoon?”

“On one condition.”

“Hmm?”

“That we go out for coffee first. Perk Up at one o’clock.” His tone is serious and all sleepiness floods away.

“Oh, sure. Sounds good.”

He says goodbye and I lie awake wondering what exactly he meant. Is it a date? Just a remodel meeting?

Groaning, I pull the covers over my head. I have no idea what I am walking into, and I hate being unprepared.

twenty-one

---