"Damn right, Skippy."
A few hours later, with my belly full and my brain switching off for the night after finishing Aster’s book about a sociallyawkward mountain man and his dancer soulmate brought together by the mountain spirit, I close my eyes for a much-needed full-night's sleep.
And there's only one thing I can see, Toby’s heart-skipping, skin-tingling smile. .
10
TOBY
“You ready, Lan?”
"I was born ready," he replies, eyes glued to the church doors as he waits for his blushing bride to arrive.
She’s due any time now along with the Sallys who promised Landry they’d get Star here on time come hell or high water. Even still, she’s still alittlebit behind schedule.
“I still think the weddin' should come first then the courtin’," I grumble. “Would sure make life a hell–” I wince, realizing where I the air asam and why Ishouldn’tcurse here before quickly correcting myself. “I mean, aheckof a lot easier.”
Gandalf chuckles, clapping me on his shoulder. “Toby Graham, if there’s one thing to know about the Call, it’s that it cannot be rushed. Sometimes it can take years, sometimes a few weeks, no one except the mountain knows.”
“See,” Rhett says, elbowing my side. “We’re all sayin’ the same thing. You’re just not listenin’.”
“That’s ‘cause I don’t getwhyit has to take so long. If you know you're next in line, then why wait? There's far too much fun to be had."
We all chuckle at that. "Well maybe the mountain wants to have some fun with your journey before lettin' you settle down and have all the types offunyou're probably thinkin' of," Red replies.
"Time's a-wastin', that's all I'm sayin'," I grumble. "Dee didn't even realize I was askin' her out on a date today. She just thought it was for convenience."
“To be fair, you’re tryin’ to force a Call when it hasn’t necessarily been heard yet,” Rhett adds.
I sigh, because I don’t think that’s the case. When I hugged her the other night, there was no way she didn’t feel the way our heartbeats were in sync as they bashed against our ribs. It was like it was trying to wrestle its way out of my chest and into hers.That’snot normal. It was definitely the mountain spirit’s doing. “Maybe Dee’s just not listenin’ orseein’what’s right in front of her. She’s definitely myOne. There’s not doubt aboutthat.”
“Ormaybe, you’re just being stubborn and impatient?” Gandalf says, arching a brow.
A loud honk of a car horn outside signals the arrival of Star, the Sallys, as well as Cora and Mags. I look over to where Dee is sitting in a gorgeous green strappy dress that falls to her knees with her legs crossed and those black and white stitched cowboy boots on her feet. But it’s the fire engine red lipstick on her lips that makes me wanna throw caution to the wind. All I wanna do is kiss her till it comes off–and then some. She grins at me with a sparkle in her eyes that makes me wonder–or maybewish–shecan read my mind. Just to be safe, I turn my attention to the end of the building.
The doors to the church swing open and one by one the Sallys walk in joined by Star’s mom, Julie. Red, Rhett, Austin, and Wyatt all step down from the altar and meet the women down the aisle, escorting them toward the front. Landry greets them all, giving them a hug and a kiss on the cheek before they take their seats in the front row on the bride's side of the room.
Then the sweet sound of the church’s old piano fills the air as Cora and Mags enter with the goat, Nelly Nosy Parker, walking between them on her lead.
"Baaa" she bleats as she trots toward us in a pink collar and a tie-dyed skirt around her round belly.
"Hi," Lan says when his One reaches him.
"Hey," Star replies, both of them looking so head-over-heels for each other I’d usually think it was nauseating. But not now. Now I just want that–want what they have, and I want it with Dee..
"Guess it's time we get this party started. What do y'all think?" Gandalf asks, earning snickers, laughs, and a loud cheer from me.
I hold a thumbs up. "That'swhat I'm talkin' about. Time's a wastin', I tell ya." The sound of Star's giggle and Landry’s chuckle fills the air.
"OK, Toby. I'll begin, just for you."
"Much appreciated, Gandy," I reply before glancing out toward the crowd and spotting the woman who makes my heart do things it’s never done before. All I can think about is when we’ll get our chance to stand here and pledge our love to one another.
I guess I need her to fall in love with me first, but tomahto, tomayto… right?
"May I have this dance?"I ask, standing next to Dee's chair and looking down at her with my hand outstretched.
Her lips tip up as she lifts her eyes to mine. "You can ask me, not sure I'm the dancin' type though," she replies, earning an arched brow.
