Glancing at the digital clock on the microwave, I jumped into action when I realized I had less than twenty minutes to get ready before I was supposed to be at the farm, and I still had to pick upAiden.
But I couldn’t goanywherelooking the way I did; especially not when I could still smell Travis onme.
Travis wanted to start telling people about us, but I was worried. I wanted to see how things progressed between us before announcingit.
From a risk assessment standpoint, Travis was amajorrisk, but even knowing that…I couldn’t stop my heart from racing with excitement and throbbing with renewedhope.
I knew I still had plenty of issues to overcome, and I wasn’t entirely sure where I would even begin there…but I’d woken up in Travis’s bed that morning with my chest bursting with possibility and hope. It had felt amazing to wake up with his arms aroundme.
I dressed quickly, forgoing makeup and tossing my damp hair up into a clip. When I came out of my bedroom, Elle was waiting in the kitchen for me. She was dressed in her bridesmaid dress, her cheeks flushed withembarrassment.
“I was wondering if I could hitch a ride off of you, and maybe borrow something to wear…” she said, trailing off sheepishly. I felt for her, having done the walk of shame myself thatmorning.
“Yeah, sure,” I smiled at her. I disappeared back into my bedroom to grab a dress I knew would fit her. It hadn’t fit me in a few years, but I’d clung to it because it was a pretty floral print. “Here you go,” I told her, handing the dress out toher.
She smiled at me as she took it. “I’ll be back in a second,” she promised, disappearing backdownstairs.
I had always liked Elle. My apprehension about her being with Braden was mostly due to the fact that I wasn’t overly confident thatBradenwas in a good place mentally for a relationship. I knew that Elle was struggling too, and I didn’t know if Braden could handlethat.
And, I was self-aware enough to know that I was projecting alittle.
“Are you okay?” Elle asked, her brown eyes squinting in concern as she placed a hand on my forearm. I hadn’t even realized I’d gapped out whilewaiting.
“Yeah, sorry. Just tired,” I apologized, grabbing my purse. “Are you ready? Is Braden coming withus?”
“He’ll be along shortly…” Elle bit her lip. “I kind of told him we needed to show upseparately.”
“Ah,” I exhaled, nodding with understanding. After all, I had the same arrangement going on withTravis.
“It’s just,Alex—“
“It’s okay, you don’t need to explain it to me. Trust me, I get it,” I sighedagain.
“Are you picking Aidenup?”
“Yes,” I answered. “Valerie has plans with her family, and I know he’ll want to say hi to Spirit,” I smiled, referring to Tessa’s horse. Aiden loved going to the farm to see all the animals—especially thehorses.
I opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch, reaching inside the mailbox. My fist closed around my keys. Pulling them out, I ignored the curious look Elle sent me and continued walking to mycar.
Braden was standing in the driveway beside his truck, waiting. Hunter sat in the cab, looking regal and self-satisfied as he peered ahead, panting. Brock usually took Hunter everywhere, and he’d come to expect the same treatment from the rest ofus.
“He slipped out when I opened the door, and apparently is insisting on coming with. Not my first choice for shotgun,” he joked, looking at Elle with pointedlonging.
“Better you than me,” I replied, climbing into my car. “At least Elle won’t shed all over myseats.”
“I just might,” she grinned, putting her large sunglasses on. She blew Braden a kiss and slid into the passenger seat. Starting the engine, I backed out of thedriveway.
The Jefferson’s lived about ten minutes away from us in a modest two-story house. The yard was well maintained but littered with bicycles and foot balls, the evidence that three rowdy growing boys lived and thrived there. I pulled up the driveway and put it in park, leaving the car running before I jogged up the walkway and rang thebell.
Valerie answered with a smile. “Becky! Come on in. How was the rest of the wedding?” sheasked.
“It was great! Thank you for watching him last night, Valerie.” I returned her smile with one of my own as I steppedinside.
“It’s my pleasure, Aiden is no trouble at all. If anything, he keeps Max in line,” Valerie replied. She turned her head and hollered up the stairs. “Aiden! Your mom ishere!”
I could hear several sets of feet tromping around upstairs, and ten minutes later Aiden was barrelling down the stairs with his backpack and pillow. “HiMom!”
“Hi buddy!” I said, crouching down to give him a hug. “How was thesleepover?”
