“Good. Great, actually. I think I’ve found a new caterer and florist to work with, and more importantly, we found a venue.”
“Where?” This from my other cousin.
“Stick Taps.”
They all gasp, and it’s not even them being dramatic.
Every person in this town knows about Noah’s relationship with his ex-wife. The divorce was tumultuous, at least on her end. He tried to settle things civilly, but she wasn’t having it. She wanted everything from him and then some.
I don’t know the particulars of how they settled it, but I do know that whatever it was, it made Noah the grumpy man he is today. He’d always been a bit quiet and surly, but nothing like he is now. He was never anti-love, that’s for sure.
“Oh, that’s going to be beautiful,” Lucille’s mom says, hand over her chest. “That farm is just darling. Tell me you’re using the barn for the reception.”
Aunt Collette has always loved weddings like me, so I’m not surprised that’s instantly where her mind went.
I nod. “We are. They’ll be exchanging vows in the field with the Cascades in the background, then guests can mill about the cidery for a cocktail hour while the newlyweds take photos. We’ll finish the night with a party in the newly renovated barn. I’m helping Noah work on it.”
“You?!”
I glare at my cousin. “I don’t appreciate that tone, Margie, but yes. Me. Why do you sound so surprised?”
Every woman at the table exchanges a glance, but it’s my nonna who speaks up.
“Because you’reyou, Odette. You wore heels to the movie theater last week.”
I open my mouth to argue, but then I remember, yeah, I did do that. And I looked damn good in them too.
But I don’t see why that matters.
“Well, heels or no heels, I’m still helping him. I’m heading back out there tomorrow, actually.”
“So you’re telling me you’re spending all your days with Noah Stevens?”
I glance at my other cousin, who is practically foaming at the mouth at the idea. “Yeah ...”
“Ugh.” She tosses herself back in her chair. “You’re so lucky. That man is ... he makes my lady bits tingly, that’s all I’m saying.”
“Jody Ann!” Aunt Krista chastises her daughter.
She just shrugs. “What? I’m just saying. You know it’s true.”
“Well ...” Krista wiggles around in her chair. “He did grow up to be a fine young man.”
“Ew. He’s, like, forty,” Lucille says.
“He’s thirty-eight,” I correct. Several ladies of the group raise their brows at that. “Not that it matters,” I add. “But I’m just saying. He’s not forty yet.”
My mother makes a noise that has my attention swinging her way. She sips on her mimosa, looking anywhere but at me. Still, I can tell she wants to say something, so I ask her.
“No, nothing to say,Odie.”
My cheeks heat, and I wish I could say it wasn’t because of that damn nickname, but it is.
And Noah. It always leads back to him.
Luckily for me, the conversation turns to something else—Jody Ann and her new professor boyfriend—and I’m able to escape without any further questions about Noah.
He doesn’t escape my mind, though. No, he’s still right at the front, the same place he’s been for days now.
