I think he’s going to kiss me, but he asks, “Are you looking forward to the wedding?”
“Yes. Of course. McKenna’s so excited.”
I allow my eyes to drift shut. My mouth pinches and I let out a breath.
“But?” he asks. “Something else.”
“Yeah. I guess.” I tilt my head up to look Cody in the eyes. “I just don’t want her to leave. The whole time they’ve been dating, she always came home. Once they’re married, all bets are off. His work is in California.”
“And Iceland,” Cody says with a short huff of laughter.
“Yes. All over—wherever they shoot the next film.”
“She’s not going to follow him around,” he says. “I mean, she might, I guess. But I’m thinking she’ll still come here whenever he’s on location.”
“You think?”
“Until they have kids.”
“Kids,” I say softly, trying to imagine McKenna as a mom.
I do see it. She’ll be so fun and loving. She has the best parents. She’ll be different than they are, but keep the best of what they gave her and pass it down.
I hope they’ll call me Aunt Carli—and that I’ll still belong in the Lawson family the way I do now.
“Do you want kids?” Cody asks.
“Do I?”
“You’re the only one in the back of my pickup. I was asking you. Unless you don’t want to answer that.”
“I do,” I say, smiling up at him.
“Me too,” he says. “Like three or four.”
“Do you have them named already?” I tease him.
“If they’re girls, we’ll call them Carli. Boys can be Cody Jr.” He chuckles.
“What if we have two boys?” I ask, playing along.
He doesn’t miss a beat. “Cody Jr. and Cardy Jr.”
“Cardy?” I laugh.
“It’s a blend of our names. We can name the third one Cardy whether it’s a boy or girl. We’ll have Cody, Carli and Cardy.”
“That’s going to go over great on the playground. Just zero teasing, I’m sure.”
He laughs. “Okay, how ’bout you be in charge of naming and I’ll be in charge of picking out their horses.”
“No way! I want to pick the horses. He’ll get over being called Cardy. I’ll nickname him C.J.”
We smile at one another, the soft laughter slowing as we stare into each other’s eyes.
“I’m joking, but not,” Cody says, smoothing my hair back.
“Me too,” I say softly.
