He hugs her back and kisses the top of her head.
“Emerson’s kept me up to date on your plans,” I say. “Wild Ranch is such a romantic spot for a wedding. Declan and Mia had the best time getting married there.”
“I’m so excited,” Winter says. “My mom was all like,you need a southern wedding,and that just made me want to do something different. She’s already planning the majority of it as it is.” She laughs. “She doesn’t know what to do with herself if she’s not in charge.”
I smile. “It sounds like you’re doing it your way.”
Winter steps closer to me. “Are you all right?” she whispers in my ear.
My defenses are all the way down at this point, and Winter isn’t just gorgeous on the outside—she’s kind and wonderful too. I attended her bachelorette party in Montana recently, and she was so welcoming and warm. And while I typically keep my problems close to my chest, I could really use someone to talk to right now. Maybe the truth is that I need to tell someone why I’m in New Orleans and feel the need to escape like the walls of the city are closing in on me.
“I’ve been better,” I tell her honestly.
She pulls me aside from the others and over to a nearby bench. “What’s going on?”
Suitcase at my side to remind me that I planned to stay for a while, I fill her in on my morning.
“Sugar, I’m so sorry.” She gives me another hug. “That just…well, that sucks. I don’t even know what to say. Are you okay?”
Now that I’ve aired my secret, I feel immediately on guard. I wave my hand in the air like I’ve got everything handled. “I’ll be fine. But I’m done with New Orleans for a while. I’d like to go home.”
“Of course you would! When’s your return flight?”
I exhale. “That’s the problem. I bought a one-way ticket here, and at the time, all return flights were booked for the next few days. The last thing I want to do right now is stay another five minutes in New Orleans.”
“I understand. I wonder if you could somehow get on our flight…oh, wait! I know!” Her eyes light up like she’s come upon the world’s greatest plan. “Ride to Montana with Liam.”
I stare at her like she just asked me to get home on a flying saucer.
“No.” I shake my head. “Absolutely, not on your life can I spend that much time in a closed compartment with that man.”
Winter smiles. “Liam is a sweetheart. I’ve known him my whole life. He is definitely one of the good guys.”
I blow out a breath. “I’m sure that’s true, but he and I had a terrible start. And our personalities…we just clash.”
Before she can respond, Liam, Lulu, and Hunter walk over to us.
“Win? We need to get to our gate with Lulu,” Hunter says with an apologetic glance at me.
“The Storm brothers!” Two women stop in their tracks. “Could we get a selfie? You’re our two favorite players!”
Liam hesitates, his arm around Lulu.
I beckon to Lulu. “Can you show me your book?” I ask her.
She beams and climbs up onto the bench between Winter and me.
I catch Liam’s eyes, and he gives me a nearly imperceptible head nod before he steps over with Hunter for the fans’ selfie.
“Elephant.” Lulu points at the open page of her board book.
“An elephant and her calf,” I say. “They’re amazing animals.”
“Lulu loves animals, don’t you sweetie?” Winter asks her.
“Daddy says I’ll see lots of animals in Montana.”
“That’s definitely true,” I say. “You’ll love the ranch.”
