I turn back to everyone, as if there’s anything left to say. “But as you all witnessed a few minutes ago, my bride and I do need to say goodnight to y’all.”
The room erupts in more laughter and someone shouts, “Where’s the wedding?”
That’s an easy one. “Right here. On Blue River Ranch.”
“When?”
I hold up my hands. “If we knew that, you’d all be getting a formal invitation today. But I can tell you one thing.” I look at Willow. “It’ll be at sunset.”
18
“Bachelor party. Next Saturday. I’ll round up the guys. You just show up,” Silas states, slapping his oldest brother’s back.
Wilder, Rose, Silas, Wes, Noah, and Charlie stayed back after everyone left to help clean up.
Dallas wipes a platter dry and hands it to Rose. “You can give it up, bro, everyone in this room knows this isn’t real.”
“The way I see it, you’re still getting married,” Wilder adds. “Which means the wedding will be real. And everyrealwedding calls for arealbachelor party.” The two younger brothers high-five each other.
Dallas grunts. “You all enjoy yourselves. I’ll pass.”
Charlie gasps. “If y’all are having one, then Willow gets one too.” She raises her hand, still barely meeting the height of most men in the room. “I call planning Willow’s.”
Rose glares at the blonde. “Put your hand down, I called dibs on this years ago.”
I purse my lips. My instinct is to turn this down the way Dallas did. But, instead, my stomach fizzes with excitement because when will I ever get to enjoy something like this again? One carefree night with new friends, and Rose, in a new town I’ve yet to explore.
I smile. “I’m in.”
Charlie and Rose cheer.
“You’re in?” Dallas asks, his voice low but prominent.
I lift a shoulder. “Wilder makes a good point. Wearegetting married. It may be temporary, but why not enjoy the perks of this phony matrimony?”
The guys roar in the background but I can’t make it out because Dallas is watching me like he can’t figure me out. One more thing to add to the list of things we’ll need to discuss when everyone leaves.
The first being the kissbehind the stairs.
“Fine,” he grits. “I’m in too.” He turns a lazy gaze to his brothers and Noah. “But it can’t be the same night as the girls. Someone needs to stay home with Ellie.”
I lift a finger. “I agree. I’d want Ginger to come too, so we won’t have a sitter.”
Dallas meets my eyes for a brief moment—and I don’t linger long enough to make out his unreadable expression. All I caught was a faint crack in his armor.
“We can get on board with that.” Charlie nods at Rose like they’re keeping a mental list.
My eyes flick back to Dallas. His eyes are trained on me, soft, smiling. A moment of shared understanding passes between us.
This sense of union, friendship .?.?. family. For a sliver of a second, it’s almost like this whole thing is real.
This might not be new to him. But it’s an entirely foreign concept to me. Being surrounded by people who show up, plan parties,fightfor each other.
“We could make it thefollowingweek,” Charlie says, looking at her phone. Her husband stands next to her, his phone out too.
“Fine,” Noah says. “But you need to come up with a wedding date soon.” He flips his phone to me and Dallas. “I’ve got a feeling the first hearing will be set soon. We’d be in a better position if you and Willow made it official before then.”
And just like that—we’re back to all-business. And it’s just as well.
