“Not at all,” Andie cheered. “I’m thrilled!”
“I’m not as thrilled as Andie,” Emmitt said from his spot against the wall. “But at least I know I’m not losing my charm. You were just catching feelings for Richard who, despite being the first born, issecondbest next to me.”
“You mean second to me?” Memphis asked.
Emmitt flicked the guitar pick like a coin and caught it. “Tsk, you wish.”
“Well, I’m happy for you guys too,” Memphis said as he snatched his phone from the side table and came to a stand. “We should probably head over our cabin soon. Someone’s got to let Mable and Don in with the food.”
“I sent Betty over to do that,” Andie explained as she pretended to yank Trenton off the couch.
Richard pulled Ava closer. “See? I told you everything was going to be okay.”
She sighed into him contently, and Richard couldn’t help but soak up the affection. It didn’t come easy with her. At least, it hadn’t at first. Which reminded him of their conversation the night before. She’d said that, as a child, her grandma made her feel safe, when not many others did. That sliver thin piece of her past had, like the other tidbits he’d gathered, made him want to know more. Children weresupposedto feel safe.
He rubbed a hand over her arm, wanting to undo every unpleasant memory she had. Whatever they might be.
“We’ll meet you guys over there,” Andie called.
“Right.” Richard turned his sights to the group as they headed toward the door. “Oh, obviously we’re not going to tell Maverick today with it being his birthday, but how do you guys think he’s going to take it when we do?”
Emmitt sucked in air through his teeth. “Not well.”
Andie and Trenton wore similar expressions.
“He’ll have to deal with it,” Andie said plainly. “It’s not like he had any claim on you, Ava. And Richard,” she added, shifting her gaze to him, “you shouldn’t feel bad either. You never would have pursued Ava if you didn’t see a future with her, I know that much. And you shouldn’t have to give up your chance at love to please someone else.”
Her words were like a warm bath of confirmation. “Thank you,” he said with a nod.
“You two make a great-looking couple.” Trenton gave him a back pat. “I suspected there was something going on when you stopped being so ornery all the time,” he added with a laugh. “Just remember that I’ve got your back if you need anything.” Trenton discreetly slipped Richard a small, folded piece of paper before resting his hand along Andie’s lower back.
Richard tucked it into his front pocket and looked up in time to see Memphis duck through the front door. If anyone knew how Maverick would react, it was Memphis, and his lack of response was far from reassuring.
“I agree that we keep a hush on it for today,” Andie said. “But I’d plan on telling him soon. It’s probably a good thing that he’s on bedrest for now. He can’t exactly stand up and sock you in the face.”
Ava tensed up at the comment, but Richard rubbed a soothing hand over her back. “She’s kidding.”
But inwardly, Richard didn’t think she was far off base. Heck, Maverick had even tried warning Richard away from her as they looked beneath the hood of his truck before the accident.
The group filtered out of the cabin and headed toward the twins’ place. Richard took Ava’s hand as they trailed behind. “Well, that wasn’t so bad was it?”
Ava shook her head and let out a breathy laugh. “No, it really wasn’t. But I don’t exactly feel normal right now…” She held out her quivering hand to demonstrate. “I’m still kind of panicking inside. Like I can’t fully relax until we see how Maverick will respond.”
He rubbed a hand along her back, grateful that he could finally do so in front of the others. He ducked down and planted a kiss on her cheek next. “Maverick will be butthurt for a minute, but he’ll get over it.”
“I hope so.” Ava still didn’t sound so sure.
The truth was, after witnessing Memphis’s reaction, Richard wasn’t so sure either.
He recalled the note then, wondering just what Trenton wanted to say that the others couldn’t hear. With Ava busy tipping her head back and pulling in the soft breeze, Richard pinned the small note between his finger and thumb and tugged it from his pocket. Quickly, he pried open the folds and read.
Today is the day. Wish me luck.
“The day for what? Who’s that from?”
Richard crumpled the small page in his hand. “No one.”
Ava slowed her steps and shot him a sideways glance.
