Magnolia cries in my arms, and Capri immediately panics. “Oh,” she checks her phone. “It’s time to feed her. I should take her back to the RV.”
Dirty Dan and Sheila even gave up their RV for the weekend so Capri and Jones could have enough space with the baby.
I hope they stay in our lives forever.
“Fuck the schedule,” I tell her boldly, and she sends me a sharp look. “Oh, like she’ll actually be talking anytime soon. You got a bottle? I’ll feed her right here, babe.”
“Sweetheart, she’s fine,” Jones tells Capri, wrapping herin his arms. “I’ll go make up a bottle. Let’s stay out here and listen to Palmer play.”
Easton’s sister, Palmer, sits by the fire with all of our family, strumming her guitar and singing some old country songs. Easton and I discovered pretty quickly how much our families actually had in common. Seems the South doesn’t just take root in the South; it steers all the way to Alaska, too.
But Palmer? That girl can sing. She’s been serenading my mom and dad for hours now. I’ve never seen Mom so relaxed. It’s when I circle my sights around the fire, my fiancé on my brain, that I find him with his arm around his mama.
I can’t figure out how someone could see the way a son treats his mama and be jealous or envious. When I look at the care Easton shows Mrs. Voss, all I see is the type of husband and father he will be someday.
“Hey, Ranger,” I call out, carefully handing over Magnolia to Capri for a moment. “I’ll be right back. And don’t you dare feed her without me,” I tell Capri.
“Just go get your man.” She smiles before taking a seat on the swing Dirty Dan hung on the closest tree.
Easton kisses his mom on the cheek and stands to join me next to Clementine. Yes, we’re staying in the same camper van as before.
We’ve got a thing for memories.
I could cry just looking at this beauty. It holds so many special moments, both good and heartbreaking. But that trip with Easton was the first time in my life I knew I was worth investing in myself.
Not only because I had the means to do it, but because someone believed in me.
Easton.The love of my life, and the man who will become my husband tomorrow.
“What’s up, baby? You good?” he asks me, face laced with concern.
I smile and kiss his lips. “I’m great. But I have something I want to show you.”
The sun has already set, the darkness of the night filling the starry sky. This place feels just the same as it did before—peaceful. Unlike last time, it’s summertime here today, and although typically hot in Wyoming, there’s a nice breeze in the air after sunset.
I lead Easton to the other side of the camper, wanting to give us a moment of privacy for this. “Stand right here, okay?”
He nods, a smirk on his handsome face. “Are you bringing me over here to be fucked, Collie?”
“Jesus,” I sigh. “I’ve created a monster. An insatiable, horny monster.”
His brows rise like he’s waiting for me to make a move. I shove his shoulder playfully. “No. For once, I did not bring you over here to be fucked, Easton. I want to show you something. Do you remember how I got that check from my old boss and couldn’t decide what I wanted to do with it?”
“Yeah. I just assumed you spent it since you never mentioned it again. Maybe bought more Gucci purses or something.”
“You asshole,” I laugh. “I literally just paid that off, and you have yet to let me live it down.”
He shrugs, laughing to himself and reaching for my hand to hold me close. “I’m sorry. Keep going.”
“Well,” I reply, unfolding a piece of creamy cardstock paper. “Wait right there, just a second.”
I hustle to the back of the van, open the hatch, and take out the telescope I’ve been hiding since we got here. Placing it in front of him, I try my best to remember the specificinstructions and search the sky for the correct star. “Come over here.” I pull his hand toward me, his other arm wrapping around my back. “I want you to look right here. Be careful not to knock it or it’ll shift. You’ll see a star that looks like a lightning bolt.”
He smiles but doesn’t say anything, fully trusting in my words.
I really hope he loves this. I know astronomy isn’t his thing, but I couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to celebrate our marriage and being back here. “I see it,” Easton tells me, his contagious smile behind the telescope shining through. “Wow. It really does look like a lightning bolt.” He sends me a flirty wink, and I know he’s thinking about my tattoo.
“What do you think?” My hands are shaking and I’m bouncing in my boots. My favorite cowhide boots, to be specific.
