“Every last bit of it is for you.”
Collie reverts her attention, taking in the massive projector Dirty Dan helped me set up to a generator, an old Western movie playing on the screen under twinkling lights.
“Tombstone?” She sighs, stepping closer with giddiness. “It’s been my favorite since I was a little girl.”
I shrug, playing it off while inside my heart is bursting. “Lucky guess. Ben and I watched it a lot growing up with our pops.” The most sincere smile rises at the corner of her lips. Is she thinking about her favorite childhood memories the way I’m now thinking of mine?
“My dad would love this. I bet Ben would, too, if he were here,” Collie tells me with every ounce of compassion she can muster.
How could her mother ever neglect kindness with someone so incredibly rich in love?
“He would. He really would.” While my chest typically aches at the mention of Ben’s name, today it feels calm. Recovered from a never-ending storm. It’s a freeing feeling.
One I think I owe to this beautiful woman before me.
“You did not!” Collie chants, excitement so bold. “Gushers!”
Who knew the thing that would make the tears really fall would be Gushers? Not me, but you won’t hear any complaints.
“Your favorite. See, I’m a great listener,” I proclaim, my smirk at large.
Watching Collie show appreciation to every detail feels like Christmas morning as a kid. Waking up early to see all the gifts under the tree before anyone else has woken.
It’s sacred.
“Oh my god, Easton. This is incredible. I’m in disbelief that you did this for me. For us.”
I round the corner, joining her in the inflatable chair beside her. Two neon orange lounge chairs directly face the front row seat toTombstone, while a small table sits between us. I learned quickly that Collie doesn’t drink much soda, aside from the occasional root beer with her dad, so I secured a six-pack of beer and some sparkling water on ice for us, packed in the cooler on the ground.
On the table is an array of all her favorite chocolates and sweet candies.
Every flavor of Gushers imaginable—even enough to supply her need for sugar on the plane ride home tomorrow. Reese’s, Twix, Kit-Kat, Red Vines, sour gummy worms, and Cheez-Itz Extra Toasty.
I even bothered Sheila to pop some popcorn in their RV microwave just in case Collie wanted something salty with her sweets.
“Don’t be shocked,” I tell her confidently. “You deserve it. I just wanted you to feel special for a night.”
She reaches for my hand. “All I’ve felt this entire trip is noticed by you, and that means so much to me. I can onlyhope I’ve made you feel the same way. Because you deserve that, too, Easton. Every second of every day.”
Yep. Tomorrow is gonna hurt like a bitch.
“You have. And I can’t take all the credit for this.” I shift my head in the direction of Dirty Dan and Sheila’s RV down the way, spotting them on their porch already waving.
Idiots.
“Dirty Dan helped me with everything.”
Collie gasps. “I knew Sheila didn’t need to suddenly search for every type of blackberry jam she could find close to Yellowstone. That woman was on a goddamn mission.”
I laugh and kiss her hand softly. “It was all a ploy to get you out of here. So, how’d we do?” My cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
Something I only fucking hoped to do more of after calling off the wedding. And here I am.
Living it.
It was all worth it.
“I’d say you earned yourself a bit of a reward, Mr. Voss. How does that sound?” Her voice turns sultry. Sexy. A double meaning behind her proposition.
