“Was everything okay?”
A long-winded sigh scratches at my ear through the speaker. “Of course it was. We got there, expecting the worst, and your mom answers the door, dressed to the nines, as usual, and there was a whole breakfast spread waiting for us with your dad sitting at the head of the table irritated that it took us so long to get there.”
A dry chuckle rumbles through my throat as Chloe continues to tell me about the impromptu meeting my dad held for them. Without giving any logical reasoning, he simply told them that the wedding will no longer be held in three months.
“Three weeks?! Is he serious?”
Chloe’s tone remains flat. “Are you really that surprised? You know how your dad is. Whatever he wants goes and screw anyone that’s in his way.”
“Still, I don’t understand how he can just snap his fingers and change something that has been in the works for well over a year?!”
“Yeah, well, he did. Whatever his reason is, I honestly don’t care since getting to marry your sister earlier isn’t something I’m going to fight or complain about.”
I admire Chloe and Harper’s relationship so much. They love each other so unconditionally, it’s the kind of love, if I weren’t so closed off to opening my heart to another person, I would want for myself.
My lip pouts, though she can’t see it. “You two are so cute.”
“Thanks,” Chloe breathes out, putting a pin in the moment.
“I know you, there’s a but there, so go on.”
Chloe chuckles. “Butyou know how Harper gets. She’s all stressed out because she’s had everything planned and timed the way she wanted it to go. I told her not to worry, I’ll help coordinate whatever she needs me to, but I just want her to relax.”
“Of course. You’re so good to her.”
“I love her.” Her voice falls to a whisper. “And if I can be honest with you, I want nothing more than to get married and do what I’ve been planning with her for a long time.”
“Which is?”
“Do what you did. Leave. Get her the fuck away from your father, from Hemp Grove, after we get married there, from all of it.”
I understand Chloe wanting to get her and Harper away from my dad, but the second part surprises me. Hemp Grove Ranch is my brothers’ livelihoods. They inherited it from their mom’s grandfather upon his passing and turned the property into a cannabis retreat. All of them have gotten into trouble with the law before, so Hemp Grove was supposed to be their fresh start upon their inheritance, though hearing the way Chloe mentions it is making me wonder if that’s really the case.
“I’m sorry, I know that’s probably coming off as disrespectful. Your brothers aren’t half as bad as your dad. But still, I’m just so—” Flustered, she stops talking.
“It’s okay. I get it. Tesoro’s are a lot.”
“Yeah, and to make matters worse, I have your dad thinking once we’re married, I’m going to merge my family business with his.”
“Wait, you’re not?”
“Umm, no.”
“Does he know that?”
“Umm, no,” she repeats.
“I see.”
“Yeah, I’d like to keep that part out of it until Harper and I get married. If he finds out, forget about it.”
“I promise, I won’t say anything.”
“Thanks, Ri. I appreciate you.”
“Of course. I mean, we survived the awkward stage of my best friend sneaking around with my sister for months before having to catch you two together, I think I can live through you telling me what I already know about my dad.”
Her tone softens. “Well, it means a lot. Also…” Her voice drags dramatically. “I wanted to ask you for a favor.”
