Page 87 of Wag More Bark Less

“I’m still not sure what I did wrong with the last batch,” she admitted, wiping at the moisture on her cheeks.

“If you need a guinea pig to help you taste test, I know one who lives next door.”

“Actually, I was hoping you’d do it with me.”

“Do what?”

“Enter the chili cookoff. A little birdie told me you’ve been known to make a pretty good chili when you want to.” She lifted her cheek from my chest, locking those baby-blue eyes with mine. “I don’t want to enter the contest alone. Will you do it with me?”

It might be the way she was looking at me with such hope in her eyes, or the way she was gripping my shirt like she wanted to be closer to me still. Or it might be that I was a screwed man who’d never be able to say no to this woman, no matter how much it might cost me in the end.

“Of course I will.”

“Thank you!” she cheered, throwing both arms around my neck and hugging me tightly. She let go too soon, and her absence felt like the first cold wind before winter. “Ready to go downstairs?”

“You go. I’ll be right down.”

“Don’t wait too long. The food’ll get cold.”

I nodded as she slipped out the door.

Yeah, I was going to fall hard. And for the first time since she crashed into my quiet, mundane life, I couldn’t bring myself to care how fucking much it’d hurt when she left.

THIRTY-ONE

MAGGIE

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Violet asked, gripping me in a tight hug in the driveway. Ethan was settling the boys in the back of their minivan with Ellie’s supervision, and Luke was retrieving the remainder of their luggage from inside the condo.

“I’m sure.”

I wasn’t ready for them to leave when they only just showed up yesterday, but I wouldn’t ask them to stay. Their road trip was over, and they still had two solid days of driving before they were home with an unassembled crib waiting for them when they got there. I was grateful they stayed for pancakes and bacon—Luke turned out to be quite the chef. But now that bellies were full and the sun was high above the mountains, they needed to get on the road.

And the truth was, I was fine. Sure, I was supposed to get married today. But the only thing I felt was numb indifference with a side of relief.

To my surprise, neither Jason nor Luanne made any contact attempts since Violet and her family showed up in Bluebell Springs. I was a little disappointed I didn’t get to threaten Monster-in-Law with the video of her in my dress, but it was a small price to pay for peace.

“On a scale of zombie bridezilla to lighting a match and watching your dress burn with a malicious smile on your face, where are you today?”

Violet relinquished her vice grip on me but held onto my arms waiting for an answer.

“That scale sounds awfully dramatic.”

I showed her the dress last night, without taking it out of the closet. I didn’t want to deal with stuffing it back in again. She was horrified, but the sight of it no longer destroyed me. I was free in a way I hadn’t been since I made the decision to give back the ring.

My front door clicked shut and Luke appeared on the porch with the last of their bags. I fought to keep my eyes on my sister, but my gaze drifted anyway. Ethan let it slip last night that the whole hot dogs and s’mores thing was Luke’s idea. He also told me how Ollie asked if Luke was going to marry me.

The man fit with my family in a way Jason never did, as though he were always part of it, and I didn’t know what to make of that.

“You’re allowed to be dramatic today of all days,” Violet insisted. “It’s too bad we can’t go blow something up before I leave.”

“As fun as that sounds, I’m okay. Truly. I’m grateful I didn’t go through with it and end up making the biggest mistake of my life. I think that’s like an eight on the scale. Happy?”

“I’d be happier if you let Officer McGrumpy give you his hot dog, but I’ll take it.”

“Would you not call him that where he might hear you?” I hissed as Violet yanked me into one last hug.

“Oh, I heard her,” Luke said, poking his head around the back of the van. Amusement danced in those light blue eyes as he closed the hatch. He flashed me a devilish smile before ducking back behind the van.