Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Her smile is dreamy, a newlywed still enraptured with the idea of marital bliss. “Being married is the best. I thought it’d be hard getting used to being in a different space and always having someone around. But Dalton and I…we just fit.”
I think of Bronco and how easy it is when I’m with him. We tease each other, well, I tease him, and he responds. He takes care of me, cooks me breakfast, and makes me feel like everything is going to be okay.
“But you’re not here to discuss my marriage.”
“I’m not?” I swallow a sip of wine and remind myself that’s the difference. Bree and Dalton are married. Bronco and I aren’t. Bronco doesn’t see me as anything other than a responsibility that got dumped on him. That’s why he’s always so nice to me. The thought sends a bolt of pain through my chest.
“No, I invited you over because you seem sad lately. I wanted to check in.”
It’s been a week since I started the petting zoo online. I’m not getting any donations or interest. In fact, no one seems to care at all. I guess, there are a million petting zoos nearby, and Bronco’s isn’t that special.
My big idea was a big failure, and I don’t know how to fix that. I want so desperately to save the community center. I can’t stand the idea that everything Aunt Elaine has built is about to come crashing down.
But these aren’t things I can tell Bree. I can’t tell anyone that. Even if I hadn’t sworn my secrecy to Aunt Elaine, I don’t want members of the staff panicking. No, it’s better that I shoulder this burden alone.
“You can tell me anything,” Bree says.
I rotate my glass, watching the wine swirl. “There’s nothing to tell. It’s the same old sad story. Girl hopelessly in love with her brother’s best friend pines quietly.”
“Seems like it might be more than that,” she presses.
I swallow hard. I can’t tell her the full truth, so I settle on the things I can share. “It’s a bruise on my heart when I see him. But when I don’t see him, it hurts too.”
Before she can respond, the back door swings open, and Dalton strides into the kitchen. He’s got dirt on his flannel, and he’s wearing his usual scowl. But the moment he sees Bree, all of his features light up. He crosses the room to her in three quick steps and plants a big kiss on her face, oblivious to his audience.
“Dalton…” Bree calls his name in a half moan, half-chastisement. “I have my best friend over.”
His gaze flicks to me and immediately back to his wife. “Hi, Lauren. Do you have any objections to me kissing my own wife in my own home?”
I chuckle. “Zero objections.”
“See? She doesn’t care.”
She swats his shoulder. “Let me get back to girl talk. Go wash up.”
When he leaves the room, she turns her attention back to me. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are filled with so much light that it makes me hurt with unfulfilled longing. “You’ll stay for dinner, right?”
After a quiet dinner with the three of us, Dalton announces that he’s going on a hike and takes the dogs with him. She waves her hand when he’s gone, indicating the back door. “Sorry, he’s so…”
“Completely in love with you?” I answer with a small smile of my own. He barely talked through dinner. It’s obvious Dalton isn’t much of a conversationalist, so I didn’t take it personally. He mainly spent the meal tracking Bree’s movements like she’s the sun, moon, and stars. She’s his own personal universe, wrapped up in one sunshine package.
She chuckles. “It’s mutual.”
By the time Dalton returns hours later, Bree and I have finished a bottle of wine together. She’s convinced me to stay over for the night even though we both know if she asked, he would drive me back down the mountain.
I’m still puzzling over what to do about the petting zoo and how to help the retirement community back at my desk the next morning. The reception door swings open and Dalton and Bree come in together.
I left their cabin early this morning. Bree said they were right behind me, but guessing by her flushed face and pleased expression, Dalton took them on a little detour. Ugh, newlyweds.
As soon as I think the uncharitable thought, I drop my gaze to my computer and pretend to be busy with patient files. Bree is my best friend. My annoyance with her and Dalton isn’t her fault. It has nothing to do with them at all.
They hurry to Bree’s office which is roughly the size of a utility closet and disappear inside but it’s not soundproof in there, and I can hear her giggling. I glance toward Ryan’s desk to see if he’s irritated with them. He’s wearing earbuds and flicking glances between his book and the monitors. I wish my job meant I could put in earbuds too.