“Aspen?”
“I’m sorry. It’s been the two of us in this bubble we’ve been in the past few days, and that bubble’s about to be burst. I’m just feeling… off.” She smiles again, and although it’s not forced, it still lacks the brightness I’m used to from her.
“Come here.” I hold out my hand, and she takes it, allowing me to pull her between my legs and hug her tight. “It will all work out. We’re in this together. It took both of us,” I tell her.
“Yeah,” she agrees. “Eat up.” She moves out of my hold and digs into her food.
I wait until she’s finished to try again, but I’m stopped when the front door to the cabin opens. “I’m getting married!” Aurora cheers as she makes a beeline for her sister.
“Hey, bro.” Grant laughs. “She’s all kinds of excited that the roads were cleared early.”
“Of course, she is. Your wedding day is a big deal.”
“You good?” he asks.
“Yeah. I stayed up late reading over a new code for the security system,” I lie.
Grant holds his hand up to stop me. “Say no more.”
The rest of our families file into the cabin. There are handshakes, hugs, and between Mom, Aspen, and Aurora’s mom, Sheila, orders are given out. I’m instructed to help my brothers salt the sidewalks and driveway. I should have already had it done, but spending time with Aspen was more important. There are five of us. We can knock this out in no time, same as we did as kids. I don’t know when, but I’ll find time in the chaos of this wedding to talk to my girl.
Chapter 13
Aspen
Everyone is in wedding mode. Thankfully, they’re all too preoccupied to notice I’m distracted. The past few days are replaying in my mind over and over again, with last night as the highlight reel. I feel… different. I couldn’t explain it even if I tried.
I’ve never had a man touch me so reverently and have the touch feel as though it was reaching my soul. It sounds crazy even thinking about it, but it’s the best way I know how to describe it. Being with Conrad was an out-of-body experience, one I’d happily relive every day for the rest of my life. However, I know that’s not possible. I’ll have the memories forever. That will have to do.
“Aspen, what do you think?” Mom asks.
“Oh, yeah.” I nod. I have no idea what she just asked me, but I’m going with it.
“Me too,” Aurora agrees.
Dodged a bullet. “So, what’s left?” I ask.
“I think that’s it. The decorators are coming at three, and the caterers are confirmed. They’re dropping off tables tomorrow,” Lena explains just as the dryer dings.
“I’ll get it,” Conrad says, walking into the kitchen to get to the laundry room.
“You’re doing laundry? Did you not bring enough clothes?” Lena questions. “I thought your dad asked if you needed anything?”
“That’s my fault.” I’m quick to come to his defense. “I was drinking hot chocolate and spilled a little on the blanket. Conrad threw it in the wash for me. I’m sorry.” The apology is for the lie that I’m going to hell for telling, but I can’t tell her that.
“Nonsense.” Lena waves me off.
Conrad’s eyes find mine, and the look he gives me tells a story. One of passion and risks and yearning. I recognize it because it’s exactly how I feel when I look at him. What we did was risky. I’ve never once thought of having sex without a condom, but there was no way I could have stopped.
The passion and yearning go hand in hand. Last night was explosive and unlike any other experience I’ve ever had with a man. The yearning, well, I long to have him again. To have his hands on me, his mouth, to know that his touch is all mine. That he’s all mine.
“That was sweet of you,” Mom tells Conrad, breaking our gaze. He simply nods and continues on to the laundry room.
“Aspen, will you come up to my room with me? I want to go over my hair and makeup plan.” My sister nods her head toward the stairs. The look on her face tells me it’s not her hair she wants to talk about.
“We’ve practiced,” I remind her.
When she asked me to do her hair for her wedding, I thought she was crazy, but we’ve done a few trial runs, and we’re ready. She wants curls, nothing fancy, just lots of curls in her long locks. We practiced with her short veil, which comes with a jeweled headband. She’s going to be a beautiful bride. Grant’s not going to know what hit him when he sees her walk down the stairs to him on Saturday.
“I know, but I want to go over it again. Mom, Lena, do you need us?”
“No,” they reply in unison.
“Come on.” Aurora grabs my hand, and I have no choice but to follow her up to the room she’s sharing with Grant. His only requirement for the wedding. He refused to sleep in separate rooms, and my sister happily obliged him.
“Where’s the fire?” I ask as Aurora pulls me into her room and shuts the door, turning the lock.
“What. Was. That?” Her hands settle on her hips, and she gives me a look that I imagine will have her future children singing like canaries. I, on the other hand, hold strong.
“What are you talking about?”
“That—” She points to the floor. “Down there in the kitchen. Spill it, sister.”
“Wedding planning? Maybe you should lie down. I think the stress is getting to you.”
“Aspen!” She stomps her foot. I have to bite down on my lip to keep from laughing. I love riling her up.
“Aurora!” I stomp my foot, mocking her.
“Stop it. What did I miss?”
“Lots of snow.”
“Damn it, Aspen.”
“Nothing. You didn’t miss anything. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” Lies. All lies.
“Conrad. What was that? He looked at you like he wanted to eat you for dinner.”
Damn it. She had to go there. I feel my face heat. “There might have been a kiss or two.” Or fifty.
“And I’m just now finding out about this?”
“When was I supposed to tell you, Rory? While Mom and Lena were in full swing wedding planning? Or how about when Mom and Dad gave me a hug hello? It was nothing. We were here all cooped up alone. It happens. It’s done.”
“That look he gave you, the one you returned, that wasn’t nothing.”
“It is if I say.” I’m aware I sound like a toddler, but she’s backed me into a corner, and we both know it.
“You can tell me,” she urges.
“I just did. A few kisses, that’s it. It’s done.”
“Aspen.” Her tone is softer, and I can’t handle that. I don’t know what we are. We didn’t talk about it, and I know that’s my fault. I’m not sure what it meant, if anything, and I’m giving him an easy out.
“Aurora. This is your weekend. You’re getting married in a few days to the love of your life. Let’s focus on that.”
She studies me for far too long, and I’m worried I’m going to have to think of another way to leave this alone. “For now. After the wedding, we’re talking about this.”