“Yeah. We have the space for it. I figure if we enclose the porch with drop-down screens, it’ll be great for grilling and football in the fall.”
Jason nodded. “Always think big, my friend.”
Clay laughed. “I try. I don’t want to have to redo this in five years. Not when there will be little ones running around by then.”
Jason plopped down in the chair and took a swig of his beer. “You do have big plans.”
“I’m going to marry that woman and have babies with her.”
“Does she know that?”
“She does. I mean, I haven’t formally proposed yet, but yeah, she’s in on the grand plan.”
“Maybe you should get to the formally proposing part.”
“That’s in the works. Her parents are coming to town next week to visit over Memorial Day weekend. I’m going to do it then. I figured having her family here along with my family would make it more meaningful.”
“That’s nice.”
The door popped open. “What’s nice?”
Shit. Jason had to think fast. “How well Homer was doing on his training. That dog can really chase after a ball.”
Alice came out and took a seat next to him, looking cool and beautiful in her long flowery sundress. Homer ambled over and dropped the slimy ball in her lap. Unruffled, Alice picked up the ball and threw it. “He’s so smart, and, yes, he does love his ball. And his fluffy toys. And things to chew on. Plus, he only chews the things he’s supposed to.”
“She’s just happy he doesn’t chew up her shoes,” Clay said.
Alice nodded. “That is a bonus.”
“Clay told me you two are building an outdoor oasis.”
She rolled her eyes. “His idea. I suggested a patio. I go away for a few days and come home to painted lines in the backyard and blueprints for an entire outdoor kitchen and an enclosed sunroom with an entertainment area and drop-down screens and what have you.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t complain about it when I showed you the plans, did you?” Clay asked as he took the burgers off the grill.
She lifted her chin. “I believe I mentioned it was all too much.”
“She came around after I told her how much our future children were going to love it.”
“He agreed we’d put a pool in next year.”
Jason nodded. “You definitely need to add the pool. With a slide. And a playset, too.”
She laughed. “We should probably have children first. Or maybe get married before the kids come along. Though if the first little one should pop up as a surprise, I won’t complain. I’m so ready to have babies.”
She got up and went into the house. Jason shot Clay a look, and Clay’s lips lifted.
He envied his friend. He was one lucky man.
When the food was ready, they went inside, sat at the table and dug in. The burgers were great, and Alice had made a salad plus green beans, along with a nice fruit salad, too, and there was bread. By the time he’d cleaned his plate he was stuffed and very happy.
Alice had opened a bottle of a damn fine Red Moss Vineyards cabernet that was tart and smooth and had gone well with the burgers. It had also made him miss Erin.
Clay poured more wine for Alice. She swirled the liquid around in her glass.
“I’ll have to tell Erin how good this cabernet is,” Alice said. “What did you think of it, Jason?”
“Yeah, it’s good.”
“You should tell her, too,” Alice said. “I know how much the Bellinis love feedback on the wine.”
“I don’t think she wants to hear anything from me right now.”
“Uh-oh.” Alice gave him a concerned look. “What’s going on?”
“Let’s just say she’s not currently speaking to me and leave it at that.”
Alice frowned and laid her glass on the table. “Okay, buddy. Spill.”
He shook his head. “Kind of personal stuff, Alice.”
“Personal . . . Are you two dating?” She looked from Jason to Clay. Clay shrugged.
“Don’t look at me. I don’t know a thing.”
So she looked back at Jason.
“I don’t know. It’s not really dating. She wanted to use me for a revenge fling after Owen dumped her. And I’ve been resistant to that and she’s kind of pissed at me about it.”
“I see.” Alice took another sip of wine. “Probably because she feels like you’re rejecting her just like Owen did.”
“I’m not rejecting her. I . . .” He wasn’t about to get into a discussion about his feelings for Erin. “I don’t know. I screwed up, did something stupid, said some things I shouldn’t have said, and she stormed out of my house a couple of days ago.”
“And then what happened?” Alice asked.
“Nothing. I haven’t talked to her since then.”
Clay shook his head. “Man, you are so dumb.”
He looked at Clay. “What?”
“You. Dumbass. Go talk to her. Fix it.”
“I thought I’d give her time to calm down.”
Alice laughed. “We don’t calm down, idiot. We just keep thinking about what you said, which makes us even more angry. Clay is right. Go see her and fix what you broke.”
He scrunched his nose, trying to figure out how to prove them wrong. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized they were right. He had to talk to Erin, and the sooner the better.
Because she’d been damn angry that night. And now that a few days had gone by? She’d had a lot of time to think about what he’d said. She was probably really pissed now.
CHAPTER
thirteen
IF WE MOVE this here,” Erin said, looking over the master schedule with her sisters, “couldn’t we fit the Richardson/Evans wedding in on that Friday?”
Honor’s brows wrinkled as she studied the schedule. “I think so, which would actually work out perfectly because it’ll free up the third Saturday in July for the McKesson/Bainbridge wedding.”
Brenna looked up at her. “Wait. Aren’t they next June?”
Honor shrugged. “They want to move up.”
“By almost a year?” Erin asked.
“Yes.” Honor stared at her sisters. “Is that a problem?”
Erin rubbed the side of her temple. “Any change in the schedule is a problem. Swapping dates on two already scheduled weddings? That’s a double problem. What about caterers and cakes and music and guests and all that?”
“I’ll handle it,” Honor said. “Don’t I always handle it?”
The one thing Erin didn’t like was a change in the schedule. She needed balance and order in her life—especially her work life. When a wedding went on the schedule, it tended to stay there. Change meant an upset in her plan, reordering things. She stared at her spreadsheet, her calendar, her planner, and thought of everything that would have to be redone. It made her twitchy.
“Erin,” Honor said, her gaze gentle. “I’ve got this. Trust me.”
“I assume we’re not also adding to the guest list?” Brenna asked.