Page 136 of Chasing Home
I take another swig of my beer and twirl a chunk of blonde hair between my fingers while listening to the girls gush over Anna’s engagement ring for the thousandth time tonight.
Brody and Anna got back to Cherry Peak yesterday for a small two-day break before the final stretch of tour. It only took Brody a few hours at home to get down on one knee and ask her to be his wife. He even used the fluffy cow he bought her when they first started dating, which, if I didn’t know that she’d have said yes regardless, is almost cheating, considering how cute Banana is.
Anna kept the engagement a secret until tonight when Poppy spied the giant square diamond on her finger. It’s been a mess of loud squeals and plans for a bachelorette party since.
“We could go to Vegas and hire one of those police stripper crews for a private showing,” Poppy suggests, still holding Anna’s hand halfway across the table.
“What about firefighters instead?” Anna asks.
Poppy gags at the same time Brody and Garrison say, “No.”
“Considering my brother is a firefighter, I’ll have to say no to that one. He’s ruined the fantasy for me,” Poppy says.
I chuckle, taking another swig of my beer. Garrison pins me with a sharp look. “Why are you laughing? Knock it off and join our side.”
“You’re a territorial bastard,” I tell him. “Rory can get a striptease from a fake cop because she’ll be coming back home to ride a real cowboy.”
Brody scoffs, and Rory flicks at my wrist. Her cheeks are my favourite shade of pink, so I kiss the one closest to me for good measure.
“This comin’ from the man that threatened to beat Loren’s ass for callin’ her by the same nickname everyone else uses?” Brody asks. The damn asshole.
I set my beer on the table and stab a threatening finger at him. “Loren’s different. And I’m going to smack Tommy’s ass for tellin’ you about that in the first place.”
“Okay, get back on track. Fucking men and their possessiveness,” Bryce mutters over the rim of her drink.
“I, for one, cannot wait until we get to see you get possessive over someone, Bryce. We’ll never let you live it down,” Brody grumbles.
She just shrugs, unbothered. “It won’t be happening. I don’t get jealous.”
Poppy bursts into laughter, the latest gulp of her cocktail spilling out from between her lips. Garrison’s there with a napkin, patting her lips dry in the blink of an eye.
Aurora drops a hand to my thigh, her fingers spread wide before she strokes her thumb over the denim and looks at Bryce. “Everyone gets jealous.”
“Not me.”
“I’d love to test that theory,” Poppy says, recovered from her laughter.
Bryce brushes her off. “I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
“So, no to the male strippers for the bachelorette party?” Anna asks, grinning.
Her fiancé—shit, that’s new—palms the back of her head. “Anythin’ else, Buttercup. Choose anythin’ else. I’m beggin’.”
“You guys are so lame, but fine. I’d claw someone’s eyes out if they tried stripping in front of Garrison, so I guess it’s fair,” Poppy says, glancing over at her boyfriend with a look that has me immediately looking away, feeling like I’m interrupting.
It’s always like that between them. I’m happy for them, especially now knowing how it feels to be in love with someone who turns your entire world upside right.
Those two will be the next to get engaged, and I’m hoping Rory and I will follow. It’s only been two months, but I’ve never been surer of anything in my life than I am about her. We’re not rushing, though, and I like that. I’m loving getting to know every single little thing about her as we spend every day together.
She’s found a life here, and I’m content giving her all the time she needs to live it to the fullest before taking that next step.
“Yeah, I would have to agree. It’s hard enough watching Brody get pawed at when he’s onstage, and those women have their clothes on,” Anna says.
Brody’s grin grows at her statement. “I’ve only got eyes for you, Buttercup.”
“Yeah, you better.”
“Or what?”