“Kenna.”
“Hey.”
“Can’t sleep?”
“No.”
“Me either.”
“Want me to come and get you?”
I glance at the alarm clock. It’s already one in the morning. “No. You have to be up in a few hours.” He gets up at five every day to start the chores on the farm.
“Well, that’s a few hours of sleep I’ll get compared to none.”
“No, I don’t want to wake my grandparents.”
“I hate this.”
“How is it that I’ve been home for a little over a month, and I’m already so attached to you?”
“Because we’re meant to be, Kenna.”
“It’s hard to resist you when you say things like that.”
“Good.” He chuckles softly.
“I should let you go. I just wanted to hear your voice.”
“Pretend like I’m there with my arms around you. Holding you close.”
“Yeah,” I say, feeling my eyes getting heavy. How can just talking to this man put me so at ease?
“Sweet dreams, baby.”
“Night, Rip.” I end the call, place my phone back on the nightstand, and drift off to sleep with his voice in my head.
Chapter 23
Rip
Today my little sister marries the love of her life, and I’m a grumpy bastard. Why, you ask? My best friend gets to walk down the aisle with my girl while I’m walking with his girlfriend. As maid of honor and best man, that’s the order of things, but I don’t have to like it. It’s not just me. I’m not the only one. Corbin is a little grouchy himself.
“What’s up with the two of you?” Colby asks.
“Nothing,” Corbin and I mumble at the same time.
“Fuck that. This is my wedding day. You know how long I’ve waited to marry Lara. You two surly bastards aren’t going to ruin in. Start talking.”
I look at Corbin and shrug. “Fine, I’m irritated I don’t get to walk in with Sara.”
Colby rolls his eyes. “And you?” he asks me.
“What he said, with Kenna,” I confess.
“Seriously? Are the two of you so pussy-whipped that you’re whining that you can’t walk in with your girlfriends at my wedding?”
Corbin and I share another look. “Yes,” we say at the same time.
Colby surprises me when he throws his head back in laughter. Reaching into the pocket of his blue jeans, he pulls out his cell and dials. The phone rings out in the room, letting us know he has it on speaker.
“Hey, handsome, you ready for this?” Laramie asks him.
“I’ve been ready. However, our brothers are not feeling the same way.”
“What?” Laramie asks with panic in her voice.
“Yeah, they’re both sulking because they can’t walk in with their girlfriends.”
“Colby!” Lara scolds him. “You gave me a heart attack. Is that all? They’re sulking?”
“Pretty much,” he says smugly, knowing damn well Lara is going to put us in our place.
“Whatever, I don’t care about the order. They can just take their right places when they reach the archway that Corbin, Colby, and their father built for today. All I care about is that everyone who is important to me is there to watch us get married. The rest is just details.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with my sister?” I ask, loud enough that she can hear.
Laramie laughs “I’m getting married today, big brother. It’s going to take a whole hell of a lot more than you and my brother-in-law bitching about not walking down the aisle with your women. Besides, I’m sure the four of you aren’t far behind us.”
“Right.” Corbin laughs. “How long did the two of you date before taking the plunge?” he asks.
“That’s us. We started out young. The two of you aren’t getting any younger.” She sniggers.
“Bye, sis. Love you,” I call out.
“Bye, sis. Love you,” Corbin mimics me.
“You two got lucky,” Colby says. “Love you, baby. I’ll see you soon.”
“You’re damn right, you will. Love you too,” Laramie says, ending their call.
“That is not how I expected that call to go,” I admit, running my hands through my hair.
“I was ready to have my ass handed to me,” Corbin admits.
“Yeah, well, my wife is a badass like that.” Colby flashes us a cheesy grin. “Looks like the lineup is changed. Just take your correct places at the altar. Now can the two of you stop sulking?”
“Sorry, man.” I feel a little bad, but not enough to go back to the original plan.
There’s a knock on the door, and Colby and Corbin’s dad, Sam, walks in. “You ready for this?” he asks Colby.
“I’ve been ready.”
“That you have. We’re ready for all of you. Colby, head on down to the archway, and these two will be right behind you with the ladies, and then Laramie and Roger will follow.”
“Let’s do this,” Colby says, pulling his dad into a tight hug. Corbin and I take our turns as well before the four of us head out of my old bedroom and downstairs.
The wedding is being held in the backyard of my parents’ farmhouse. Colby made an arch and covered it with wildflowers, which is where they will stand to say their vows. Laramie wanted a simple country wedding, and she’s pulled it off. Colby heads outside while Corbin and I gather in the kitchen, waiting for the women to join us.