“Nope, not me. Well, not yet at least. There are so many things we still want to do around the house. Asa and I would like to travel a bit before even thinking about settling into a family life, not that kids tie you down in a bad way because you could always bring them with you. We’d just like to enjoy us. Plus the lack of a ring on my finger. Nope, not happening.” I show them my finger. I don’t expect it from Asa, not right now. Honestly, I love it being the two of us, plus all my plants. He has no idea I brought another one into the house today during our lunch break. He asked me to meet him at the home improvement store to look at patio furniture since the back deck will be done in a couple of weeks and it needed to be ordered. Well, there was a plant, a string of pearls that desperately called to me, so once Asa left, I circled back, bought the poor neglected thing along with a new pot and soil to re-pot later next week, and took it home.
“Guys, can we circle back to me, please?” Leena’s elbows are propped on the table. She’s excited to spill her news.
“Oh shit, I’m sorry, Leena,” I tell her, because truly I am. It’s just when we all get together, everyone talks.
“So, seriously, after that whole thing went down with the interview, all three brothers apologized, and not in the ‘I have to’ kind of way. I’m talking Asa brought me a plant I’ve been eyeing.” Leena winks at me. Yep, he came and asked what else he could buy instead of boring flowers. “Tanner bought me this gorgeous macrame piece for my living room even if wasn’t pissed I’d have accepted right away, and Keller, well, that brother of mine, the big bear, we talked for hours, and I got ice cream out of the deal. Thank you, Alana. I know you’ve got your hands full right now, and I promise anytime you two need a break, I’ll take Jace.” She takes a breath, because boy, can Leena talk a million miles a minute. “Plus, swear to God I got a banging raise and they upped my vacation time to three weeks a year with holiday pay. I told that other offer thanks but no thanks.” The smile on her face says it all. It wasn’t that she was trying to get all of that; it was to show her worth. Something I think the Hart men took advantage of one too many times.
“Leena, if you need time with your big brother, grab him by the ear and make him take you for ice cream. Everyone needs someone every now again. You don’t ever have to thank me for that,” Alana states. She’s a rockstar mom and the perfect match for Keller in every single way
“I’m so glad. You deserve it and so much more. If you’re looking for more pieces like that, let me know. Tanner and I found it at the local market the weekend after that went down. It was all him. Do you have any trips planned yet?” Asa makes eye contact with me while Leena tells them about her upcoming trip in the next couple of months, something that’s not in the Bahamas but in Puerto Rico.
“Are you even listening to me, Montana? I swear it’s like you’re in a whole other atmosphere tonight.” I roll my eyes. Someone needs all the attention tonight.
“Yes, crazy lady, you’re going to meet yourself a fox too, while you’re there, bring him home, have lots of you know what, get married, and have babies.” I mouth I love you to him. He responds with the same words, tacking on forever at the end. Asa’s right; it is me and him, forever and ever.
“Okay, that’s enough of that. You can have my best friend later tonight, Asa.” She gets in the way, making a fool of herself, and I laugh because Leena is right—I’ll have Asa later, which sets my body on fire just thinking about it.
epilogue
ASA
Six Months Later
“What are you doing out here by yourself?” I walk out onto the back deck that’s now done, along with the grass and plants Montana was adamant about putting in by herself instead of letting the landscapers do it when they laid the sod. Something about wanting to be one with the plants. I don’t know which one is more a free spirit—my woman or my sister. No wonder they’re the best of friends.
“I couldn’t sleep. There was no reason to toss and turn, waking you up in the process.” She’s sitting on the outdoor couch we purchased months ago. It has two chairs that swivel, along with two end tables and a coffee table. It cost a lot, more than I would have spent if it were just for myself.