Page 20 of Deserving Lara
“What? Why? For what?”
“Your name is on my bank account. Why in the world would you not use my money to hire them? You sold all your stuff, Cora! That was stupid.”
Instead of getting upset, Cora simply smiled. “Yeah, but it made it much easier to move in with Pipe. You know, I didn’t have all that stuff to move. I think it ended up being, what, like three boxes of stuff that had to be packed up and mailed out here?”
Lara rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
“I’d do anything for you, Lara. I love you so much, you have no idea.”
“I love you back,” Lara told her, trying not to cry.
“Right, so we have like two seconds before the others get here and I want to ask you something.”
“Yes,” Lara said.
Cora rolled her eyes. “You don’t know what I’m going to ask.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll do it.”
“So you’ll go skydiving with me?”
Lara winced. “Ummmm.” They both knew Lara wasn’t a fan of heights. And jumping out of a perfectly good airplane? That was a hard no for her.
Luckily, Cora chuckled. “I’m kidding. I’d never ask you to do that. Will you stand up for me and Pipe when we get married?”
Lara blinked in surprise. “I thought you said that you just wanted it to be you and Pipe and whoever was marrying you.”
“I did. But you’re my family. The only person I had on my side until I met Pipe and moved here. I literally didn’t have anyone else. You gave me money, a place to live, and more importantly, you were my friend. You didn’t care how standoffish I was when we met, or how many times I quit or lost a job. You just loved me for me. You’ll never know how much that meant to me, how much it still means. I can’t imagine getting married without you being there.”
“But…what does Pipe think about that? I mean, is he going to have any of his friends there?”
“Who do you think suggested I ask you?” Cora replied.
Lara closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Please say yes. And Pipe and I talked about it, and if you want Owl there, he’d be more than okay with that too.”
Lara’s eyes opened. “Your simple ceremony with just the two of you is growing awfully fast. Next thing you know, all the guys, and Alaska, Henley, Reese, and all the other women who work here will be there too, and the ceremony will be in the lodge with Robert making a five-layer wedding cake, and dancing lumberjacks or something.”
Cora laughed. “No way. Just the man I love, my best friend, and the guy marrying us.”
“I’m confused. I thought you just said you’d be okay with Owl being there too.”
“Pipe thought maybe Owl could get ordained. Or approved. Or whatever it’s called. That maybehecould marry us. He did some research, and in New Mexico, it only costs like fifty bucks and he can do it all online.”
“Have you guys asked him?”
“Not yet. I wanted to get your approval first.”
“My approval?” Lara exclaimed. “Cora, it’syourwedding.”
“And you’re my best friend. And you’re the reason I met Pipe in the first place. The reason I’m here. And…I know you’re more comfortable with Owl around. Please?”
Lara was overwhelmed. She loved her friend so damn much. She owed her everything. And the thought that she wanted her at her wedding? It meant the world to her. Especially when she’d come so close to losing her. To losingeverything. “Of course I’ll be there. I’d be honored.”
“Yay!” Cora said with a huge smile. She leaned in and gave Lara a shorter but no less heartfelt hug, then hurried over to the counter where she’d left her phone earlier.
“I’m sending Pipe a text to let him know it’s a go. He’ll be thrilled.”
