Page 121 of Mountain Pine
The Reception
We’re under the main pavilion by Dean’s cabins. The place is ours for the night and the guys have a huge bonfire going.
It’s crazy how many of these we have.
“Where’s Carly?” I ask, holding a plate of cake.
“Where’s Nick?” Conner counters, his eyebrow arched.
I freeze.
“No way.”
He shrugs.
“No. Way.” I refuse to even go there. It would be crazy. “They probably snuck off to pull a prank on us later.”
Conner’s lip juts out and he nods like that’s also very plausible.
“Wait.” My gaze narrows suspiciously. “Do you know something?”
“Doyouknow something?”
“If I knew something, and it’s the same something you know, does that mean we can talk about it?”
“Talk about what?” Dean asks, joining the convo.
“Nothing,” we both say at the same time.
Wiggle fingers!
“Hey!” Grace dances over. “Let’s take some pics!” She fluffs my hair and fixes the front of my dress. “Sorry. Content making is never-ending.”
I’m not complaining. She got me this designer dress by pulling strings and I’m the one who came up with the bright idea of posting it all over social media. Not that I think anything will come of it, but hopefully the designer will see how grateful and happy I am in it.
I have two point three seconds to hand my cake over to Dean before Conner is sweeping me into his arms and spinning me around. I stretch out and tip my head back, kicking one leg up.
“You’re so great at this!” Grace squeals, snapping shot after shot.
We pose serious, goofy, and all the ways in between. My mom and dad watch from afar, both laughing when I try to give Conner a piggyback ride.
When the guys all line up and Grace forces them to pose in their fancy suits, I sit back and enjoy the view.
“I’m so happy for you,” Carly says, coming up from the side and sitting next to me. “You guys are going to be so happy.”
“You’re next,” I threaten.
“Nope. Not a chance.” She sips her wine and watches the guys be silly together. Their laughter could cause an avalanche in winter.
Nick chases Bennet around, catches him and picks him up, dragging him back to the group. “No way, princess. We’re doing prom pose now.”
Carly huffs a laugh and shakes her head. “they’ll never grow up.”
“I hope not.”
We fall into silence and I realize how separate Carlys made herself from the rest of us. It makes me homesick for her when she’s within my reach. “Are you staying for a while?”
“Can’t.”
