Page 53 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
“Champagne?” she asked me, reaching behind us for the bottle.
“No, thanks. If I have any more I’ll have a miserable headache in the morning.”
She filled the glass she’d brought over and then got out her phone from her dress’s pocket. “How effing cute is that?” She started snapping pictures of the dance floor where Jess was dancing with his daughters, spinning and twirling them around so they would giggle.
“Totally effing cute. He’s so good with them.”
She smiled. “Yes, he is.”
A pang of envy hit hard. It wasn’t the first tonight.
I wanted a fancy wedding to a man who looked at me like I’d hung the moon. I wanted more kids. Maybe a little girl who I could dress up with frilly dresses and precious slippers. Or another boy who would idolize his big brother. I wanted a man like my dad who would move mountains to make his family happy.
It scared me a bit that when I pictured all of that in my daydreams, the man at my side was Hunter. We were so new, so many things could go wrong, but I was keeping my fingers crossed. I was holding out hope that he was the good man I’d been waiting for.
“How was the rest of your week?” Gigi asked.
I tore my eyes away from the crowded dance floor and smiled at my friend. “Good actually. Very productive.”
I’d busted my butt to get through my to-do list early in the week so I could help with all the wedding stuff over the past two days. Sleep had been sparse but it had been worth it to check all the boxes on a couple of lists.
The room I’d painted with Hunter was now done and ready for the reservations scheduled next week. The housekeeper’s room was all set up so he had a place to stay. I’d even managed to fit in a quick trip to Bozeman to buy him a new mattress, bedding and a flat-screen to mount on the wall.
“I worry about how hard you work.” Gigi leaned, our shoulders touching.
I leaned back. “I like to work hard. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to know that I’m the reason for the inn’s success.”
“I know and I’m so proud of you. But I just . . .” She trailed off and sat back in her chair. “Never mind.”
“Just what?”
She sighed. “I just don’t want the motel to be the significant other in your life. I want you to find a piece of that.” She swung her hand out to the dance floor where more of our friends had joined Jess and her daughters.
Silas and Felicity were dancing with Victoria between them. Nick was carefully twirling Emmeline and her pregnant belly around. Sara was laughing hysterically at Milo, who was trying to impress her with his goofy dance moves.
It was fitting that the band was rocking a love song.
“Sorry,” Gigi said before I could respond. “Forget I said anything. These weddings always make me feel sappy.”
I turned my head and smiled. “Don’t be sorry.”
“No, I shouldn’t have said anything. I told you that I’d stop pushing. So this is me officially no longer pushing.”
I reached behind us and grabbed the bottle to top off her champagne.
“Thanks,” she said. “So what’s happening with Michael and the new vet?”
“Oh, he’s in lurv,” I swooned.
“Any fool can see that. I’d say that lurv goes both ways.”
Michael and Alana were sitting alone at a table in the back of the room. They were pressed so closely together she was practically on his lap. “You’re right about that. I’m betting we’ll be at their wedding next.”
“Hmm. Interesting.” She tapped her chin. “I don’t know. I’ve got a feeling we’ll have another one before them.
“Really, who?” I looked around, inspecting all the couples. Everyone here was married or single and a long ways off from finding “the one.”
“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling.” Gigi held out her hand for a shake. “I’ll take your bet. Winner buys pedicures for us both?”
