Page 54 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
My hand fitted with hers. “Done.”
I glanced back at Michael and Alana again. They were sneaking out the door hand in hand. Gigi saw it too—that and my smug grin.
I was totally getting a free spa treatment.
Gigi and I visited for a while until Jess came over and claimed her for a dance. I spent the rest of the evening laughing with friends and family. When midnight rolled around, the party was getting rowdy and the free bar was running low on whiskey.
I moved to a quieter table at the back of the room and I held a sleeping Coby as I watched the party with a wide grin.
“How are you doing, sweetheart?” Mom appeared at my side, her words slurring.
“I think you’d better sit down, Mom.” Her swaying was making me nervous.
“Good idea.” She plopped into the chair next to mine.
“Did you have fun?”
She hummed and rested her head on my shoulder. “So much fun. I’m so happy for Beau.”
“Me too.”
“I hope they have a baby soon. Coby’s so big now, I want another grandbaby for my rocking chair.”
I smiled down at my son and stroked his soft brown hair. No matter how big he got, he’d always be my baby boy.
Mom yawned. “When you and Hunter get married, will you promise to give me more grandbabies? I want a lot.”
My fingers stilled in Coby’s hair. “Mom, we’re not even dating.” The last thing I needed was Mom thinking we were a serious couple and spreading that around town. “Please don’t tell people about him. Okay? Not until I actually know if this thing is going to go anywhere.” I waited for an answer. “Mom?”
She had passed out on my shoulder. Smiling, I shook my head and went back to people watching. Bridesmaid by day, human pillow by night.
“Who needs a date when I have you two?”
Earlier this week, Mom had begged me to ask Hunter to the wedding but I’d repeatedly told her no. Hunter and I needed some definition before I brought him around my family and friends. I wanted some time for things between us to develop.
The last time I’d brought a man home to my family, things hadn’t worked out so well.
Stupid Everett.
I’d invited Everett to my family’s home for Christmas. At the time, things between us had been rocky and I’d been on the verge of dumping him. I’d actually marched over to his house one night, ready to break it off, but he’d been apologetic and sweet. I’d thought we’d turned a corner in our relationship so I’d invited him for Christmas. Mistake. He’d broken up with me in my parents’ living room thirty minutes before Christmas dinner.
So, no. I wasn’t ready to parade Hunter in front of my family.
Hunter wasn’t Everett, but I was still being cautious.
“There she is.” Dad was standing behind my shoulder, shaking his head at my snoring mother. “I came back from the bathroom and couldn’t find her anywhere.”
I smiled up at him. “I think she’s ready for bed.”
He scoffed. “I think so too.”
Dad came to her chair and gently swept her up in his arms. “Come on, baby,” he whispered to Mom, then looked to me. “Night, honey. We’ll see you at brunch.”
“We’ll be there. Good night, Dad.”
I watched them go, happy that after all their years together he still called her “baby.”
