Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“This is incredible!” Veronica slid off her stool and hugged us both, followed by Austin and Xander. Even Ari came around from behind the bar, giddy with excitement.
“I can’t believe it,” she gushed, her brown eyes huge. “Does Mabel know?”
“Not yet,” I said. “You heard it first.”
“Eeep!” she squealed. “She’s gonna be so mad she missed this!”
“Let’s have a toast!” Veronica grabbed her wineglass and held it up. “To the newlyweds!”
“To the newlyweds!” everyone chorused, raising their drinks.
“So how did this happen?” Kelly asked before I’d even swallowed the sip I’d taken.
“Well, we met a few weeks ago at The Broken Spoke and really hit it off,” I said.
“Oh yeah.” Veronica nodded enthusiastically. “I remember that night. You left early.”
“And sweaty,” added Austin under his breath, a grin on his face.
I ignored him. “Anyway, we ran into each other a few days later and kept in touch when I went back to Boston.”
“Talked every night for hours,” Lexi confirmed.
“And the more we got to know each other, the more we realized we had in common,” I said. “We grew up near each other, family is really important to us, we both love the outdoors and waking up early.”
“Just not to ski,” Lexi added with a laugh. “That’s the one thing we don’t have in common. I couldn’t believe it when I realized I fell for someone who hates skiing.”
“It’s not the skiing so much as the chairlift,” joked Xander, and Austin laughed.
“The chairlift?” Lexi sounded confused. She glanced up at me. “You don’t like chairlifts?”
All eyes were on me, and I was forced to admit the truth. “I don’t like heights,” I said. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Wait. You’re afraid of—” Lexi stopped. Recovered. “Oh right, you did tell me about the heights thing. Now I remember. We’ve just had so many conversations over the last few weeks, my mind is a blur.” Then she smiled up at me and patted my chest. “It’s okay, babe. I won’t make you ride the chairlift if you don’t make me speak in public.”
“Devlin is great at public speaking,” my dad said proudly. “He was on the debate team in high school and college. So you two will be perfect together.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“This is so romantic,” Kelly gushed. “I’m so happy for you guys.”
“Me too,” said Veronica. “Devlin, are you moving back home or will Lexi move to Boston?”
“For now, I’m going to move back to Michigan and help Lexi’s family restore Snowberry.”
“We were going to be forced to sell if he hadn’t offered to help,” Lexi said, gazing up at me with a smile. “He’s like an angel.”
“Gah! This is so sweet!” Veronica clasped her hands beneath her chin. “So Devlin, did you propose down on one knee? Was there a ring?”
“No knee, no ring,” I said. “Very spur of the moment.”
“But there was a friendship bracelet.” Laughing, Lexi held up her arm to show it off.
“One of the kids from Camp Lemonade gave it to me for my birthday,” I explained.
“Yes, and he showed up at my door with it and said, ‘Let’s get married!’” Lexi shouted. “And I was like, ‘This is crazy, but okay!’ Then we hopped on a plane. There really wasn’t time for a ring. Just the wedding bands.” She looked down at hers. “But it’s good enough for me. I’ve never been into diamonds anyway.”
“What matters is the size of the promise you’re making,” Veronica said. “Not the size of ring. Take it from me.”
Lexi was probably perplexed, but I knew that Veronica had ditched a wealthy, philandering groom at the altar right before she’d taken the job as Austin’s nanny.
“What did you wear?” Kelly asked.
Lexi grinned sheepishly. “Jeans and a Two Buckleys Home Improvement sweatshirt.”
Everyone laughed, and Austin shook his head. “As one of the two Buckleys on the shirt, I’m proud I was able to take part in some way.”
“We should have a party,” my dad said excitedly. “How about tomorrow night at the house?”
“I have to work tomorrow night,” Xander pointed out. “But don’t worry about me.”
“Why not have the party here?” suggested Kelly.
“We really don’t need a party,” Lexi protested.
“Of course you do!” My dad’s tone said he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “And even if you don’t, I do! I’ve got my first daughter-in-law, and I want to celebrate! Xander, would it be okay to have a party here tomorrow night for your brother and his wife?”
“Absolutely.” Xander nodded. “I’d be honored to have it here.” But when he looked at me, I had the feeling he knew something wasn’t quite on the level.
“Then it’s settled.” My father nodded and smiled widely, lines creasing his face but light in his eyes. “And of course, you’ll stay at the house tonight.”
“We don’t want to crowd you, Dad. We can get a hotel room.”