Once I divert Elvis’s attention elsewhere, I finish up my chores, getting them nearly completed by the time my phone goes off in my pocket. Grabbing it out, I’m surprised to see a call from my sister so early. I hit accept, putting her on speakerphone.
“You’re up early,” I mutter as I waltz back into the barn to put my stuff away.
“Can’t sleep,” she rasps. “I’ve got heartburn like I’ve never had it before.”
“Fuck, I’m sorry.” I wince.
“So…” Gemma says, but doesn’t go on.
“So, what?”
“I just talked to Aunt Colette.”
“Ah, fuck. Of course, you did.” I blow out a breath, already knowing where this is heading. “Go on… What’d she say?”
“Don’t get all huffy with me, big brother.”
“Gemma…”
“Fine, fine.” She giggles, and my irritation grows. “She told me about your invite to Vegas from the hottie cowboy from next door. She also told me you won’t go.”
“Uh, yeah. Because I’m here for a reason. Not to gallivant around the country.”
“Okay, gallivant is a tad dramatic, don’t you think?”
“No.”
“Alright, well, I just wanted to let you know that right before I called you, I booked my flight to Copper Lake for the second week of December.”
“You what?” She can’t be serious.
She hums. “I’ll be there to help with whatever auntie needs. Meaning you don’t have to be.”
“Gemma, you’re pregnant.”
“I am barely twenty weeks along. I will be okay.”
“Yeah, but you don’t need to do that. You have Lucas, and your whole life there.”
She snorts. “Xan, I’m not moving there. I’m coming for a week. Lucas will survive on his own. In fact, he’s about to head to New York for the next month to get their new office set up. He won’t even be here. Stop trying to talk me out of it. I’m coming, and you’re going to Vegas with the hottie cowboy.”
Groaning, I say, “Stop calling him that.”
“Youdidsay he was cute. I’m honestly a little disappointed I won’t get to meet him while I’m there.”
“She is such a meddler,” I mumble, crossing through the yard toward the porch.
“Who? Aunt Colette?” Gemma asks rhetorically. “Of course, she is. This isn’t news.”
My stomach’s in knots at the thought of actually taking Cope up on his invite.
“Listen, I gotta get up and go to the grocery store,” Gemma says, cutting through my thoughts. “But you’re going. End of discussion.”
“Thanks, Gemma.”
“Anytime, brother.”
I can hear the smile in her voice before she ends the call. Suddenly, my hands are all shaky and my heart is racing a mile a minute.Holy shit.I’m doing this.
