“No diamonds?” He gaped at his sister. “What do you want, then?”
“The man-made gems are so much better,” Pearl Jo said, and Fawn nodded enthusiastically, her mouth now full of food. “I want Moissanite. It sparkles way better than diamonds, and it has a rainbow sheen.”
“It’s way prettier,” Betty said.
Wilder felt whipped around, because he’d neverheardof Moissanite. He looked over to Smiles, who definitely had more life experiences than Wilder, and while he was smiling, Wilder had learned that he used that thing to hide all kinds of things. Stuff he didn’t know. Stuff he did. His real feelings. Lots and lots of things.
So Wilder had no idea if Smiles had ever heard of Moissanite before. Or what he thought about this news about Judy quickly developing relationship with Trooper Bailey. He wondered how many Glover weddings he’d have to attend before his own.
Longing streamed through him, and he quietly tried to push it away. He had no right to be unhappy with his life, and he wasn’t. Not really.
But you are, he told himself, and he felt like he needed to repent. He wanted more, and his parents had taught him to be happy with what he had and not covet more. At the same time, they also taught that God loved marriage, and Wilder couldn’t reconcile the two right now.
“Camila loves her job, her friends at school, all the kids,” Fawn said. “Gun should propose to her at school, in front of everyone there.”
“I told him that,” Pearl Jo said. “He said he doesn’t want to have so many eyes on him.”
“Camila’s not really like that either,” Heather said. “Is she? I mean, she’s nice and bubbly, but she doesn’t seek being the center of attention.” She looked around the table, where Wilder had sat.
“Y’all know her?” Smiles asked.
“Gun’s been bringing her to family stuff,” Chaz said. “So yeah, she’s been up here a few times.”
“I just can’t believe it’s going to be another Glover-Walker wedding,” Betty said. “I need me a Walker.” She grinned and cut another bite of chicken. “Who else do they have down there?”
“Easton and Austin,” Chaz said.
“Jason,” Robbie said. “He’s close to your age.”
Betty made a quick face. “They’re nice enough, I guess.”
“Camila’s brothers,” Fawn said with a wide grin. “Pearl, you should go out with Sawyer or Gideon.”
“There’s Trap too,” Wilder said, because he’d actually thought of asking out one of the ladies in the Walker family. After all, Gun had known Camila for years. They’d been friends, even. And then one day, they ran into each other in town, and he asked her out, and there’d been a new spark there.
But Wilder had already tried going out with Elaine, and the only other woman close to his age—beside Camila herself—was Daisy, Micah and Simone’s daughter. But Daisy didn’t even live in Three Rivers, and what was Wilder going to do? Hunt her down online and try to force something?
He shook his head even as Pearl Jo said, “We’re off-track. We’re focusing on Gun and Camila. Come on.” She looked over to Wilder. “You have to have an idea.”
“If I did, I would’ve told Gun already,” Wilder said, once again letting his grumpy tone emerge. “I think he should take her to a nice restaurant and tell her he loves her and wants to be with her forever. Then break out the ring, get down on one knee, and just ask her.”
“It doesn’t have to be a production to be special,” Smiles said, finally letting his opinion be known. “Is that really what women want?”
“I think it depends,” Sunny said. “On the man.”
“Gun is the restaurant-ring-proposal type of man,” Wilder said. “He’s not going to set up this huge thing. That’s why he hasn’t asked her.”
“So maybe we should be encouraging him to be himself,” Chaz said.
“Mm, he’s got it.” Smiles pointed his fork at him. “I can guarantee you Rock isn’t going to do a big thing.”
“What is Rock going to do?” Fawn asked. “And why won’t he bring Clover to anything?”
“Probably because y’all would eat her alive,” Wilder said dryly.
“Hey, we would not.” Pearl Jo nudged him with her elbow. “It’s not our generation that prevents him from bringing her.”
Wilder grinned at her. “Can you imagine Rock introducing Clover to his parents? She’d take one look at Uncle Bear and know exactly what her future will be.” He chuckled as everyone else did too.
