“That’s a romantic notion you’ve got there, Ozzie,” Gertie said. “Did Carter sweep you off your feet, then?”
I had my beer. No reason for me to linger in the kitchen, but wild horses couldn’t tear me away from the conversation.
“Carter and I fell in love differently,” he said, doodling on a piece of paper. “We didn’t have that meetcute where you ran into each other for the first time and you justknow. We met on a dating site and went out a few times, fell in love, moved in together, then decided to get married. It’s…quieter, nice, dependable, and familiar. You know how some people spend a few years before they get to that place where their love is steady? We’re lucky to have that already without all the crazy fireworks.”
“No fireworks?” Gertie asked.
“I don’t think I’m explaining this well.”
Oh, he was explaining it well enough. From Gertie’s raised eyebrows, she’d come to the same conclusion. But why didn’t Ozzie hear his own words? This marriage was a disaster in the making.
Ozzie jumped to his feet and gathered his binder and papers. “There’s still so much work to do. I really should find a quiet place to finish these wedding plans. By the way, Gray, you don’t have to take me into town tomorrow to check out the florist. Hudson volunteered to bring me and drive me back.”
Hudson? When had he and Ozzie become friends? I took another long swig of my beer. Hudson wasn’t in the least friendly to anyone on the ranch. Not that he was mean, but he kept to himself. The one time I’d seen him engaged with anyone was when I’d caught him and Matty kissing in the stable three and a half years ago. Why was he getting close to Ozzie?
“Gray, I’ve got to say it,” Gertie said, “but something’s off about the way he speaks of Carter. Don’t you find it odd he’s planning a wedding, but the groom is nowhere to be found? I’m afraid this wedding is going to be a disaster.”
It wasn’t just me being attracted to Ozzie, then. First Matty and now Gertie were questioning the wedding. But how could I bring up the subject to Ozzie? It wasn’t my place. After sucking him off, I was the last person to point out that his marriage would be doomed. He might think I had an ulterior motive.
Well, you do, don’t you?
Perhaps, but that wasn’t the main reason. I didn’t want Carter to mess up Ozzie’s life because he wanted his inheritance. Maybe if I offered him the money unconditionally, he would call off the wedding himself.
But Ozzie would be heartbroken.
“Gray, it looks like you already figured that out. What are you going to do about it?”
“What can I do, Gertie? He wants to marry Carter. This is his decision, not mine.”
“I’m not saying you should break them up or anything, but Ozzie is a sweetheart. Will you be able to sleep at night, knowing you did nothing to stop him from making a big mistake?”
“Except you’re forgetting one thing. I’m trying to patch up my relationship with my son. If I interfere with his wedding, that’ll do just the opposite.”
“So you’ll say nothing and sacrifice Ozzie’s happiness just to be close to Carter, even if he’s in the wrong?”
Why did she make it sound as if wanting to build a better relationship with my son was wrong?
“Ozzie’s only been here for a few days, but he’s a sweet kid,” she said. “He doesn’t deserve this sham of a marriage.”
“Gertie, you don’t know their marriage will be a sham, and you can’t say anything to him.”
“I ain’t going to interfere, but I won’t lie to that sweet boy if he asks me something.”
“I’m not asking you to lie. Just to allow him to make his own decisions. They’re both adults, and you heard Ozzie. They’vebeen living together. Whatever happens between them needs to be their decision.”
For that reason, I would help Ozzie to plan his wedding. He was a smart young man. He would figure out soon enough that he and Carter were all wrong for each other. That he deserved better. That better might be…me?
13
OZZIE
“Ozzie.”
Gray entered the living room, and I fixed a smile on my face, though it felt strained. The conversation from the kitchen weighed heavily on my mind, making it difficult to choose between the two designs I’d settled on for the virtual wedding invitations.
“Hey, Gray. Is something wrong?”
“I’m heading out. Wanted to check in if you needed anything before I go.”
