Page 74 of Trying Not to Need You

“Here you go, love birds.” Leighton hands us each a bottle of beer.

“Uh, thanks, but I’m not drinking.”

“Nope. We’re not drinking,” Macklin says.

“No way!” Courtlynn says. My little sister misses nothing. “You’re pregnant.” It’s not a question, but I nod anyway.

If I thought the cheers of our engagement were loud, this chaos around us, the happiness, the tears, the love, it’s overwhelming in the best way. Somehow, I end up in a circle of just me and my sisters. Our heads are pressed together, and our arms are wrapped around each other.

“I wish they were here,” Ellison says softly.

“Even after everything?” I ask, because I’m still uncertain about how our mother handled the letters from Copeland.

“Yeah,” she says. “I think—now that I’m a mom—I kind of understand her a little better. At least I’d like to think that I do. I would never do that to Lainey. I’ve been on the receiving end. But I understand wanting to keep your kids close.” She pauses, then adds, “I want to forgive her. I don’t want to carry hate with me. They were good parents, and they loved us. Just maybe a little too hard at times.”

“I wish they were here, too,” I confess. “I miss them so much, and they’re about to have two grandbabies.” I smile through my tears.

“Thanks for taking one for the team, Bay,” Courtlynn says, trying to break up the heaviness of the moment. “Now, if you could just have multiples, since we need at least four, so triplets if you don’t mind.” She grins. “Then, on sisters’ night, we’ll have one for each of us to cuddle.”

“Easy there.” I laugh. “Let’s start with one. You and Leighton are just going to have to get busy if you need more than that, or maybe Ellie and Cope might try again soon.” I smile at my oldest sister.

“Not yet, but yeah, we want more.”

“Can I have my wife back?” Macklin says.

“Hold up, cowboy, she’s still ours, and always will be, even when she changes her last name,” Courtlynn tells him when we all stand and break out of our sister huddle.

“Fine, pick a date, Bay.”

“Oh, we can help.” Leighton takes her phone out of her back pocket, I assume to pull up her calendar.

“When are you thinking?” Ellison asks me.

I hold my hand out for Macklin. He takes it and pulls me into his chest. “Soon,” I answer. “I want to be his wife soon. I don’t care when. If you all want to pick the date, fine. Just let me know, and I’ll be there. I do have one request.” I glance up at Macklin. “If it’s okay with you.”

“Anything, baby, you know that.”

“Bro, you don’t know what you’re agreeing to,” Bowen chimes in.

“Hush it, Nichols.” Courtlynn glares at him.

“He’s not wrong.” Dixon laughs.

“Doesn’t matter. If my wife wants it, she gets it.”

Copeland laughs and slaps a hand down on Macklin’s shoulder. “Welcome to the other side, my man. It’s happier here,” he tells him.

“Yeah,” Macklin says, smiling down at me. “It’s a good place to be.”

Those damn tears well again, but I push them back. “I want to get married at the inn. It will feel like our parents are there with us, and while I’m still mad at Mom for what she did, I want to feel them when we pledge our love for one another.”

“Done.”

“Okay, so I’m looking at the reservations now.” Leighton holds up her phone. “I’m assuming that we want as few inn guests as possible that weekend?”

“It’s a small guest list. Everyone in this room, Gram and Gramps, Mac’s parents, and whoever else he wants to invite.”

“Maybe a few of the guys from the circuit. Hank and Brad. They heard me whine about loving you and not being able to have you for years. I think it’d be nice for them to see us get married.”