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“Areyougood?”
“Yeah. Thanks for doing this, it means a lot,” he whispered, kissing the side of her head.
“I know you haven’t seen everyone in a while and figured the newlyweds would like another party before they leave.” Gavin squeezed her hip and Ginny sighed softly. “You’re welcome.”
“We’ll work on you getting better at taking compliments and gratitude.”
“I take all that fine. This is different. I didn’t do it for the thanks, I did it because it’s important.”
“And I love you for it,” he added, head tilted to meet her eyes. Ginny’s heart fluttered at how easily Gavin said the words. She leaned in and kissed him, feeling the soft scrape of his scruffy jaw against her skin. When she pulled back, Gavin shook his head with a chuckle. “Come on, let’s eat.”
Through dinner, Frankie regaled the group with various horror stories from weddings and events they’d worked. Ginny and Gavin took turns refilling drinks, making more cocktails and ensuring that everyone was content. After dinner, Lachlan presented a rhubarb pie that he’d made in honor of Frankie and Milo. Multiple slices and more drinks were consumed before everyone packed up to leave—a car showed up on time to take the newlyweds to the airport. Drunken goodbyes and Rice Krispies were tossed as the couple rushed into the car.
Despite telling them they had everything under control, Gavin’s friends stayed to help clear up. Well,herfriends too. By the time everyone had left, Ginny’s heart felt like it might explode with the joy that filled it. She had Gavin, his family and now his second family; and every single one of them liked her enough to show up.
* * *
“A bouquet shirt?”
“Yes.”
“And this a popular thing?”
“It is, sweetheart,” Ginny assured him for the hundredth time. But she had to admit that Gavin’s confusion about this trend was cute. Then again, Ginny wasn’t doing it as a trend, she just loved the idea so much she wanted to give it a shot. When she’d shown Gavin her studio and then all of the references she had for future photoshoots, he’d been so enthusiastic about helping her. He’d even started following her @GinLife account, liking posts and sometimes sending her dirty DMs just to keep their days interesting. She loved him for it.
God, she really didlovehim.
The feeling surprised her while they were lying in bed together, procrastinating about setting up for the friends’ dinner. Gavin’s head was on her chest, his warm breath brushing against her breasts as he snored. Ginny’s fingers moved through his hair and she felt this overwhelming urge to tell Gavin how she felt. But she didn’t. She was still sorting through the feelings for herself, coming to terms with what all of that meant. She’d never loved anyone other than her family before. How could she know whatromanticlove felt like?
Was it in the way your chest bloomed when the other person stepped into the room or how you couldn’t stop smiling when your eyes met? Maybe it was the moment they slid deep inside you and whispered your name. Or maybe it was in the little things that they did for you like bringing you Chinese food when you were run off your feet at work, or taking your clingy cat for a few hours while you unwound in the bath.
Gavin hadn’t said the words in a while, but she saw it in his eyes constantly. It was also in the fact that when she told him about this photoshoot idea, he researched the best places to do it and found a State Park. Gavin even suggested they make a day of it by packing a picnic basket—which he took control of completely—and taking Cedar and Copper so they could stretch their legs and explore nature.
Which is what they were doing when he asked about the idea again. She could see how his brows furrowed and his eyes got all squinty every time he saidbouquet shirt, like it was the weirdest set of words to come out of his mouth. She’d called Daisy a few days ago to order the flowers, so on the way to the State Park, they were swinging by the flower shop to get everything she needed for the photoshoot.
“But you’re just shoving flowers into the waistband of your shorts,” he said, glancing at her briefly before focusing on the road. “Is it really abouquet?”
“Is that what’s stumped you?”
“I’m just trying to understand the concept of this trend.”
Ginny smiled, reaching over to squeeze Gavin’s thigh as he pulled up in front of Daisy’s Patch. Both of them were dressed down, so walking around the park would be easy, and they had enough food and water for their pets as well. Gavin had on a sleeveless t-shirt and basketball shorts, sneakers on his feet and faded ball cap snug on his head; while Ginny was wearing her most comfortable pair of denim cutoffs, a white tank top and lived-in sneakers.
“So how many bouquets are we getting?”
“Maybe you should stay here with the girls. I’ll get the flowers,” Ginny suggested, narrowing her eyes at Gavin as he pouted at her.
“No, please take me with you. I’ve heard so much about this place.”
Sighing dramatically, she gestured for him to get out and hopped out of his truck. Cedar stuck her face out the half-open back window and only after a scrub from Ginny did she settle back onto the seat. Leading the way into Daisy’s Patch, Ginny inhaled the scents of fresh flowers and wet mud, eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment. Ever since Frankie introduced her to Daisy and her flower shop years ago, Ginny had been coming here just for the floral hit.
“Holy shit,” Gavin mumbled and Ginny glanced back to see him spin in a slow circle. “I understand why Everleigh likes this place now.”
“This is my kind of heaven,” Ginny told Gavin, grabbing his hand to pull him along with her. They were on a slight time crunch and she didn’t want to miss out on the chance to do this photoshoot while she could.
Turning a corner, Ginny stopped at the sight before her. Daisy was leaning against a table, while a tall, broad, man bun sporting gentleman stood in front of her. His flannel shirt was rolled up at the sleeves, flaunting colorful tattoos. And judging by the dreamy smile on Daisy’s face, this man was someone special.
“Rafferty, it’s so good to see you again,” Gavin said with a laugh, drawing the attention of the man. When he turned, Ginny’s eyes widened because for all his tall mountain man-esque physique,Raffertywas beautiful—sharp jawline covered in a trim beard, sparkling blue eyes, strong nose and a smile that could melt underwear. He grinned at Gavin and they exchanged one of those bro-hugs. “How are Cal and Boots holding up?”
