Thick as Thieves (Aster Valley 4)

That part was true. Erin had been one of my favorite people almost as long as Julian had been. We’d dated on and off for a decade starting in high school, and our relationship had always felt free and easy. We were never possessive and never demanded too much of each other, which was probably why we kept ending up together, no matter how many short, tumultuous relationships Erin had had in between over the years.

No lie, I’d been a little shocked when she’d popped the question almost out of the blue six months ago, but it had also been a strange kind of relief. Marrying her meant finally feeling secure and settled in the knowledge I’d never lose the people who’d come to mean the most to me in the world. That was what I kept reminding myself whenever I felt a rush of anxiety about the upcoming wedding… which was fairly often as the big day drew closer.

“Sweet dreams tonight. We’re going to have an amazing time tomorrow. First, we get married, then we dance to our favorite band with all of our closest friends, and then we’re off for a week in the sun. I can’t wait.”

I leaned in and kissed her, tasting the white wine she’d been sipping all night. An anxious part of me wanted to verify that she wasn’t planning to drive herself anywhere after she’d been drinking, but I refrained. Erin hated when I “got on her case,” and she was well aware that the memory of Julian being injured by a drunk driver still woke me up at night sometimes, which was why she’d agreed to have the wedding at a large resort hotel where no driving would be required.

It was the one concession I’d asked for in her dream wedding.

“Sounds good. I love you, too,” Erin said. “Don’t outshine my dad too badly on the moguls tomorrow, or he’ll be in a bad mood the rest of the day.”

“Pfft,” I scoffed. “As if I can hold back the power of my talent. That’s like asking Tiger Woods to throw a golf game to his accountant uncle. Besides, I tried deliberately losing to him once, and he didn’t talk to me for a month.”

“I heard that,” Erin’s father’s voice boomed from somewhere behind me as Erin and Hazel walked out. “I’m nobody’s accountant uncle.”

I turned back to the man who’d been my first ski coach and mentor and was now my boss. I flashed him my signature smile. “Fine. It’s like Tiger Woods throwing a golf game to his future father-in-law, who just so happens to also be great at the game. Only he’s not engaged, so the metaphor doesn’t work.”

Rod clapped a hand on my shoulder and grinned at me. “Have I told you how happy I am to have you officially joining our family tomorrow?”

My stomach lurched with an odd combination of nerves, guilt, and affection. His opinion and approval had always mattered to me. I’d do anything to avoid disappointing him. “Yes, sir. Only about a thousand times. But it doesn’t get old, so keep at it.”

Erin’s mom walked up. Lorraine looked beautiful in a deep blue jacket that made her hair look even blonder than it was. Erin had gotten the best of her parents’ assets: her mother’s head-turning looks and her father’s business acumen. She’d followed her father into the family business and had a job as one of the buyers for the store. Everyone in town knew she—or more likely the two of us together—would eventually take over Rokas Sports from her father, but so far, Rod seemed happy at the helm, and I was even happier being able to continue teaching ski lessons before having to commit to the store full-time or worse, move to the main location in Denver.

Lorraine reached up to cup my cheek. “You know we love you, right?”

I’d had just enough to drink to make me irrationally emotional. “Yes, ma’am, although I’m not sure why.”

“Because you keep Rod humble on the slopes,” Julian’s dad said, giving Rod a friendly nudge, while Julian’s mom pressed a kiss to my cheek. “That, and you’re a good man.”

Lorraine dug the knife in extra deep and gave it a good twist. “Parker, I would love you no matter what. I need you to understand that, as much as Rod and I are thrilled about the wedding tomorrow, you have always been a member of this family in your own right, and you will continue to be one no matter what happens in the future.”

I felt my chin wobble and my eyes smart. “I hate you,” I whispered. “You’re a cruel woman.”

Julian’s hand was a familiar weight on my lower back. I didn’t even need to look to know it was him. He, more than anyone, knew how deeply I felt the words Erin’s mother spoke. Both Erin’s and Julian and Hazel’s parents had taken over where my own had failed. The Thick and Rokas families had provided me with everything from shelter and food to love and support, not to mention the skiing experience that had earned me a college degree and a career path I loved. I didn’t know what I’d do without either family in my life.