Whiskey and Country

Carter entered the farmhouse, his arms overflowing with presents, on Christmas Eve.

“You know we don’t need anything, right? I thought I made a deal with Santa this year, asking him not to be overgenerous?” I wiggled my eyebrows, hoping he’d get the message.

Carter shrugged. “I know, Dah. These are just kids’ stuff that Jack and I will use whenever I’m in town. You’re too adult to understand.” He offered me his renowned panty-melting grin and kissed my cheek, and I forfeited the idea of arguing.

I signed. “I’m not fighting you over this. You’re such a big toddler when you’re with him. Anyway, I like the two of you together, so I guess it’s fine.”

I emptied his arms, placing the gifts under the tree.

I stepped back next to him. “This looks charming.”

Carter slung an arm around my shoulder and pulled me to him. I lost myself in the safety of his embrace for a minute.

“Cart, I gotta tell you something. Can we talk?”

He leaned back, and his smile vanished. My heart hiccupped in my chest, and my best friend stuffed his hands in his pockets.

“Sure. Where’s Nick?”

“In the garage. I asked for some time alone with you.”

“Are you okay? Is Jack sick?”

I squeezed his arm. “We’re both fine.” With my fingers intertwined with his, I led him to the kitchen and made tea. We sat beside each other, and I enveloped his hand with mine over the table.

“Dah, what is it? I hate when you do this? Talk to me.”

My heart flipped in my chest and leaped into my throat. Pearls of sweat popped on my nape.

“Nick and I are getting married.”

I swallowed hard and tightened my grip on him.

Carter blinked, pushing away the truckload of emotions I knew was searing inside him, and breathed out. It wasn’t the time for him to have one of his panic attacks.

“Cart, talk to me,” I repeated his own words to him. He looked away and brought his gaze to mine after a few seconds.

“Don’t worry, Dah. I’m okay. I knew this day would come. I had time to get used to the idea.”

My eyes rounded. “Wait, you knew?”

My best friend nodded.

“How? When?”

“Nick told me. He actually asked for my blessing. About a month ago.”

“He did?”

“Yeah. We had the talk, he and I.”

“Whoa, I’m speechless. What did you tell him?”

Carter sighed and ran a hand over his face. “The truth. That I love you, but you chose him, and he better take good care of you. And that you are in love with him. Not me.” His throat worked. “You found a good one, Dah.”

No, he found me, but now was not the time to focus on details.

“You’re lucky to have him. All I’ve ever wished is for you to be happy, you know that. If you are, then that’s all that matters.” Unshed tears shone in his eyes, his stormy irises looking brighter than usual. “But I thought he was supposed to wait.”

I offered him a small, lopsided smile. “I asked him first.” There, I said it.

“You did?”

I nodded. “Yes. We bought the house. Together. We’re happy. I’m happy. And I know deep inside me we’re meant to be. Why wait? We won’t get married next month, but I’m not waiting a year either. We still have stuff to figure out. I have no clue what you guys discussed, but anyway, thank you for what you said to Nick. I know how you must feel right now, and I’m sorry. Even if it’s not what you wanna hear. I love you. And I always will. You and I, we’ll be fine. I promise. And nothing will change between you and Jack either.”

Carter pushed back. I could read all the hurt swimming in his eyes.

“Dah, I have to ask.” He dragged a hand over his face before meeting my gaze again. “Will you let Nick adopt Jack?”

He cringed as if the words burned his tongue. And in a way, I was sure they did.

I shook my head.

“We talked about it. If Nick does adopt Jack one day, it will be because the three of us—Nick, you, and I—decide it’s the right thing for him. You’re the only daddy he’s ever known, and I don’t want to mess things up. He’s still yours, Cart. Always will. When he’s old enough and if we haven’t decided by then, I will leave it to him to choose for himself. If he wants to. For now, let’s keep loving him, the three of us, and he’ll be the most adored child in the entire world.”

Carter sniffled.

“Thanks, Dah. Thanks for not taking him away from me. I haven’t looked at the paternity results yet. I just can’t—” His voice cracked and drowned the last word.

“I know. It’s okay. I’ll never take him away from you, Cart. The three of us, we’re family. Until we’re all old and gray. But now there will be four of us.”

We rose to our feet and hugged, our foreheads resting against each other, letting our hearts do the talking as our arms held on tight.