Kissing Jenna (Big Sky 2)

I laugh louder and pull her in for a hug. “Let’s sell all of these pretty clothes today, shall we?”

“See? You don’t talk about the good stuff.” She sighs and opens the other tote. “Everything is on hangers, so we’ll just put them on the racks. They’re down in my car, I’ll go get them.”

It only takes us about thirty minutes to get everything set up. I have plenty of appetizers and beverages to last into the evening, and it isn’t long before our friends begin to show up.

Cunningham Falls is a small town, and many of us have been friends for a lot of years. Or, we’re friends of friends. It’s almost impossible not to be, and I admit that’s one of the things that I love about living here.

Our community.

My brother Brad’s fiancée, Hannah, arrives with our good friend Grace. They’re both redheaded and beautiful, and Grace’s pregnancy is just starting to show.

“I need all of the leggings,” she says as she hugs Penny. Grace and Penny work together as teachers at the school. “My body is out of control, and literally nothing fits.”

“I can hook you up, girl,” Penny says as she leads Grace to a stack of colorful leggings.

“How are you?” Hannah asks me and takes a bite of a pita chip.

“Good. It’s been a busy week. How are you?”

“Great.” She smiles smugly. “Planning a wedding is both fun and infuriating.”

“I can imagine. Just pass over a bunch of stuff to me. I’m happy to help.”

“Oh, I will,” she says with a nod. “And I have a question for you.”

“Shoot.”

“Well, I’ve been thinking. I asked my cousin, Abby, to be my maid of honor. Of course, Grace will be a bridesmaid because she’s my oldest friend here.” She reaches for my hand. “And I love you, Jenna. You’re a great friend, and you’re about to be my sister-in-law, and that just makes me so happy.”

“Me, too. You’re so good for my brother, and I love you, too.”

“Will you be a bridesmaid?”

“Of course.” I hug her tightly and then do a happy shimmy. “I’m so excited. We’ll have to have a party with Grace, and maybe we can FaceTime Abby to go over plans.”

“Actually, Abby should be in town before too long,” she says, her blue eyes shining with excitement. “It sounds like she’s going to be here for a while as a traveling nurse, so we can all get together in person.”

“That would be so fun. Thanks for asking me.”

“Thanks for saying yes.”

At that moment, more friends file into the tree house, and I’m awash in happiness. I have wonderful people in my life.

Cara and Jillian King, best friends who married brothers, arrive carrying more wine.

“You are my people,” I say as I hug them both and accept the wine.

“There’s never enough wine,” Cara says with a laugh. She’s a pretty, petite blonde with the most gorgeous curves. I’ve always been jealous of her boobs.

I’m sorely lacking in that area.

“I can’t have wine,” Jillian says with a pout. “Zack knocked me up again.”

“Congratulations!”

“All the pregnant girls are over here,” Grace says, waving Jillian over. “Penny swears these leggings will fit us forever.”

“Right on.”

There’s a knock at the door, and Lauren Sullivan pokes her head in. “Is this where the party is?”

“You found us,” I reply and run over to hug her close. “And I’ve missed you.”

“I know, I’ve missed you, too,” she says and then pulls a book out of her bag. “I’ve been under some crazy deadlines. But I brought you a book so you can’t be that mad at me.”

“Thank you so much. You’re forgiven.”

Lauren writes amazing erotic romance novels, some of which have been made into movies. She’s also sweet and quiet, and I adore her.

“Oh, good, you’re here,” Cara says, hugging Lauren.

I seriously love being part of a group of women who lift each other up rather than tear each other down.

“If anybody goes into labor, Hannah can handle it,” Penny says with a laugh. Hannah is an OB/GYN in Cunningham Falls.

“We have months to go before that’s an issue,” Hannah assures us all and takes a sip of her Coke while admiring a pretty blue top. “How much is this, Penny?”

“I’ll give it to you for twenty bucks,” Penny replies with a shrug.

“Why are you closing all of this out?” I ask her.

“Well, I’ve decided to move,” she says, and we all go quiet, looking at her in surprise. “I’m going to move in with a cousin in Seaside, Oregon.”

“Why?” Cara asks.

“You guys, there’s nothing for me here.” She leans on the end of the couch. “The dating pool is a joke. I love my job, but even that feels…stale.”

“I get it,” Cara says with a nod. Cara is also a teacher at the elementary school. “It’s not easy.”

“I think I need a change of scenery for a while,” Penny continues. “I love the ocean, and I don’t really have anything keeping me here.”