I looked over at the two-story red barn I had built not long after buying Wonderland. I would never forget the day I’d brought Abby here, gotten down on my knee, and asked her to marry me. We were both eighteen. I had dreams for the tree farm, and she had dreams for her family’s flower farm that was right on the outskirts of Boggy Creek. Abby had decided to take online classes to earn a business degree so she could stay and help her folks run and manage the farm. Plus, she’d told me she wanted to stay in town after we’d gotten engaged.
“You ever hear from her, Bishop?”
Trent’s question pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked over at him. I smiled. “How in the hell did you know I was thinking about Abby?”
Trent shrugged. “Because I know that look. Saw it in the mirror for fifteen years until I finally found someone who brought life back into my eyes.”
Sighing, I shook my head. “Nah. She comes into town to see her folks, but she doesn’t ever come out here or call me. I haven’t seen her since the divorce.”
The last time I had spoken to Abby on the phone was a few days before we were set to meet in front of the judge. I was, of course, still pissed at her. I had refused to take her calls. Wouldn’t even talk to her the day of the court hearing.
Those calls had haunted me ever since. If I had taken them or even talked to her that day, would it have made a difference?
Trent shook his head. “Don’t seem right. You were like two peas in a pod. Everyone thought you were the perfect couple.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Including me. Guess she wasn’t as serious when she said till death do us part.”
Trent looked at me and nodded.
Clearing my throat, I asked, “So you’ll let me know about the truck and all?”
“I sure will. We’ll talk soon.” Trent reached his hand out and shook mine. As he headed back to his truck, he called over his shoulder, “Keep an eye out—they say a storm is moving in.”
Lifting my hand, I waved at Trent and then headed into my two-story log cabin. I stopped and turned back to look out over the acres of Christmas trees. Closing my eyes, I thought back to eleven years ago today, when Abby and I stood not far from this spot and said our vows. God, she was so beautiful. Her brown hair had been swept up in some fancy style, with soft curls hanging down to frame her face. Those hazel eyes had been filled with nothing but happiness.
My eyes sprang back open, and I blew out a breath. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. Hitting my best friend Kyle’s number, I waited for him to answer.
“Hey. Trent fix the truck?”
I scoffed. “No, he needs to order a part for it. What are you doing tonight?”
“I’m currently sitting on my sofa with a beer in one hand, a bowl of popcorn in the other, and I was two seconds away from starting Pride and Prejudice.”
“You bastard. You weren’t going to invite me over? You know I love that movie.”
“Because, Bishop, it’s weird enough that I’m watching it alone, but to have you come over and share movie night with me? Hard pass.”
“Then let’s go out.”
“Go out?” he repeated.
“Yeah, you know that thing we used to do before all of our friends started getting married.”
“One, Bishop. One friend has gotten married.”
Aiden O’Hara had been a part of the small group of friends I had back in high school. It was me, Aiden, Kyle, Hunter Turner, and Adam Smith. The five of us were thick as thieves. Aiden went off and joined the Navy after high school, became a Navy SEAL, and had only recently returned to Boggy Creek. He was now married to Willa, Hunter’s sister. Once upon a time, I’d had a crush on Willa—at least before Abby moved to town.
Now Willa and Aiden were expecting their second baby in late January. Adam was recently engaged, so that left me, Kyle, and Hunter. I was pretty damn sure the three of us were nowhere near settling down. Each of us had our own freaking issues to deal with.
“Small detail. Let’s call Hunter, see if he’s down for getting out.”
“I’m not in the mood to pick up women,” Kyle said.
“Who said anything about that? Fuck, Kyle, I just need to get out. Especially tonight.”
He was silent on the other end of the line before he groaned. “Ah hell, Bishop, it totally slipped my mind.”
I kicked at a rock. “Wish it would slip mine.”
“Tell you what, let me call Hunter and Adam, see if they want to go out with us. Where you thinking?”