Aspen took the frame and began to laugh through her tears. “I love you more than peanut butter, marshmallow surprise cake,” she read the words with a laugh, then sniffed. “That’s our cake,” she rasped. “I made it with you in mind.”
He nodded and cupped her face. “Which is why I’m going to ask you to keep making peanut butter, marshmallow surprise cake with me forever. Aspen, will you marry me? Will you help keep my days full of joy and my evenings full of sugary sweets?” He nodded to the frame. “Will you hang that on the wall and be my partner for the rest of my life?”
Harper put her clasped hands over her heart. What would it be like to have that kind of adoration aimed at her instead of listening to it spoken to someone else? Harper’s heart ached with the desire for Mason to say those things to her, then immediately scolded herself for it. She needed to think of her career. Her mother would never let Harper live it down if she didn’t prove once and for all that art was an actual career choice.
Clapping brought her out of her thoughts and she realized she had missed Aspen saying yes. At least, Harper assumed it was a yes, if the kiss Aspen and Austin were engaged in was anything to go by.
“Woo hoo!” Maeve hollered, followed by a very loud whistle.
Harper jerked to the side. “Whoa.”
Maeve grinned. “Yeah. I’ve been practicing.”
“I can’t believe you guys were there the whole time!” Aspen said, wiping at her eyes and standing up.
“You were a little preoccupied,” Estelle said wryly.
Harper held out her arms and hurried over. “Congrats,” she whispered in her best friend’s ear. “I’m so happy for you.”
They pulled apart and Aspen positively glowed. “Thank you.” She gave Harper another squeeze. “And thank you for the paintings. I LOVE them.”
Harper smiled. “It was nothing.”
“Of course, it wasn’t.” Aspen rolled her eyes. “Because you’re amazing.”
Harper just smiled and stepped back, letting everyone else squeal and celebrate the occasion. If I was that amazing, I wouldn’t be looking at another spring spent ogling a lumberjack from afar. I’d figure out how to have my cake and eat it too. She shook her head. Now was not the time. This was a call to celebrate. Harper’s nonexistent love life wasn’t important. She clapped her hands loudly, getting everyone’s attention. “Who wants cake?”
Laughter followed her call and slowly, they all worked their way to the kitchen. Harper was last as she wrestled with herself, but she was determined to stay focused. Aspen, Austin and cake were the subject of the moment. Nothing else. There would be time to sulk later. Right now, she had best friend duties to attend to and they were far more important.