Forever Her Cowboy - Lucy Darling Page 0,14

looks up at me, smiling. “Yeah, I’m just glad it’s finally here. It was hard watching my son walk around with a broken heart. He hardly talked to anyone anymore. He went almost mute unless he was pissed about something.” She gives me a smirk. “Weren't you and Josh a long time coming?” She lifts a perfect eyebrow.

“I did not see that coming.” I laugh. Josh blindsided me. I never let myself think Josh could be someone I’d date or anything else. He was older than me and my best friend's brother. Not to mention the dream of every girl in our county. “You saw it coming?” Were there signs and how had I missed them?

“Yeah, there is a certain type of way a man looks at the woman he loves. If you’ve seen it before you’ll never forget it. I get it every day when I wake up to my husband.” Gah. I’ve always enjoyed hearing the story of how Bunny and PJ landed their husbands. Or maybe it was the husbands that landed them. Two best friends falling in love and getting to stay close to each other. Really it’s kind of a fairy tale. One that I hope repeats itself.

“Hey.” Bunny strolls into the kitchen, snagging a grape out of the fruit bowl. “I think I got that girl’s closet under control finally.” She looks as though she’s had a workout. It wouldn’t surprise me with the amount of clothes that Daisy has. Plus she’s not the most organized person. “Can I help with cooking something?”

“No.” PJ and I both respond at the same time. Bunny frowns. I should feel bad, but even though I love her dearly, the woman can’t cook to save her life.

“Thanks.” I try to smooth the abrupt response over. “We’re all done. Maybe next time.” That brings a smile to her face.

“At least let me help clean up then.”

“Sounds good to me.” PJ kisses me on the cheek before whispering that she’s so happy for me. A wave of guilt creeps up on me at the thought of the secret I’m keeping from Josh. I turn back to look at Bunny. She stares at me for a moment before her face goes soft.

“I think I should check out your closet too.”

“Don’t worry. This mess will still be here when you get back,” PJ informs her before hopping up to sit on the counter.

“Thanks.” Bunny rolls her eyes at her.

“That’s what friends are for.” PJ winks at me.

“Come.” Bunny nudges my elbow to go. I head back toward my bedroom. “I do not need to see that.” I look towards Daisy’s room to see Eric has her pressed up against the wall. Her mouth is swollen and red.

“Sorry?” Daisy offers. I grab her door and close it.

“Is it hard for you to see your little girl with a man?” I ask as I step into my room. Josh is on the floor putting together a bookcase for me. He looks up and gives us a smile that would make any girl weak in the knees.

“No. Not with Eric. I couldn't have wished for a better man for her. They fit.” They really do. “Can you give us a minute, Josh?” Bunny asks him as he stands.

“Yeah.” He kisses his mom on her cheek before planting one on me.

“You can’t kiss me in front of your mom,” I hiss at him. Daisy just got in trouble, but she was doing more than kissing.

“I’ll kiss you whenever I want.” He doesn't wait for a response before heading out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

“He’s so much like his father.” Pride fills her voice. Jameson is a good man who loves his family fiercely. Bunny walks over to the bed, sitting down on the end. “You know you’re like a daughter to me too, Noelle. You’ve been in our lives a long time.” I have. Since kindergarten. I spent as much time as I could at their house, not wanting to go home to mine.

“That’s really sweet of you to say.” I sit down next to her.

“I mean that, sweetheart. From the look of things my son is going to make that official at some point.” I don't want to get ahead of myself, but hearing her say it makes hope bloom inside of me.

“Maybe.” I shrug. Bunny keeps on staring at me. I swear the woman can read minds or something.

“No maybe about it.”

I lick my bottom lip. It would be a dream