Page 88 of Double Booked

Once Robert left, the four of them said their goodbyes. Cole and Ty shook hands, while Eden and Hope hugged. Then Ty extended his hand to Eden. When she clasped it, he pulled her forward and gave her a warm hug. “I get to be the best man at your wedding,” he whispered in her ear.

Cole and Hope were talking, and she didn’t think they heard. “Okay,” she replied. The thought of it gave her a thrill, even if it was a little premature.

She turned to Hope, who was hugging Cole. “Thank you for taking such good care of my sister.”

“My pleasure,” he said.

Then Ty and Hope turned to each other, and an awkward moment ensued.

“I’ll see you,” Ty said.

“Yeah, you will, at the airport.”

He chuckled, but shifted uncomfortably.

“Oh, what the hell. Come here.” Hope held out her arms.

He didn’t move, like he thought it was a trick.

Then Cole gave him a little shove from behind, and Ty stumbled into her embrace.

Eden watched as Ty slid his arms around her sister’s waist, keeping his hands a respectable distance from the curve of her behind. Eden exchanged a knowing glance with Cole, who was softly smiling.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Hope said, and pushed Ty away.

They all laughed, marking an end to the sweet moment.

“He’ll keep an eye on her,” Cole said as they followed their siblings out of the parking lot. Ty was right on Hope’s tail.

“I know,” she said, comforted by the thought of it.

An hour later, Cole turned onto the road to their cabin. “You’ve been awfully quiet. Is everything okay?”

She’d been deep in thought the whole way home. Between meeting Robert and saying goodbye to Ty and Hope, she was emotionally drained. “Just a little tired,” she answered honestly.

“Too tired to go out for dinner tonight?”

“Do you mind if we eat in?”

“Not at all. What else do you want to do tonight?”

“How about a Scrabble rematch?”

“Sure. I’d be happy to whomp you at it again.”

“Who says you’re going to win?”

“It doesn’t matter if I win the game or not. I’m already a winner because I’m with you.”

She smiled, knowing he really meant it. Inside, she chuckled, thinking if Ty were here, he would have accused Cole of being cheesy.

When they pulled up to the cabin, snowflakes began falling. She’d been so preoccupied she hadn’t realized it would snow.

“Good thing we recently went grocery shopping, because we might get snowed in,” Cole said.

The possibility wasn’t daunting at all, because there was no one she’d rather be snowed in with. He came around and opened her door, and hand-in-hand, they entered their cozy cabin.

Twenty-Eight