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I bit my lip. “I’m just...”

“Afraid,” she finished.

I nodded. “I don’t know how to get over that.”

“Do you remember when my parents booked that vacation to the Bahamas for spring break before senior graduation?” she asked. “I’m pretty sure it was the only vacation we ever went on that required an airplane.”

I nodded. “I was so jealous. And I missed you like crazy.”

She laughed. “Well, I didn’t tell you that I was completely freaking out in the airport. I almost had a panic attack on the plane, and they had to ask if there was a nurse on the flight.”

My jaw dropped. “You’re kidding.”

She shook her head. “So freaking embarrassing.”

“What did you do?” I asked.

She twisted her lips to the side. “My mom told me that we could cancel the vacation and go home to where I was comfortable, or I could calm my ass down and stay on the plane so I could see something more beautiful than I ever imagined.” She took a breath. “You know what I chose. We had turbulence the whole damn flight and it was scary as hell, but when we got there—” She smiled at the memory. “I was so glad I didn’t let fear keep me home.”

“You’re wise, Cam Childers.”

She smiled.

“But imagine if you were getting back on a plane after surviving a crash. You might feel a little differently.”

“Maybe if it was the same plane that crashed before,” she replied. “I don’t think Rhett’s the same guy anymore.” But I didn’t have time to argue because Jess turned down a winding driveway lined with trees lit by twinkle lights. “Looks like we’re here.”

I stared in stunned silence as we drove up to a mansion with cars filling the driveway. Cam had been right in her estimation—there had to be at least twenty or more cars here, just for her bachelorette party. Part of me was thankful Shelley and her fiancé were eloping to another country because no way could I bring a salad spinner and wear a thrifted dress to a wedding of this caliber.

We stopped behind Jess, and there were valet drivers dressed in tuxedo pants, suspenders, and nothing else waiting to take our cars and our bags. The three of us giggled with each other as we walked up the wide stone steps to the “cabin.”

The front area was like a massive great room that had been decked out like a bachelorette party store exploded on the place. There was pink gauze along the walls, a penis-shaped balloon arch, and even a giant cutout of a naked professional football player holding a helmet over his privates.

“Oh my god,” Cam whispered. “We know him.”

My eyes widened as I took a closer look. “That’s Ford Madigan!”

On the other side of Cam, Jess said, “Youknowhim?”

Cam said, “He was in eighth grade when we were seniors.”

I swore there were stars in Jess’s eyes. “Can youpleaseintroduce me?”

Cam and I exchanged a glance.

“What?” Jess asked.

“Cottonwood Falls is pretty protective of their own,” I explained. “He would have to be okay with it.”

Before Jess could reply, a woman yelled, “IF IT AIN’T MY COUNTRY BUMPKINS!”

Cam laughed at the blond walking toward us. She had on a lacy white dress, a pink sash that said BRIDE and a silver tiara atop her head. “Shelley, there’s no service here and you’re calling US bumpkins?”

“I’m just joking,” she said, hugging Cam and then me. “I’ve missed you two! Are you sure you can’t move back to Austin?”

“Not with Cam in love,” I teased.

Cam rolled her eyes at me but couldn’t hide her smile.