Page 16 of It Happened Back Then (Nilsson Family #3)

“ D id you pick a color scheme yet?” Meadow asks for the millionth time, annoyance in her voice as she stares at January.

January rolls her eyes. “You need to let this go. When Drake and I decide, you’ll be the first to know.”

“I absolutely do not need to let this go. You need to make sure the dress color flatters my skin,” she argues. “And Blossom cannot wear those ridiculous cowboy boots.”

“What's wrong with my boots?” I kick my leg out from under the table, twirling my ankle so my boot rotates.

Meadow slaps at my leg. “They’re ridiculous and it’s spring. Get a pedicure and wear some cute sandals. Only cowboys wear boots year-round.”

January huffs and turns her back on Meadow, speaking directly to me. “The only thing worse than planning a whole freaking wedding is dealing with a sister who thinks the day is about her.”

Meadow clicks her tongue and examines her nails. “You don’t want the pictures to look bad right? I mean, if given the wrong color, I may not smile the entire day.”

I giggle at their exchange. I know Meadow is doing it just to get a rise out of her.

January is stressed out, and Meadow thinks she’s lightening the mood, but all I see is January getting more anxious.

It’s why we’re out at the Swoops Nest Bar tonight, trying to decompress from the week, trying to get January to chill out, and because Meadow likes to come here and flirt with the bartender, Cole.

“Why is Drake even involved in the colors?”

January throws her hands in the air. “Because, unlike some men, he actually cares about this day. When you get married, I hope your man wants to be involved too.”

“Ha! Jokes on you. I’m not getting married.”

“Okay, let’s stop before we get thrown out of the bar, please?” I sip from my wine and notice my brother walking our way. “Look, there’s Lief. You two need to knock it off.”

“Oh good. I’ll pick on him instead,” Meadow replies, assessing him as he gets closer to the table. “Big brother, you’re late.”

He waves his hand, dismissing her, and pulls out his chair before falling into it.

“Jack and I were placing an order for the store, and I lost track of time.” He spots the beer on the table and snags it.

“Thanks, I need this.” My eyes narrow as he guzzles it.

When he sees me watching him, he swallows and asks, “What?”

“Rough day?”

He shrugs and doesn’t answer.

“Would it have anything to do with that blonde who’s been hanging around the store?” Meadow asks coyly.

He scoffs. “You know I don’t like blondes.”

“Well, considering it didn’t work out with the brunette, I figured you’d make a switch,” Meadow goads him.

I jump when he slams the beer bottle on the table and yells, “What's your problem?”

She shakes her head, peering at her hands again, appearing bored. “I don’t have a problem. You’re the one slamming bottles.”

He points at her. “You know, between you and you,” he points at January, “I’m getting real sick of your attitudes and I–”

“I’m in love with Bennett!” I blurt out, wanting them to stop fighting and saying the only thing I know will bring their attention to me.

All three heads snap my way and Meadow begins to laugh. “Oh, sweet sister, tell us something we don’t know.”

I frown. “Wha–”

January raises a brow and drawls, “We’ve known since you were ten years old.”

“And you didn't say anything?” I exclaim in outrage.

Meadow laughs at my outburst. “We were waiting for you to figure it out on your own.”

“Jesus. Why didn’t I get brothers?” Lief sits back in the chair, pinching the bridge of his nose before turning and raising his hand towards Cole, who’s standing behind the bar. “Another round please.”

Meadow continues, “And he’s in love with you, in case you haven't figured that out either.”

I close my eyes, not wanting the attention from them but kind of feeling relieved to know my secret is out in the open. Well, one secret anyway. “I don’t think so. We’ve been friends for so long, I don’t think we can change that.”

“Oh, you can definitely change that,” Meadow responds, her eyes on Cole as he walks up to our table, carrying a tray of drinks.

He sets the tray on the table, shifting the bottles and shots into the middle, but his focus is on Meadow, who says, “Ah, you know just the way to a Nilsson’s heart.

” Then she grabs the shot closest to her, downing it in one slick move before adding, “Mm, a blowjob shot. My favorite.”

She winks at Cole whose eyes instantly darken almost knowingly, and suddenly, I feel like I’m intruding in a private moment.

“Meadow, for fuck’s sake,” Lief grumbles. “January, you better handle this or she’s going to be completely out of control at your wedding.” He turns to Cole, pushing him away from the table as he exclaims, “And you. Get away from my sister.”

Cole raises his brows at Lief, but says nothing as he turns with a low chuckle and walks back to the bar.

“Meadow, are you and Col–”

“Oh no. This is your show tonight. You interrupted the regularly scheduled programming and now there is no changing the channel.” She passes a shot to me. “Take it and start talking.”

So, I tell them. Everything from finding the lake when we were kids to sneaking through windows to dating in high school. I don’t go into explicit detail because most of it can be left up to interpretation, and also because I don’t need Lief having a heart attack here at the table.

But then, I get to the important part. The part that’s been eating me alive for the last year. Longer if I’m honest with myself. Ever since he met Savannah, I had a feeling our promises from long ago would become history.

“We made a pact.”

“Come again?”

“A pact. It was a silly kid thing. But it’s coming close to the time, and I don’t know if it's real or not.”

“What is it?”

“If we weren’t married by the age of twenty-seven, we’d come back to Bluemoon and marry each other.”

January starts choking on her wine. “You’re kidding?”

I shake my head, “Nope, I mean, after all the crap with Savannah and him moving away, I never thought we’d be here. But he took that job at The Luxury. He moved back home. Do you think he meant it?”

“I think you need to talk to him,” January says cautiously. “I honestly don’t think a pact made at sixteen will hold up in court now.”

“I’m not going to take him to court over it!” I exclaim.

Lief grumbles, “This sounds like a movie. You girls all watch too many romcoms.”

“Says the lonely brother,” Meadow teases. “The fact you even know what a romcom is explains so much, Lief.”

“I. Have. Sisters,” he says through gritted teeth. He swipes his hand through his hair, clearly agitated with us.

“Anyway, how do I mention this? I don’t want to look stupid by bringing up a childhood story.

I don't want to look desperate, like I’m looking to marry him.

I just need answers. I need to know if there’s still a chance.

” After everything . I can’t say what everything is, but that’s my biggest fear and something I will keep to myself.

Lief pauses as we fall silent. “Why don’t you let me talk to him?” he asks.

“And say what?” Meadow asks. “Lief, don’t make it weird. This isn’t junior high and we’re not playing telephone.”

He shakes his head. “I’m not going to be a dick, Mead. Bennett and I are cool. It wouldn't be weird, and I can see where his head is at. It’s not a big deal. And considering Blossom is my favorite sister, I’ll gladly do it.”

January and Meadow both begin to protest then stop as they look at each other and shrug. “Fair,” they say in unison.

“I saw his ex-girlfriend commenting on their picture on Instagram. What if they’re getting back together?” I begin to get nervous. “I don’t know. Maybe don’t say anything. I'll just see how things play out.”

Meadow reaches for my hand and says, “You’ve been seeing how things play out for years, Blossom. Time to make a move.”

She’s absolutely right. It’s time to make a move. I need to know where his head is at in order to move forward. And it’s only fair I let him know it wasn’t my choice to let him go.

Life would have looked very different if I had told him.

But some secrets are best kept to yourself.