Page 26 of My Three Hometown Hard Hats

CHAPTER TWELVE

Hadley

Exhaling heavily,I put the car in park. I hate parallel parking, but there weren’t any other spots this close to the parade route.

Mom was in a lot of pain this morning, but she wasn’t about to miss the Miner’s Day parade. Growing up, Miner’s Day was one of my favorite times of the year in Aspen Springs.

It’s a typical small-town festival with vendor booths and food trucks lining the streets. There’s a parade and kids’ activities, all to celebrate the mining history by which the town was created.

I grab the camping chair from the backseat, slinging it over my shoulder. By the time I get to the side of the car, Mom is already getting herself out.

I tried to talk her into using the wheelchair she has stored in the garage, but she gave me a look that I swear shriveled half the bones in my body.

Slowly, we make our way down the half block toward Hickory Avenue, where the parade will go by in a few minutes. I pull out the chair, setting it on the sidewalk in a spot where I think she’ll still be able to see everything, even while seated.

As soon as my mom is settled, a small body slams into the back of my legs. “Ooommfff,” I grunt, turning to see who ran into me.

Evelyn looks up at me with her big green eyes, two braids running down either side of her head. “Hi,” she says, smiling even wider.

“Hey, you.”

All three of the men who have a chokehold on my heart—and my vagina, apparently—step up behind her.

“You need to stop running away,” Austin says, serious eyes trained on his daughter.

“I wasn’t runningaway,” she says, her fists resting on her hips. “I was runningtoHadley. That’s very different.”

“Someone needs to be a lawyer,” my mom chuckles.

“What does a lawyer do?” Evelyn asks my mom, leaning against the side of her chair.

I turn back to the wall of men behind me. “Hi,” I say, my eyes tracking back and forth over all of them.

Austin gives me a curt nod as if he’s trying to hold back from what he really wants to do or say. Conrad says, “Hey, sweetheart,” but stays where he is at Austin’s side.

Brooks clearly doesn’t give a single fuck. He pulls me in for a hug, kissing the top of my head. “I missed you,” he whispers into my hair.

It’s only been three days.

“I missed you, too,” I whisper back.

He steps back into the line of delicious man muscle.How are three men allowed to be so hot and so right there in front of me?

The police sirens blare, and we all turn our heads to see the parade heading our way.

Austin laughs loudly at something my mom says as he walks with her back to the car. She moves toward the driver’s side.

“Mom, what are you doing?”

“You stay and enjoy yourself. I’m just going to go take a nap anyway.” She glances between all three of the men. “I’m sure these three will get you home safe and sound later.”

“Of course we will,” Austin says, opening the door for her.

She rolls down the window, beckoning me over with her finger. “Go live that life of yours that we were talking about,” she says, squeezing my hand where it grips the open window frame.

“Okay,” I say, giving her hand a squeeze in return. “Call me if you need anything.”

“I will. I will.” She leans her head to the side, yelling at Brooks, “Come grab her, so I don’t hit her with my car.”