Page 44 of Sunny Skies Ahead (Watford Sweethearts #2)

F airy lights twinkled above me as I gazed at the farmland before me.

A gentle breeze blew past, bringing with it the smell of wildflowers and wood chips and late summer nights.

The crickets chirped in the tall grasses beyond my farmhouse porch.

Glassware clinked as Connor and Kameron brought silverware and plates to the table.

This would be the last time we gathered together on my back porch.

After two months of the house being on the market, I’d finally found a buyer who wasn’t a developer.

This house would become a home for a young family that wanted to move to Watford to start their life over.

They were excited at the prospect of renovating an older home; of giving something historic new life.

I couldn’t think of a better way to close this chapter of my life. To know that this house and all of its memories would live on in the form of a new family brought me a joy I couldn’t explain.

“If everyone’s here, we can eat,” I said. “Everything is set. ”

“I’ll call them out here,” Connor said, poking his head inside the farmhouse and calling for everyone to come outside for dinner.

Kameron came to stand at my side, wrapping an arm around my waist and pressing a kiss to my uncovered shoulder. I shivered involuntarily. Everything was different now, and I reveled in the beauty of it.

“It’s the perfect night for a family dinner,” I said. “I still can’t believe how nice it is to have everyone in one place. I’d always dreamed about having this kind of friend group, but considering this time last year we were mostly strangers, it feels. . .”

“Dreamlike,” Kameron said. “It feels like it’s been a whole lot longer than a year.”

“We do have a strange setup though, considering some of us knew each other long before the rest of us.”

“They had a head-start,” Kameron agreed, jerking his head in the direction of Connor and Abbie as they stepped onto the porch.

Connor offered Abbie his hand to help her down the tiny half step, and while she rolled her eyes at the gesture, she still accepted it.

Kevin and Kyrie stepped out afterwards, followed by Lucas.

Kyrie walked over to me first and enveloped me in a crushing hug.

The girl used to get on my nerves, but even I could admit she was growing on me.

Kevin had taken over most of the operations of Watford General Store since Abbie and Connor had been married and Malcolm had been focused on his recovery.

Throughout it all, Kyrie had matured a lot .

Some of that had to do with getting older—I knew as well as anyone that there could be a big difference between the person you were at eighteen and the person you were at almost twenty.

Whatever the reason was, Kyrie was spending more time thinking and discussing her future options.

She was working on finalizing portfolio pieces to finally submit some of her art to trade shows.

It filled me with joy to know that her future options focused on what she wanted.

She didn’t see Kevin as a means to get her out of Watford.

Selfishly, I was glad she didn’t seem to be making many of the mistakes I did in my eagerness to leave this small town.

I returned her hug and gestured for her to have a seat next to Kevin.

I sat at the head of the table, with Kameron to my left, and Abbie at the other end of the table.

Kevin, Kyrie, and Connor were seated on the right bench, with Kameron and Lucas on the left.

There was a plethora of food before us—namely, a lush salad with fresh greens with what was going to be the final yield from my homestead.

There was also an overflowing home style broccoli and cheddar casserole, and golden rolls baked to fluffy inside, crispy outside perfection.

“Before we eat, Abbie and I have an announcement,” Connor said, almost sheepishly. That was when I noticed Abbie’s hand draped casually over her stomach. “Since we have everyone here, we wanted to let you know—”

I screamed as the dots connected in my head. Kameron jerked next to me, letting go of my hand like it was burning as I leaped towards Abbie.

Connor didn’t seem phased by my complete overreaction and opened his mouth to continue. “ Abbie’s—”

“Pregnant,” I sobbed as I reached my best friend. I took her hands in mine. “Right? You’re pregnant? That’s why you’ve been quiet these last few weeks?”

Abbie’s eyes welled with tears as she nodded, pulling me in for a hug. “Sorry for that, by the way. There were some concerns in the first trimester, but things are good now. I’m sorry for not telling you earlier, we just—”

I sobbed again, squeezing her tighter. “I’m glad everything’s okay. I’m so happy for you. Oh my God, Abbie. You’re going to be a mom. This is amazing.”

“Congratulations,” Kameron said. I released Abbie and turned back to the table, where Lucas was shaking Connor’s hand like a weirdo and Kameron’s eyes were misty.

“Do you know what you’re having?”

“We haven’t decided if we’re finding out yet,” Connor said, reaching for his water glass. I let out a horrified gasp.

“How? Why? I’d go insane,” I muttered.

“Some of us actually like surprises, you know,” Abbie said, her eyes shining with amusement as she leaned into Connor’s side. “A baby is admittedly sudden, even for us. We’re obviously excited, but having the gender be a surprise feels like the right thing. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Well, regardless, we’re throwing you a baby shower.”

“Please do,” Connor said as he passed out the plates so dinner could be served. “Because if you don’t, we’re not having one.”

I gasped again.

“Well, you’re in luck. You’re going to have the best baby shower ever.

One, because I’m your best friend and I wouldn’t allow anything less, but two, because you’re looking at Winding Road’s newest event planner and coordinator,” I said, gesturing to my body and shimmying my shoulders.

“The Warrior’s Foundation agreed with Kameron’s assessment that our focus should be on solidifying the farm side of things before pursuing further expansion on the nonprofit.

They recommended hiring a full-time event coordinator, and since I was already in a similar position. . .”

“As if I would have given the job to someone else,” Kameron teased, accepting an outstretched plate from Connor.

“Hey, some people have a problem with nepotism.”

“But everyone loves love,” Abbie said with a frown.

“I rebuke that,” Lucas chimed in. I rolled my eyes.

“Ignore him,” Connor said, shaking his head. “He’s been glued to his phone since the three of you got back from Seattle.”

“And?” Lucas said defensively.

“And you’re being weird about it,” Connor said with a pointed smile. Lucas grumbled something unintelligible under his breath.

“Who are you texting that has you smiling like that?” I asked, leaning my chin into my hand and waggling my eyebrows. Lucas scoffed, but I didn’t miss the pink tint in his cheeks.

“What’s it to you?” Lucas muttered. “And for the record, we’re not actively texting.”

“You’re waiting for her to text you ?”

Oh God , this was too good. I was never letting him live this down .

Lucas didn’t reply, so I pressed forward.

“Is it a girl you saw in Seattle?”

Lucas’s silence was all the confirmation I needed.

“What’s her name?”

“Nope. Nuh-uh.”

“What!” I exclaimed, crossing my arms over my chest and sitting back in my chair. “A first name seems innocuous enough.”

“I know how you work, you sneaky fiend. I’d tell you this chick’s first name and you’d have a full FBI file on her within twenty four hours. Not playing that game.”

I pouted but left it be. As much as I planned to tease him relentlessly about keeping this from me, I was secretly glad Lucas was getting back out there. If anything, he needed the distraction. What would hopefully be his final court date regarding his divorce was coming up quickly.

“I sense that your boyfriend is moping.”

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and looked towards the sliding glass door, where Kameron was in the kitchen washing dishes.

“Love ya,” Lucas said.

“Mhm,” I said, standing to head inside. “Don’t stay out here too late.”

“I won’t, Mother .”

I rolled my eyes and slid open the door, stepping inside before pulling it behind me.

I headed right for Kameron, who opened his arms wide without missing a beat of his conversation with Kevin, who was watching a football game on the TV.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and let out a heavy sigh of relief and happiness.

“This is my favorite place to be,” I murmured, the sound muffled against his shirt. Kameron hummed low in his throat and wrapped his arms around me, giving me a tight squeeze.

“Well, this is my favorite place for you to be. Wait, scratch that. Second place. No, third. Maybe fourth. . .”

“You’re dirty,” I said. Kameron leaned down to whisper in my ear.

“I never said anything about sex. Who’s dirty minded again?”

I lifted my head from his chest and scowled at him.

“Are we going to be alone in the house tonight?”

“That depends,” Kameron said. “Do you want us to be alone in the house?”

“I always want to be alone with you,” I teased. “In all seriousness, my social battery is going to be drained after this amazing and demanding night. I’d prefer if it was just us tonight.”

“Say no more,” Kameron whispered, kissing my forehead before stepping away from the sink. He began to politely bark orders at the masses, telling them to wrap up whatever they were doing and head for the door.

“It’s only 8 p.m.,” Kevin whined. “We just got here.”

“You’ve been here for two hours,” Kameron pointed out. “Dinner is over, and there’s an introvert here who needs recharging. You’ll see her again tomorrow.”

Abbie appeared from the hallway and turned towards Connor, who was already handing over her shoes .

“Does this recharging involve—”

“Don’t finish that sentence, Abbigail Collins,” I practically screeched, my cheeks flaming. Abbie giggled, damn her.

Once everyone was gone and the front door was locked, I wrapped my arms around Kameron’s waist and sighed contentedly.

“I get you all to myself,” I sighed happily. “It’s the best part of my day.”

“The best part of my day is doing this,” Kameron said before picking me up and hauling me off towards the bedroom.

I giggled despite myself, but the sound quickly ceased when Kameron gently laid me down on the bed and crawled on top of me. I held his face in my hands, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips as his fingers drew gentle circles into my hips.

“I love you,” I whispered. “More than I ever thought I could love another person.”

Kameron’s answering smile could power a million suns.

“You have my entire heart in the palm of your hand, Imogen Phillips. I couldn’t love you more if I tried.”