Page 42 of Take My Love

Bellamy and I make gagging noises at the same time.

“I’m never gettin’ married,” Bellamy confirms.

She’s been saying that for years.

“At this rate, I’ll be fifty before I get married,” I say, stabbing a piece of chicken with my fork and taking a bite.

“I still can’t believe Ellie fell in love with him when she spent four years hatin’ him,” Colton adds. “That’s gotta be some kinda superpower.”

I snort. “No, just good ole amnesia.”

“She lost her memory?” Silas asks. “How’d that happen?”

“Ellie fell off her horse while barrel racing. She hit her head just right and it knocked her out. When she woke up, they realized she’d lost part of her memory,” I tell him.

“Not only did she forget she hated Landen, but him altogether,” Bellamy adds. “He was a complete stranger to her.”

“Except she had an instant crush on him as soon as she saw him,” Warren says. “It was hilarious.”

“Her memory eventually came back and she realized she had been wrong about him and they fell in love,” I explain. “Or something like that. It’s the strangest love story I’ve ever heard.”

“Wow….that’s wild. At least it wasn’t the other way ’round where they were in love beforehand and she woke up forgettin’ or hatin’ him. That’d suck,” Silas says.

“Knowin’ Landen’s persistence, he’d remind her why they were in love every day until she fell back in love with him.” Warren chuckles. “I remember he’d call me so lovesick over wishin’ she’d give him a chance.”

I stare at my plate while I eat but I can feel Silas’s heated gaze burning a hole through my head.

“And you were the same way over Maisie,” Bellamy reminds him. “Admit it.”

He shrugs. “Never denied it.”

That’s an understatement.

We continue eating while Mom and Dad go over everything that needs to get done in the next few weeks at the Willow Chalet. It’s our large two-story cabin located on the resort side. It has a wraparound deck with ten bedrooms and fourteen bathrooms. Since we reserve it for large family gatherings or high-profile guests, it doesn’t get used regularly. Landen and Ellie’s families will stay there for the weekend, so the rooms need to be stocked and cleaned.

There’s a big ballroom on the first floor, so it’s the perfect spot for a wedding. They’ll have the ceremony inside and when they’re busy taking pictures outside, the staff will transform it for the reception. They usually help with the prep when we haveevents there, but with the short notice and cabins booked solid, they’re already working overtime.

“Everyone needs to be in proper formal attire, so if you need new clothes, don’t go shoppin’ last minute,” Mom warns. “I want the boys in suits and the girls in dresses.”

Bodie groans. He hates wearing anything that isn’t jeans and his dirty ball cap.

Bellamy doesn’t look too thrilled about it either.

“And if you’re bringin’ a plus-one, you better let me know so we have enough chairs.” Mom glances at Silas. “That goes for you too.”

“Oh…I’m invited?” He bashfully points to himself.

“Of course! You’re livin’ here and you’ve been a part of the family for years anyway. If Posey ever lets you date without the threat of firin’ ya, you should bring someone.”

“Why am I the bad guy for enforcin’ the policy that you two wrote?”

“I don’t remember that part.” Mom shrugs.

“It was added in after a couple broke up and it caused a massive fight amongst the other employees. They were all takin’ sides and it was a whole mess,” Dad explains. “Lost half the workers ’cause they refused to work with the one who supposedly cheated on the other.”

“Okay, see?” I hold out my hand toward him. “Policy is there for a reason.”

Maisie snickers. “Guess that means you and Silas can’t date.”