Three

Link

A ndy's eyes glowed with happiness, and when I leaned in and kissed him, it was like the first time all over again. Only this time it was better. I kissed my future husband at the bar in the middle of our small town, and not one person protested. In fact, they cheered for us, and the circle of friends we'd grown up with, plus a couple of new additions, gathered around Andy and me.

"I can't tell you how relieved I am that he finally asked you," Curt said just before Toni pinched him on the arm and he flinched away. "What? You know I suck at keeping a secret."

"He's not lying," Erik said, and pulled Sam close.

"So, what's the plan?" Andy asked.

"Well, we've talked so many times about getting married at Erik's barn so that's what we're doing. Your parents have been out there all week helping set it up. It's beautiful, Andy. I can't wait to show you," I said, and just talking about it made me smile so big it hurt.

"Is this what you've been busy with? Oh my God, Link, I knew you were up to something, but I hadn't figured out what it was yet." I'd been sneaking around the past week. Getting up even earlier than normal—which was way too early for Andy—and not coming home until after dark. "I thought you were planting or harvesting or doing something on the farm. You're too good at being sneaky."

"I've had lots of help. Stu, Morgan, and everyone else pitched in. We had a few new ideas for the place and with us all working together we made it happen."

"So, what about Thanksgiving?" Andy asked.

"What about it? We're having dinner tomorrow with your family, and on Saturday afternoon you'll be meeting me at Sam and Erik's barn to marry me." I took his hand and kissed his palm. "You're making my dream come true, Andy," I said just loud enough for everyone to hear. Blair's eyes shone with emotion, and Stu rolled his eyes before pulling Morgan close and kissing his cheek.

"Is there anything left for me to do?" He rubbed his hands together and looked at our friends. They'd done so much but I loved that he wanted to help in any way he could.

"No, we've taken care of everything. Well, there is one thing. I ordered tuxes and you need to go to Colusa the day after Thanksgiving to make sure yours fits and pick them up." I watched as he thought about my words before slowly nodding.

"I didn't have a fitting," he said, once again sounding confused.

"I know. I gave them a pair of your dress slacks and they took measurements from one of your jackets," I explained, and hoped he'd just go along with it and not question too much. He'd never sat back and watched anything without getting involved or helping in some way. I leaned in for another kiss before pressing my forehead against his and willed him not to ask too many questions.

"How did I get so lucky to have someone like you love me?"

His words surprised me. I was the one who'd been in love with him and hadn't been brave enough to tell him. I counted myself lucky every day we were together. "Andy, I feel the same way. Every morning when I wake up next to you, and every night when I kiss you before going to sleep, I ask myself how I managed to get so lucky."

"Dammit, Link," he managed to choke out.

I pulled him closer into my arms, and I could feel his smile as he buried his face in my neck. "I love you, Andy," I whispered.

"I love you too," he said. The rest of the night we spent the way we always did. Playing pool or darts and shooting the shit. Erik and Curt argued over yet another game of pool while Morgan sat to the side and smiled when Stu looked his way.

"I don't think I've ever seen Stu smile as much as he has since he met Morgan," Andy said. I turned to look at them before hefting my bottle to Stu in a toast which he returned, seeming to read my mind.

"I think both of them are happier together than they ever were apart. Same with Erik and Sam. Kinda feels like you city boys are trying to take over." I winked at him before taking another sip of my beer.

"City boy? Me?" He pressed his hand to his chest in fake shock. "You know for a fact I'm a country boy, born and bred."

I smirked and tipped my head. "Oh, I know, but you're not all country. Maybe you never were. You've always had the lights of the big city in your eyes, and I get why you've been attracted to it. But I'm happy we've found a way to work around your job and the two of us living here. You've made me so happy, Andy." I said this often, but I wanted him to know how I felt. I'd hidden too much for too long and for the rest of my life, I was done with hiding.

"I still can't believe I had no clue you were attracted to me."

I'd loved Andy with every part of my heart for as long as I could remember, and every time we got together it was harder for me not to tell him. Of course, the night I finally told him, thanks to the shots we'd done earlier, he didn't remember. But I was patient and let him remember for himself. We'd been together ever since. "Well now you know, and that's all that matters."

His eyes sparkled, and I was reminded once again how lucky we both were to find love and happiness in someone who had been a friend. No one knew us the way we knew each other.

Just then Curt slid a shot of something in front of Andy before Toni brought out the fly swatter and chased him off. "It's only soda, I was just kidding," Curt yelled as he ducked behind a few other locals to avoid Toni.