“You know, country life agrees with you, Josh. Gunner and I sure could use your help out here, especially with Drake moving to Austin and Aaron helping Jenny more and more with her event-planning business. ”
Josh turned and smiled at me.
“I would move out here in a heartbeat if I thought I could. My business is growing pretty fast in Austin though. ”
“Dude, you can make furniture anywhere. All this damn fresh air might also inspire you. . ”
Josh took in a deep breath. “All I smell is horse shit, dude. ”
I let out a laugh.
“How was your ride this morning with Heather?”
“Good. She still seems distant though, almost like she’s doing something wrong by spending time with me. ”
“I think I know why. ”
Josh stopped brushing and looked at me.
“Alright, asshole, you’re planning on sharing with me right?”
“Do you remember when Heather came back from the bathroom so upset on the night of my wedding?”
“Of course I do. ”
“Well, first off, I need you to know that Heather just told Ari and Ellie this a couple of weeks ago. ”
“What? What did she tell them, Jeff?”
“In the bathroom that night, Lynda told Heather that you asked her to marry you, but y’all had decided to wait on telling anyone. ”
Josh dropped the brush to the ground.
“Wait…what? I haven’t asked Lynda to marry me. She keeps pushing me, but I’ve never even mentioned marriage to her. ”
Josh put his hands on his knees. I walked up to him and put my hand on his back.
“Motherfucker. Is that why she started partying and everything? She thought I was getting married?” Josh asked.
“I guess so. Every time we ever asked her to come along and do something with us, as soon as she found out that you and Lynda were going to be there, she’d change her mind. Josh, do you love Lynda?”
Josh stood up and looked at me.
“I care about her, but do I love her enough to marry her? No, not at all. ”
“Do you love Heather?” I asked.
Josh looked at me with tears in his eyes. “Yes, I love her more than anything. ”
“Do you want to spend the rest of your life with her and only her?”
“Yes. ”
“Then, go the fuck after her. She took Rose, and is down at the river reading. ”
“Yeah, I know, I helped saddle her up. ”
“Sweet Pea could use some exercise. ” I said, raising my eyebrows.