“How can I help you ladies?” He smiled at the table with a touch of nervousness in his eyes. Could you blame him? We were like three mama bears ready to protect our wounded cub.
“You own the place right?” Sawyer asked sharply.
“I do.” Waylon glanced to Annabelle, but she just shrugged. It took everything in my power to not laugh at his nervousness.
“Take a seat then. We need to have a little chat.” I scooted my chair over to make room for Waylon as he grabbed an empty stool from the table behind him.
“Let’s chat.” He held his hands out while a widening smile took over his face.
I dove right on in. “What are your intentions with our girl here?”
“What in the hell?” Annie yelled as she blushed. “Waylon, you don’t have to do this. They’re just protective.”
He put his hand on Annie’s before turning to me. “I intend on making her as happy as humanly possible for as long as she will let me.”
We all sighed dramatically in unison. It was like a scene right out of a cheesy chick flick, one of those moments you only imagine romance can actually be.
“So we don’t need to worry that you’re not into her or are going to hurt her?” Caroline narrowed her eyes at him.
“I am very much into this woman, and I have absolutely no intention of hurting her.” Waylon locked eyes with Annabelle before declaring, “I like you, Annabelle. I hope you know that.”
“I do,” she murmured, and we all swooned again.
“If you would excuse me, I do have a bar to run.” Waylon waved goodbye as we just stared at him in awe.
“Crap, he’s perfect. That hair, those teeth, that smile, that tattoo—add in that he is sweet and is a smitten kitten for you, Annie, and it’s all over. I am so fucking happy for you.” I gushed as I raised my glass high in the air. “To Annie finding her smile again.”
All of our glasses clinked together and goose bumps ran up my arms.
“I’m sorry I have been such a dreary rain cloud these last few years,” Annie apologized unnecessarily.
“Sweetheart, you can be a rain cloud as much as you want. It’s not like you’re going to snap out of it completely. There will still be good days and bad ones. We just want there to be more good days like yesterday in your future and less meltdown days like last Friday night. That’s all.” Caroline winked at Annabelle as she gripped her hand.
“You guys have no idea what your friendship means to me,” Annie said as she sniffled.
Putting my hand on top of hers, which was still clutching Caroline’s, I said, “We are family. This is what family does.”
Cue the waterworks from Annabelle, which we were very used to at that point. “I am going to run to the little girl’s room. I just need some tissues.”
“Want me to go with you?” Sawyer called out as she started to rush off.
“No, I’m fine.” Annie threw the words over her shoulder as she shuffled away, still wiping her eyes.
Sawyer cleared her throat once Annabelle was out of earshot. “That was unexpected.”
“I’ll say.” I beamed a little.
Caroline laughed.
“What?” I questioned.
“I was just thinking, what if Annie walks down the aisle for the second time before either of us get a chance to do it once?”
I shoved her shoulder playfully. “Don’t say that.”
Caroline’s face twisted a little as her brow furrowed. “Is it ever going to be our time?”
Sawyer turned to Caroline. “We’ll all have our day in the sun, but right now we just need to be a little less selfish and a little happier for our friend who has been hurting for a very long time.”