The Luxury of Being Stubborn (The Stubborn Series Book 4)

by Jeanne Arnold

We stood under the tent and watched Gabe and Troy help set up a sound system on the stage with some other people I didn’t recognize. In a matter of twenty minutes, two dozen workers arrived and transformed the backyard into a dance club and amphitheater. Waiters served a second round of champagne to tie over the guests.

  “It is kind of weird. The marriage part,” he said. “It’s always been me and Ma.”

  I bumped my cousin’s elbow. “Maybe Emmie will get a new sister or brother.”

  “I hope not. Then I’ll have to sleep in a closet.” He gestured at the farmhouse with his thumb. “I saw Molly go in the house.”

  “She told Caleb that Eli was his kid.”

  Josh looked away to check his phone. “I’m so glad I don’t live here now.”

  “Avery!” Shelly shouted. The small girl waved as she ran at me. “Deliah just told me. What a lucky duck.”

  Josh’s expression made me chuckle. “Are we talking about the wedding or something else?”

  “Gabe caught Deliah kissing Travis Ingarson in your bedroom,” I said.

  His eyes spread. “Travis Ingarson? What’s she doing with that wimp?”

  I made eyes at my cousin.

  “She’s in love,” Shelly exclaimed. “Maybe I’m next. Maybe Caleb will dance with me.”

  I bumped Josh’s arm. “If he doesn’t, you can ask Josh.”

  “I heard Rachel got sent away,” he said to Shelly. My ears perked up.

  “She did. I kid you not—she’s shoveling manure on my uncle’s farm.” Shelly grinned and turned to watch the stage.

  Gabe stood up from squatting in front of a speaker when he saw us watching. He was wearing his glasses. He saluted before he returned to setting up his equipment. I had nothing better to do, so I studied his movements, everything he did with his hands. Watching him in motion sped up my metabolism.

  “Avery, keep an eye on your sister while I check on your mother.” My father took my wrist and placed my sister’s hand in mine. “Don’t let go of her. It’s getting dark. There’s about to be some commotion.”

  “Howdy, y’all. Can y’all give me your attention?” said Mr. Halden as he walked to the center of the stage holding a microphone. A strobe light slashed the sky, and stage lights came on and lit him up. He set his other hand on his shiny belt buckle. “Thank you for your patience. I have another surprise, actually I have a few. Mrs. Halden, could you please join me on stage?”

  Meggie emerged from a gathering of Air Force alumni. She shook her head back and forth as she climbed the steps. She touched Gabe’s shoulder as she passed him.

  “Pardon me if I sound like a braggart, but my wife is glowing,” his father said in his best Texas accent. He really had no idea how glowing she was. “Because of you, darling, I’m wearing stars in my crown tonight.”

  Meggie covered her eyes with her hands. Then she said, “Thank you. I’m just happy you haven’t been called off for a phone conference in your tower.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “I’ll admit I’ve been playing with the idea of busing these folks over for a tour.”

  “Do you have three hundred hard hats on hand? Oh never mind, look who I’m asking!”

  The crowd applauded.

  “Before I reveal tonight’s big treat, I want to again thank y’all for joining us here at the farmhouse. Contrary to popular belief, I’ve always adored this piece of property. It’s absolutely fitting that we were able to exchange our vows at our home in the presence of our dear family and our wonderful guests. However, I’ve noticed we’re outgrowing this house. You can’t argue with the truth, Margareta.”

  “Is that supposed to mean something?” she asked playfully.

  He pretended to zip his lips. Some of the party guests laughed.

  Meggie inclined the microphone and placed her hand on his back. I could feel the announcement coming. She was about to upstage his surprise party sabotage. “I do have one item I was planning to share tonight.”

  “Please,” he said. “Be my guest.”

  “It’s not about you, Joel. How about that?”

  My father whistled through his fingers and held up his beer. My mother stood beside him. She looked recovered.

  “Daddy did that,” Brianna told me as I waited for Meggie’s big reveal.

  Instead, Gabe walked over to Mr. Halden and my aunt. Meggie handed him the microphone, and my heart began to race. What in the world was he doing?

  “Howdy. Good evening, y’all,” he drawled and then appeared to look for me. A light gust blew over, and he grabbed his cowboy hat before it flew off his head. “Meggie and I and the rest of the family want to congratulate my girlfriend Av’ry on graduating high school at the top of her class.”

  Meggie spoke into the microphone. “Avery is my beautiful niece from Syracuse. You might recognize her from her brief stint as a poster model. She didn’t have a graduation party, so tonight we’d like to recognize her achievement.”

  All sensation left my limbs, and I let go of my sister’s hand.

  “Congratulations to our graduate,” said Meggie. “Do you want to come up here, kiddo? We have something for you.”

  My feet wouldn’t move. I couldn’t take a deep breath. I shook my head.

  “She said no,” Deliah shouted.

  “Aw, giddy up,” Gabe said.

  I mouthed my refusal, so he could see I was serious. I wanted him to stop. I had no interest in getting on the stage.

  “Go on, Avery,” said my father. “Don’t make me carry you.”

  “Take me!” yelled Brianna.

  My mother looked at me and motioned to the stage. “Take your sister up there.”

  “I’m going to kill you,” I told Gabe through my teeth when I reached him.

  “Only if you do it my way,” he whispered.

  Meggie gave me a hug and set a graduation cap on my head. “Each time one of the boys graduated, we got them something special. Your mom, dad, Joel and I put our heads together and decided to get you something you could use out here.”

  I turned into a robot. My movements were forced, and my throat was so narrow I couldn’t push any words out.

  Troy sat down at a set of drums and played a drum roll. Out of the darkness two headlights crept into the grass strip between the tent and the stage.

  “No way,” I said as Gabe guided me back down the steps. I clung to his arm as if I were on a game show being led to the grand prize.

  “Congratulations, honey,” my father said when he met us at the vehicle. The wind picked up, and the graduation cap flew off.

  “J-E-E-P,” exclaimed my sister as she ran around Gabe’s legs. The way the lights shined I couldn’t tell what it was. I didn’t care. They bought me a car.

  “Congratulations, Miss Ross,” said Mr. Halden from the stage. I tuned out whatever else he said as I took in the vision of my shiny, new gift.

  “We’re proud of you, Avery,” said my father. “I hope this means you’ll stay clear of motorcycles.”

  “Thank you so much!” I hugged him excitedly and then turned to find my mother looking in the back window. Gabe opened the driver’s door, and Caleb slid out.

  “Legs, congrats,” Caleb said. “Way to steal the limelight from those two.”

  I rolled my eyes and let him hug me. He dropped the keys into my hand, and I grabbed his muscular arm but let go right away. “Caleb, is Molly still here?”

  He bit his lips together. Then he jammed his hands in his back pockets and grinned. I took that as a good sign.

  “I think there’s enough room, Sean,” my mother told my father.

  “Room for what?” I asked.

  Brianna climbed onto the front seat and bounced on her knees. She turned the steering wheel and made engine sounds deep in her throat. Gabe carefully wrapped his arms around my shoulders and kissed my cheek. I thought my graduation had long been forgotten.

  “You’re right,” said my father over the roof. “One seat and one booster will fit comfortably
if she’s got both of them.”

  “What are you talking about?” I said.

  “Val, do you want to tell her or should I?”

  My mother circled the Jeep and set her hands on her waist. I let my gaze linger on her hands.

  Gabe snorted his reaction at my ear. He was thinking the same thing I was. My mother had a baby bump under her dress.

  “You’re pregnant?” I blurted and then covered my mouth.

  My mother’s smile danced on her face. “We thought you’d never notice.”

  My father snuck up behind her and grabbed her hips. “Did you think your sister was the last? I’m thinking maybe six more girls.”

  “He and Joel started a competition,” Meggie said as she placed her hand on my good shoulder and pulled me out of Gabe’s embrace. I glanced sideways and offered her a questioning look.

  “But I thought—”

  “I thought I was too. Turns out your mom beat me to the punch.”

  * * *

  The tent was lit like a movie set. White lights were strewn from post to post. Fireworks were shooting off in neighboring fields while some of Meggie’s boarders lit firecrackers behind the coop. Meggie and Joel were having their first dance. It was practically adult rated. When Mr. Halden paid attention to my aunt, he really paid attention. Sometimes he was nothing like the arrogant, bossy bigwig, ex-fighter pilot Gabe made him out to be, and in every way a doting romantic.

  My sister fell asleep with her head on Josh’s leg. She was so tired she forgot it was the Fourth of July. I thought I would let Josh suffer a few more minutes before I carried Brianna into the house. Shelly told me Molly slipped her twenty bucks to watch Eli along with the girls. I was half excited and half terrified for Molly to stick around.

  “My parents swore they’d never buy me a car,” I told Josh. “I can’t believe I have my own Jeep. I can’t believe they’re having another kid. I can’t believe they’re still doing it.”

  “Tell me about it. They think we’re careless? Ma has no idea what she sent me away to. A year ago she would never have let me go.”

  “I thought it was a boys’ camp.”

  “It is—with a girls’ camp right across the lake. Nobody cares what happens at night.”

  “So Meggie’s getting more for her money, and you learned to row a boat, among other things,” I teased.

  Josh tugged his collar away from his neck and showed me his love bite. “I don’t even know who gave this one to me.”

  “Joshie, that’s just plain gross. I’d keep that to myself if I were you.”

  He leaned closer. “I hope they don’t make me dance here.”

  “I wish we could go for a drive. Gabe’s taking forever to set up.”

  “Bring your sister inside, and we’ll sneak out. I need a smoke anyway.”

  I stood up and glared at him disapprovingly.

  “Don’t play Miss Perfect with me,” he said. “Lemme see your keys. My truck is buried ten deep.”

  I handed him the keys and scooped my sister up and cradled her in my arms. She didn’t even wake up.

  Josh waited at the front door until I came out. I took a moment to absorb the festive mood as we walked to the road, winding in and out of abandoned cars and trucks. My Jeep was parked a few yards behind a bus that had its headlights on.

  Gabe’s voice stopped me cold. I heard him talking excitedly. He didn’t sound like himself.

  “Gabe? Is that you?”

  A flash went off, and I blinked. I couldn’t see where it came from.

  Gabe walked in front of the bus and stopped in the headlights. He stared at my dress and then at my face. “Av’ry, what are you doing down here? There’s a reporter sneaking around.”

  “Is that who you’re talking to?” I asked. “Josh and I were looking for the Jeep.”

  “You should go back,” he said as he stepped up to me. He was wearing his glasses.

  “Who’s on the bus?”

  He looked flustered as if I caught him with blood all over his hands. He had his guitar case strapped across his chest. “Nobody.”

  Josh lit a cigarette behind a pickup truck. I caught the glow of his lighter in the window.

  “I can see through your dress. Move out of the light,” said Gabe.

  “Why? Who’s on the bus?”

  “Aw, Av’ry. Do you want me to ruin it?”

  I placed my fists on my hips. “Yes. I’ve had enough surprises for a lifetime. What are you hiding?”

  “Clearly, I’m not hiding. Come with me.”

  He led me up the bus steps.

  “This is Willie Nelson’s bus,” I whispered loudly.

  “Yup. This one’s a loaner. They broke down in town yesterday. Lieutenant put them up in a friend’s summer home and trucked this in from Rapid City.”

  “Is he here?”

  “Yup. He’s in the trailer smoking a joint. The band’s warming up. They snuck him out when we were presenting your gift.”

  I closed my eyes and tried not to squeal. “Meggie’s going to die!”

  “They’re on their way to a music fest in the Black Hills. The Lieutenant asked him to swing by for a set.”

  Another camera flashed outside the bus. Gabe took off. I stood in the middle of the traveling living room and was reminded of what happened in Texas at Thanksgiving.

  “I found it!” a female voice exclaimed. “Gabe, it’s in here on the bed!” A girl appeared in the hallway. She was carrying a guitar strap. She offered me a questioning eye. “Are you Avery? Gabe’s told me about you. He’s such a doll. I’ve seen you around together. I work at Albertsons part-time.”

  I tipped my head and tried to place her face. “Are you Troy and Travis’s sister?” I noted the family resemblance. They were all light haired with blue eyes. I wondered if Caleb knew her.

  “Yeah. I’m their big sister. I’m Erika. Erika Ingarson Loch. But I’m dropping the Loch.”

  “It’s damn near impossible to catch them in the dark,” Gabe’s voice projected up the stairs.

  I took the bus steps carefully and spotted him in a shadow.

  Erika followed me down the steps. Whatever perfume she was wearing caught my nose.

  “Hey,” said Gabe. “You meet Av’ry?”

  She nodded and held up the strap. “I’ll run it up to Troy. Maybe I’ll catch up with you later,” she told me.

  A hint of a smile played on Gabe’s features.

  “Are you smirking?” I asked.

  He looked over his shoulder. “Josh just took off in your Jeep.”

  “We were trying to sneak out. You weren’t up there to dance with me. I guess you had something better to do.”

  Gabe stared at me musingly then rolled his sleeves to his elbows.

  “You never introduced me to Erika before. She’s really pretty. She smells good.”

  Gabe didn’t respond. When I blinked, he closed the space between us.

  “She’s married.”

  “That doesn’t make her any less pretty. She called you into the bedroom.”

  His eyes closed, and I thought I heard him snicker. Suddenly, our fingers were touching, and we were standing toe to toe. Before I knew it, I was pressed against the side of the tour bus with my hands pinned to the steel wall.

  “There was never anything between me and her,” he said. Then he leaned in. “There’s nothing under your dress.”

  “Yeah there is,” I replied as his hand moved to my back.

  I tried to forget the last two minutes, but her perfume lingered.

  “I love how nobody knows what you’re really like,” he whispered as he lured my lips closer. In a matter of a few words, he had me under his spell.

  “I love watching you work on the stage,” I told him.

  “I love your neck.” He rubbed his nose underneath my ear and made me tremble.

  “I love how you say spoon.” I attempted to free my hand, but he held tighter.

  “What?” He laughed into my ear. “I love how you
taste better than candy.”

  “I love how your eye color changes with your mood.”

  He paused before he responded.

  “I love how you get all worked up over the dumbest things.”

  “I love how you care what happens to your brothers and Deliah.”

  “I love what happens to us at weddings,” he replied. “I always wondered if you would have let me…in my room last summer.”

  He let go of my arms and ran a hand over my hip. The dress moved up my legs. I didn’t care that we were about to be stock footage for a tabloid. Our mouths were a breath away from connecting. My patience grew thin. I grabbed his head and smashed my lips into his. It was my turn anyway. I kissed him greedily until I was lightheaded. He pressed his hand on my chest and squeezed me through the front of my dress.

  The wind gusted by the bus, and Gabe pulled back.

  “If we weren’t out here, you’d have this dress off,” he said.

  I slipped my hand around his back and tugged on his shirt. He hesitated to move as I danced my fingers over his skin. Then he pressed his mouth into mine, making me dizzy and oblivious of everything outside of our world. I could taste the liquor he stole on his tongue. I could taste his wild imagination.

  “This is riskier than the mile high club,” I whispered into his kiss as my heart thumped against his.

  “What do you know about that?” he asked in a comical tone as he snuck his hands behind my neck.

  “Hopefully as little as you.” I drew my hand around his waist and found his scar.

  “Av’ry, we gotta cool it. I’m not gonna be able to go up there,” he said as he backed up and left me holding myself to the bus. He was as stirred up as I was. I stared into the shadows as he tucked his shirt in and ran his hands through his hair.

  * * *

  The night air was charged. Half of the guests were plastered by the time the band started playing. The lawn was covered with blankets, empty bottles, and dancing people. My aunt was beside herself, dancing on a chair behind her stoic husband, singing along to her favorite Willie Nelson songs. She was waving the bandana she used as a blindfold. I sat to the side of the stage with Deliah and watched Gabe jam on Eli’s guitar. The band played for hours before they took a break to watch the fireworks show.