Match Made in Valley View (Valley View Book #2)

Chapter 17

After spending some time with Jimmy and Tiff at their place, Holden, Hannah and I pile into my car and follow them out to the ranch. I’m tapping my finger along the edge of the steering wheel, my body full of anxiety. Wes and I have been getting along okay since our date, but going there for Thanksgiving seems like a pretty big deal.

Hannah looks over at me with a hint of worry in her eyes, “Is everything okay, Holls?”

“Yeah, it is fine. Just a bit anxious about everything.”

She furrows her eyebrows at me, “Anxious about dinner at your friend’s place?”

I stop tapping and glance quickly over to her, “Well, okay there is something you should probably know before we get to the Brown Ranch.”

“This sounds juicy,” Holden pipes up from the back seat.

“Shut up, Holden,” I snap back.

“Ignore him, what’s up?”

It is a good thing that it takes about twenty-five minutes to get to the ranch because I have enough time to let everything out. I tell them everything from the night at the bar, to the date at my place, to the text message, to the drama with Annabelle, everything. When we’re done they are both oddly quiet. “Neither of you are going to say anything?”

Holden is the first to be brave enough to speak up “So you accused him of cheating on you with his daughter?”

“You make it sound really bad. I didn’t know it was his daughter. They were just talking about this Annabelle person that he wasn’t getting along with.”

“Okay then,” he lets out a low whistle and then goes back to being quiet.

“Stop. You’re not making it better.” Hannah still hasn’t replied and the car goes back to silence. “So, listen I need you guys to realize that it might be awkward as hell. I know a lot of people are going to be there, so maybe it won’t be a big deal.”

“I think you’re overthinking this,” Hannah finally says something.

Holden agrees with her, “For real, Holls.” 

“You’re right. Maybe I am. That doesn’t make me any less anxious right now though.” Jimmy and Tiff turn down the road that heads to the ranch. I’m familiar with it from the wedding, but that is the only time I’ve been here and I didn’t even see most of the ranch. Both Holden and Hannah are staring out the window with their jaws slack.

“Holy shit, Jimmy’s parents live here?” Holden says from the backseat.

“It’s like….massive,” Hannah adds.

“Yep. I heard it is some ridiculous tens of thousands of acres of land. I know they have a bunch of barns and buildings on the property too. Wait until you see the house.”

“Must be nice,” Hannah awes next to me.

We park next to Jimmy’s truck and follow them towards the house. The butterflies in my stomach are out of control. I shouldn’t be nervous, but I’d be lying if I said part of me wasn’t still attracted to Wes and the idea of spending a holiday and meeting his parents was kind of getting to me. Jimmy opens the door and the house is filled with a roar of noise. The house is as gorgeous on the inside as it is on the outside. I only entered the house to clean up after dropping off the cake, so I’ve only seen a small portion of the house.

“Ahh there they are!” Betsy, Jimmy’s mom, welcomes us from the kitchen. She takes off her apron and starts to greet everybody properly.

“Hi, Mama,” Jimmy gives his mom a kiss on the cheek.