My Cowboy Crush

Chapter 5

Chapter 5Katie

"Hey, honey, what are you doing?" Mama braced her hand on the doorway. "Are you ready for the big day?"

I nodded. And double-checked my list. "Can you help me go over this?"

"Sure," she said, "Camera."

"Check." I packed the large professional camera in my bag.

"Memory card."

"Check."

"Extra memory card."

"Check."

"Notebook."

"Check."

"Laptop, extra batteries, extra lenses."

"Got it."

"Well, honey, I think you've got everything."

I packed it all into my backpack and slung it over my shoulder. Nervous butterflies danced in my stomach. I pushed a stray curl behind my ear and looked around my pink room.

"Well Mama, this room has not changed in the five years I've been gone."

She chuckled. "No, I couldn't bear to make it into a room of my own. I left all of your stuff here in case you ever decided to come back and stay at the ranch."

I glanced over at her as she choked up on the last words of the sentence. Tears ran down the edge of her cheek.

"Oh Mama, don't cry." I stepped across the pink plush rug and wrapped her into a hug.

I never realized how much Mama and Daddy missed me. And at that moment, I missed them too. I missed Texas and I missed being on the ranch. I loved Colorado, my friends out there, my job, and my apartment. The mountains were beautiful; they took my breath away every time I saw them. It hit me that I missed my family. My eyes filled up with tears. Mama held me out at arm's length and wiped the tear that escaped from my eye.

"Now, don't you be crying on me? You're going to ruin your mascara." She dabbed at it and fixed my makeup. "Well, you better be going, girl. You're going to be late for the wedding."

I chuckled as I glanced at my watch. The wedding didn't start until two o'clock, and it was only nine in the morning.

"Well, I probably should get going so I can catch all the preparations." I held up my notebook. "She wants a lot of pictures."

Mama laughed with me, "that Annie sure knows how to put on a party."

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The park pavilion parking lot was full of cars and trucks by the time I arrived. Annie stuck her head out through the door when she heard my truck pull up.

"Katie, you're finally here! Hurry up, we've got a lot going on."

Anxiety grew in my stomach. It rolled around causing the butterflies to twist and turn. Nausea rose in my throat. I gave a small wave to Annie. She waved back before heading back inside. The door clicked shut behind her. Breathe in, Katie, breathe out. My head rested on the steering wheel, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach.

A knock sounded at my window. Levi grinned down at me through the window.

"Are you ok?" He opened my door and gently set his hand on my back, sending tingles down my spine.

"Just having a panic attack." My voice wheezed.

"Breathe in and out. You'll do great." He rubbed my back in slow circles. His voice calming my frayed nerves. I smiled weakly at him.