Impulsion (Station 32 #1)(84)

“Our fathers…did your dad meet Quinn? Did you talk to my dad?” Most times, Harley had a pretty good gauge on what communication Collin had with either of their parents, but the closer this party came to be, the more of it there seemed to be—meaning this impending drama was building faster than Harley would ever want it to.

“He keeps cancelling on me, and when he reschedules Quinn is back in Boston.”

“Denial?”

“I don’t know.”

“He has to have a clue, though. You’ve had lunch with him every other week for the last two months.”

“Right, but that is all about business or school. He cuts me off every time I even try to bring you or Quinn up.”

That wasn’t really enough to raise a red flag. Conrad was a lot like Harley’s father, always knew what drama was going on in his family but rarely engaged, and when he did engage it, he had the last say in how any matter would be handled.

“What did my mother want?”

“She said that they were staying a few days past when they were to travel back and needs you to basically play her role, make sure the party was set to perfection. She said she was forwarding you the coordinator’s contact information and everything you needed to check for the party.”

“Does she not realize that is what coordinators are for?”

Collin laughed when he heard the snap in Harley’s tone. He’d heard it in the past, but only after Harley had been pushed way past any limit one could be asked to withstand.

“Right, but she needs you to breathe down their neck the way she always does.”

“No, she needs someone to blame if something goes wrong.”

“If we pull this deal off, how the flower arrangements are set will doubtfully be noticed.”

“And what is the plan with that? You’re engaged, Quinn has your grandmother’s ring, and our mothers have all but given you cue cards on how to propose to me. You’ve tried giving your dad a heads up ten times over, and he’s ignoring you.”

And Wyatt doesn’t know a damn thing about this, she thought to herself.

“I halfway think that is why my dad keeps pushing me back; it’s like he’s looking forward to the uproar. I’ve tried giving him a heads up, thought maybe he would want to make this a quieter affair, but it’s almost like he’s agreeing with me—the only way our mothers or the world is going to let us get out of this is by announcing it on this platform. That’s the only way we can control the drama.”

“By making drama? You’re not serious.”

“I am. Now the only time he can meet Quinn is the morning of the party for breakfast, maybe dinner the night before.”

“This is stupid.”

“No, it’s not. He and your dad are supposed to play golf the day before. I’m going to meet them on the course, talk to my dad, then yours. The next day, we will have breakfast, and then have a party.”

“And you’re going to leave it to your dad to tell your mother?”

“No, there is supposed to be an inner circle toasting. A select bottle of wine from your father’s collection is going to be shared, then a mingling deal before the big party, or as the other guests arrive. That is when I’m supposed to say whatever, when I’m going to tell them the growing apart story, how I fell for Quinn. Apologize to you and our family all at once.”

“Collin—”

“It’s going to be perfect. I swear to you. Your dad is going to know it’s coming; it’s not going to shock him. He can ensure whoever he doesn’t want to hear my speech is not in the room. It will just be our mothers caught off guard, which is what we want.”

“I just don’t care what they think anymore.”

“You care what your father thinks. I know you do.” He paused for a second. “I just sent the flights. I’m going to be in Wellington just before this, having dinner with Quinn’s parents. I’m going to fly to you so we can fly in together. Quinn is going on to Boston to pack her apartment.”

“I need to pack your apartment.”

“Oh yeah?” he said in his most carefree tone. She could see the smile on his face.

“I don’t really need any of that, but Quinn needs the space.”

“I have an awesome shipping company lined up that could take your things to Willowhaven,” he said.

“The only thing I would want up there would be my horses and a few things from the barn, the rest…I don’t know.”

“Look, I’m not Wyatt. I don’t know how he thinks, but I will tell you, until I get Quinn’s things and my things in one place, it will still feel too distant. Call me a selfish bastard, but I don’t want her to have a home away from me.”

“You’re more like Wyatt than you think. It’s different for me, though. This was always home; everything there was just a costume my mother put me in.”

“Then burn it. You’re in love with a fireman, no? I’m sure he can make sure it’s a controlled bonfire.”

Harley laughed, not only because he wanted her to, but also because she felt like it and could clearly imagine the bonfire of a lifetime occurring in her future.

“I can’t wait to meet him,” Collin said.

“You’re coming here?”