Lib Novel Page 91
“I almost didn’t let her leave the house,” a low voice says, and I turn to see Mac with his luscious beard, filling out his grey suit in ways that should be illegal. I no longer lust after him, now that Maren’s snagged him as her own, but I can’t help thinking of those days when he was my neighbor, teasing every housewife in the area with his near naked strolls.
Now he’s just my hot as hell Realtor.
“Naked Coff… Mac! Great to see you, you look well,” I say, then widen my eyes at Maren, as if Mac can’t see. He’s fighting a smile when I look back at him.
“Don’t inflate his ego,” Maren says. “He already has a hard time fitting through the door with that big head of his.”
“That’s not my head,” he murmurs in her ear. I bite back a laugh as Maren gives him a mock glare at his audacity.
The line moves quicker now, especially with Maren keeping me company. She gabs about all the ways Claire choreographed this whole wedding, and how perfectly imperfect it’s been, starting with the photographer calling in sick this morning.
“Luckily she knows a bunch of talented people,” Maren says. “She ended up hiring this college student who makes extra cash photographing her book crafts. He’s never done people, but what the hey.”
“Damn,” I breathe. I can only imagine how much Claire is freaking out. But when I say so, Maren shakes her head.
“Last I saw her, she was finishing her second glass of brut. She’s such a lightweight, she’s nothing but smiles.”
“And you’re not there with her?” I ask, realizing that this is probably when Claire needs her most.
“She’s fine,” Maren says. “But we both know how hard today will be.” She gives me a sympathetic look. “How are you holding up?” she asks, then tilts her head in Brayden’s direction. They’ve just boarded, and he takes one last look at me. It’s brief, as Jordy drags him off into the crowd.
“I’m okay,” I tell Maren. But I feel like an ass. I haven’t told her or Claire that Brayden and I reconciled, or even what our plans are after today. I don’t want anything to overshadow Ethan and Claire’s wedding. But looking at my friend now, I’m dying to tell her everything.
We board the ship, the last in line to do so, and I turn to Maren.
“Listen, I—” It’s then that I notice my mom staring in my direction. She says something to my father, then starts heading our way.
Fuck. It’s not the time. Just a few more hours, and I’m free.
“Thank you for staying with me,” I say to Maren. “But you should be with Claire.”
She shoots me a grateful smile. “Mac can stay with you,” she says, but I shake my head. I hardly know her boyfriend. Even though he’s working to find me a place for my new shop, almost all our business dealings have been handled through emails and texts. With my mom just seconds away, I can’t bear the idea of him overhearing anything she has to say to me. Because it won’t be nice.
“I’ll just check out what’s happening at the bar,” Mac says, then offers me a sideways hug. “Hang in there, kid.”
They both leave just as my mom reaches me. “So typical that you’re late,” my mom says. I turn to see her appraising me, stopping at my midsection. “Did you forget to wear your Spanx?”
I didn’t forget, and now I feel like a cow. But what’s new?
“Nice to see you, Mother,” I say coolly. “I think you were shaming me publicly the last time we spoke. Good to see times haven’t changed.”
Her face takes on a look of shock, then she catches herself. “Yes, well, if you’d call once in a while, we’d have plenty of pleasant conversations too.”
“Oh, right. All those mother-daughter heart-to-hearts we always have.” I tilt my head and pout in mockery. “I miss those.”
She seems at a loss of words, which is rare. Then she glances around to see who’s witnessing this exchange. Leave it to my mother to worry more about the opinions of strangers than that of her own daughter’s.
“Since you don’t have a date, your father is saving a seat for you next to us.”
I groan, thinking of what it will be like to sit with my mother for a whole ceremony. But before I can answer, an arm slides around my waist.
“She’s with us, Aunt Poppy,” Jordy says. I look to her and feel both relief at the quick save, and total dread at sitting next to the fake fiancé of the man I love. But at this moment, she feels like the safer option. I grin at her, then look at my mom.
“Sorry, guess I’m taken.” Then I let Jordy lead the way. She laughs once we’re out of earshot, and I can’t help but join in.
“I could see the venom in your stance a mile away. I did this purely to save Aunt Poppy from getting her eyes scratched out.” Jordy grins at me, then gestures at the row we’re in.
“Trust me, I’m not ruining this paint job on that sow,” I say, showing my gorgeous French manicure with glittery tips. I laugh, but my laugh falters when I see Brayden sitting in the row I’m about to enter. Our eyes meet, but I’m the first to look away, aware of Jordy standing so close to me. I look at her, checking to see if she noticed anything.