Page 58 of The Jellybean Dilemma

The back-off look he shot Trevor had the younger man almost falling out of his chair in an excuse to find somewhere else to be. It was hard to hide my chuckle and it felt good to be claimed. Some of my doubt receded.

My stomach growled as the DJ announced that everyone needed to take their seats so he could introduce the newlyweds. They danced through the door, Lauren and her husband first, as well as she could with her protruding stomach. Next came Erin and Dale, both of them loosened up a bit, flushed cheeks a telltale sign they’d already begun drinking.

Then it was time for Mandy and Peter, who shimmied their way to the head table. Everyone started clinking their silverware against their glasses before they’d even sat down, calling for Peter to kiss his bride. I beamed as he dipped Mandy backward, kissing her soundly.

The wedding party went through the food line first, but our table was next. I gaped as I surveyed the many dishes. Pot roast, chicken, mashed potatoes, white cheddar macaroni and cheese, green beans almondine, the softest rolls ever and a beautiful spring mix salad. My eyes were way bigger than my stomach, and I sat down with my plate piled high. No way could I eat all this.

Greg sat beside me, and he chuckled. “Get a little carried away there?”

“I’m hungry!” I protested. “And everything just smelled so good.”

“I’ll plan on not going up for seconds, then. Until I see what you don’t eat.” His tender smile had my stomach flipping, making me feel warm and cozy like I’d been wrapped in a blanket straight from the dryer.

“Sounds perfect.” He’s perfect. I stared at him a minute longer before I started eating. The phrase ‘too good to be true’ flitted through my mind as doubt wriggled in my gut. It can’t just leave me alone for five seconds? I sighed. Maybe I can bury it in food. I tried my best, but in the end, I was just too full.

Chapter Seventeen

My food coma made the toasts drag on forever, then it was time for the opening dances. Peter and Mandy danced for their first time to All of Me by John Legend. It was so perfect, watching the two of them gaze at each other as if the rest of us didn’t exist.

Maybe we didn’t. Not for those few moments, anyway.

Then Mandy danced with her father. Once again, I thought about dancing with my dad. I hadn’t gotten as far as picking out a song, but the idea of it made me a little sad. My dad and I weren’t particularly close.

Greg’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “Rhonda?”

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked, startled.

His smile dimmed a little, a hint of uncertainty making his dimple disappear. “I asked if you wanted to dance to the next song. It’s for couples, but we don’t have to.”

“No.” I sighed, wanting to kick myself. “I mean, I’d love to dance with you. I owe you after all.”

His face fell at my last sentence. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut and pled the need to use the bathroom or something. The doubt spread further, fed by my own bumbling idiocy.

“All couples to the dance floor,” the DJ boomed. He started a slower Ed Sheeran song. “Okay, so we’re going to find out who here has been together the longest. Anyone married for less than a day, off the floor.” Everyone chuckled as Mandy and Peter hung their heads and shuffled off the dance floor.

“Anyone together less than a year, off the floor.” Greg and I glanced at each other before heading back to our seats.

Disappointment wriggled in me that our time on the floor had been so short, though I was relieved not to face the awkwardness building between me and Greg. He sat with me as they went through everyone left on the floor. Peter’s grandparents won, together for over sixty-five years.

I snagged a glass of champagne as a waiter made the rounds, more than ready to have a little help for the next round of dancing. Maybe it would drown the doubt too.

Greg glanced around the crowded room. “I feel like I should mingle. There’s a lot of family I haven’t seen in a while. Want to come?” he asked hopefully.

I shook my head, holding up my glass of champagne. “Nah, I think I’ll just sit and sip for a while. It was a long afternoon.”

Disappointment scuttled across his face, but he blinked, and it was gone. Then I blinked, and so was he. What had happened to the open, easy conversation of this morning? Where were the dimpled smiles, the hand-holding and casual touches? This weird tension between us had my overly large dinner sitting in my gut like a brick.

I took another sip, hoping I could ease the tension, one way or another.

Harry sat next to me, asking how things were with me and my brother. I caught him up on Derek’s success, how he’d graduated with his Master’s and the way his app reshaped the shipping industry. But then I ran out of Derek anecdotes and the conversation circle back to me.

So, I excused myself to the bathroom. I definitely didn’t want to answer questions about Greg at the moment, and as for what else was going on in my life, I had nothing.

What am I doing? I washed my hands, reapplied my makeup and repositioned a bobby pin to tuck in an escaped curl. I thought about Derek who’d already accomplished so much. Then I stared at my reflection, once again playing dress up with a fake date.

Same old, tired song.

It was New Year’s Eve, for crying out loud. This was the time for resolutions and new leaves and promises. I straightened up, looking myself dead in the eye. This will be my year. I’ll find myself, no matter what it takes. I didn’t need a guy to do that, though it would be nice.

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