Page 47 of Forgetting Rafe Thomas
Natasha’s eyes slowly glide from me to Griffin. She doesn’t hide the fact that she’s examining every inch of his face, which probably means she’s a soccer fan. She recognizes him, though maybe not as easily out of uniform.
“It’s…nice to meet you both,” Natasha says.
Luna’s eyebrows arch, and suddenly, it makes more sense to me. Natasha has no idea who my brother is. It’s hisfacethat’s got her attention.
“So, your gown looks amazing,” Luna says, bringing the attention back around to the group. Natasha’s sea-green gown sets off her hair as well, and I realize my brother is staring a little too hard for a man who is still nursing a broken heart. There’s no chance I let him swoop in and make the googly eyes at Luna’s best friend.
While the girls are chatting, I elbow him.
“Ow, what was that for?” he scowls and tubs his sore ribs.
I manage to manhandle him a few feet away from the ladies and play it off as if we are getting drinks. “Ease off the…staring.You have no business getting involved with a perfectly nice woman so soon after Melody dumped you.”
His scowl deepens. “I’m not looking to get involved with anyone, but it would be nice to have someone to dance with tonight. She’s clearly single. What’s wrong with two people enjoying each other’s company with no strings attached?”
I cock an eyebrow and clench my jaw. “I’m going to assume you did not mean that the way it sounds.”
“What do you mean, the way it…Rafe, youknowbetter than that. I meant, what’s the harm in hanging out together through this gala? A few dances, nice conversation, maybe walk away friends. That’s all I meant, and you know it.”
“Look, I just got Luna back. Don’t make things difficult for me by messing around with her friend’s heart, okay? Dance, talk, laugh, whatever, but when the night is over, you better not leave with her number or any intentions of anything more.”
He rolls his eyes. “Fine. I got it.”
Griffin grabs a glass of sparkling water, gives me one final frustrated glance, and heads back over to the ladies. He’ll honor my wishes, but he doesn’t seem happy about it. Still, I’m just trying to look out for him and Natasha. No one needs that sort of drama right now, so it’s best to keep things professional ormildlyfriendly.
“Did you give him the warning?” Luna appears at my side and picks up a glass of water. Griffin and Natasha are talking, but there are three other people engaged in the conversation as well. I’m not too worried, at least, not right now.
“I did. I think we’re good.”
“Perfect. Now, come dance with me.” Luna sets her glass down and takes my hand, dragging me to the dance floor. This is not the first time she’s had to do such a thing—after all, there werehomecoming dances and prom I had to suffer through. But this part? Holding her in my arms, looking down at my beautiful fiancée? That part made the misery of social interaction worth every second.
“You know how much I love you?” she asks.
“Can’t hurt to clarify,” I tease.
“Enough to admit your mother’s thought about a triple wedding is beginning to sound appealing. If we separate them all out, it’s a lot of work spread over a long time. It’ll be a pain to try to work around everyone’s needs.”
“What are you saying?” I ask, determined to make sure we are always on the same page or working to get there from now on.
“Oh, I don’t know. I’d love to have my own wedding, but I don’t want to wait until next year or longer to do it.”
“So don’t worry about them. You tell me when you want it, and that’s what we’ll do. What my family wants has no bearing on what we do, right?”
Luna gazes up at me as if turning the question back on me. The Thomas family is tight, almost too tight sometimes, and going your own way can be difficult. There’s so much love involved with everything we do, but this is about Luna and me. Our future. It’s our decision and no one else’s.
I nod, encouraging her to go on.
“Well, I always dreamed of a fall wedding. Like harvest-themed when the leaves are changing colors, you know? All warm and cozy and cottage like.”
“That’s what would make you happy?” I rub my hands up and down her back, soothing her so she feels safe telling me the truth.
“It would. What do you want?”
“Exactly that. Maybe we can do it at our house and save a little money on a venue so we can put more into other things like catering or a band?”
She nods exuberantly, her smile widening. “Sounds perfect. So…this fall?”
“October?”
