Page 20 of While You're There
Tori beamed up at him. She was certain she had only mentioned the camp and her volunteer position once or twice before. The fact that he remembered meant the world to her.
“It is. Our biggest program of the year is the summer sleepaway camp. It’s not until July, but I’m in charge of all the arts and crafts for both weeks, and it’s just easier to prep things in advance. I would say we could do it another night, but between my crazy schedule this week, and the fact that I promised our volunteer coordinator she could pick up the first set of canvases tomorrow, I need to at least get started tonight.”
“I got you, bro,” Anwar interjected from the table. Tori had almost forgotten he was there.
“Are you sure?” Fielding asked, glancing over at his friend.
“Yeah, I just texted Teddy and Cole.” Anwar held up his phone for emphasis. “I’m sure one of them will step up and switch shifts with you if they know it’s for Tori.”
Fielding grinned. “Looks like we’re getting crafty tonight, Thompson. What time should I be over?”
Tori pulled up into the Wheelers’ driveway around four p.m. that afternoon, curious to see what her mother-in-law was up to. Anne had texted her while she was hanging out with Fielding and asked her to stop by. She made her way around the side of the house and pulled open the sunroom door out of habit. When she stepped into the Wheelers’ well-appointed kitchen, she was instantly overwhelmed by the chaos in front of her.
Anne was talking through a Bluetooth headset, pacing between the fridge to the sink. She had a file folder in her hand, and a stern look on her face.Maddie and Lia were sitting at opposite ends of the kitchen table with stacks of paper and envelopes between them. They both had their heads down and hadn’t seen her walk in yet.
“Tori!” Anne exclaimed once she spotted her future daughter-in-law in the doorway. “Oh, sweetie, I’m so glad you’re here!”
Everyone’s attention turned to her as she slipped off her shoes. “What’s all this?” she asked, realization dawning on her as she asked the question.
“This is wedding planning central! Do you think Rhett would leave town without giving me a detailed task list and timeline?” Anne asked.
“Nice of you to finally join us, Tor.” Lia shot her a questioning look from behind a stack of envelopes. Tori smiled sheepishly as she made her way over to an empty seat at the kitchen table.
“I had plans with Fielding today. Anne didn’t even text me until a few hours ago.”
“I’m sorry for the late notice, sweetheart. Rhett made me promise not to text you until after lunch time. He said you needed rest and insisted we start without you,” Anne explained. Another call must have come through her headset because she wordlessly turned on her heel and resumed her pacing.
“Is Fielding that tan, blond-haired, blue-eyed hockey player that Rhett hates?” Maddie interjected. “He’s hot. We would make really cute kids.”
Tori rolled her eyes but held her tongue as she reached across the table to pick up one of the stuffed envelopes. The thick paper felt lush in her hands. She traced the outline of an embossed W in the upper left corner as she realized what exactly she was holding. Her eyes grew wide as she took in all the piles in front of her.
Lia lowered her voice before replying to Maddie. “That’s him. Or at least that’s one of him. Fielding’s a twin. He’s just fifty percent of the Haas Fuckboy Team.” Maddie’s eyes grew twice their normal size, a salacious smile blooming on her gorgeous face. Of course Lia’s description of the Haas brothers would pique her interest even more.
Tori pinched the bridge of her nose, thankful Rhett wasn’t here to overhear this exchange. But Lia wasn’t done. “So yeah, we’ve been sitting here all afternoon working on wedding invites while Tori’s been hanging out with the trust fund fuckboy who wants to get in her pants.”
“Lia!!” Tori scolded, whipping her head around to make sure her future mother-in-law hadn’t just heard that. “What is wrong with you?” she hissed. Her voice came out just above a whisper so as not to draw Anne’s attention. Maddie appeared to be fighting back a smile as she bit down on her lower lip.
“What?” Lia retorted. “It’s obvious he wants you, Tori. Anyone with eyes can see he’s into you.”
“Fielding and I are friends.Justfriends. I don’t think of him like that at all.”
“Gee, I would hope not, considering I’ve given myself three paper cuts so far while stuffing invitation envelopes for your wedding to Rhett.”
Tori crossed her arms across her chest and glared at her best friend from across the table. Before she could come up with a clever retort, Anne strode over and commanded their attention.
“Alright, ladies, let’s wrap these up so we can start on the favors,” she instructed before turning to Tori. “I’m so glad you’re here, Tori. We need to talk about dresses, and I want you to look over the guest list Everhett and I put together. I think we got everyone on your dad’s side of the family, but I wasn’t sure if there were any relatives on your mom’s side that you’d like to invite? Or if your dad wanted to bring a date?”
Tori shook her head to both questions. Her mom had been an only child, and both sets of her grandparents had passed away. She had very little family left in the world besides her aunt from Philadelphia and a great uncle who lived in an assisted living facility.And although her dad was dating someone, she was certain it was still too new to invite her to the wedding.
“Not to worry. It’s a small guest list as it is. We’re inviting around eighty people, but since it’s so short notice and overa holiday weekend, I think we can expect forty to fifty guests tops. Here”—she thrust a spreadsheet into Tori’s hands—“look this over, and once you sign off, we can talk about dresses.”
Tori’s eyes glazed over as she took in the detailed, color-coded spreadsheet. If anyone had ever wondered what traits Rhett got from his mom…
She gazed up at Anne in wonder. “I can’t believe you did all this.”
“Oh, sweetie, it’s nothing. I’m happy to help. Rhett gave me strict instructions not to stress you out with any of the wedding plans, so you need to tell me if I’m overstepping or if you want to be more involved. We’ve got to get most of the major to-dos checked off our list today and tomorrow since I’ll be in prom mode all weekend with Maddie.” Anne grinned down at her daughter and affectionately stroked her silky blonde hair. She was so in her element right now. “But I’ve already got a room block reserved for guests at the inn near the cabin, the caterers and rentals are all booked, and these invitations will go out tomorrow overnight express,” she exclaimed as she clasped her hands together.
“I can’t believe this is all really happening!” Maddie squealed in excitement.
