Page 134 of It Couldn't Be You
She was giggling with Tanya, Sarah, and her mom while her hair was primped. So, I relaxed and tended to my own appearance. I had been chatting with the stylist about my new job when Katie gasped, “Mom!”
The stylist and I both turned to Katie as she exclaimed, “Dad just texted. He got a big stain on his suit!”
There was scrambling, murmuring, and a speaker phone call where they learned a cup of coffee was the culprit. Linda griped that she had told him to wait to put on the suit until the very last minute.
Sarah shook her head and said, “Men.”
It was decided that Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez would rush off to the dry cleaners for an emergency appointment.
“But…” Katie buried her head in her hands. “What about our Canadian crew landing in like an hour?”
“I’ll go,” I offered. “I can race to the airport and meet them at baggage claim, then rush back here, throw on my dress, and go.”
“We’re already running late with this whole fiasco. Are you sure you can go right now? If not, maybe I can have one of the boys go?” I watched Katie reach to chew on her nails but then resist the urge.
“You know they’re busy—they were doing all the setup. I’m already primped, and I have no real duties. I’m the best person to go.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
“Okay. Okay! Can you leave, like, right now?”
Iwas starting my car when someone pounded on the passenger side door. I glanced to my right and watched Gabriel open the door and climb inside.
“I’m happy to see you, but I’m in a major hurry.” I gave a weak smile.
“Katie told me to assist you. She thinks you need help hauling luggage.”
“What? I don’t know if the wedding can spare you!” I was starting to catch the pre-wedding panic.
“I think me not going, or discussing it further with Katie, will stress her out more.”
I pressed on the gas and backed out of the driveway. “You’re right. It’s crunch time.”
I sped out of there.
“Iforgot what a speed demon you can be,” Gabriel said, dramatically clinging to his seat.
“I am barely going over the speed limit,” I said as he eyed the speedometer.
“Careful with the turns.” He winced as I rushed through a turn. Then he laughed. “Do you remember how we were late to my highschool graduation?”
I broke into a grin. “Yeah, Katie and I had thought it would be cute to surprise you by blindfolding you and taking you to a big breakfast at Bread & Butter. But we had not planned for traffic on the way back.”
“You terrified me that day. You had me pull over and took over the wheel so you could get us there on time. I feel like you worried more than I did about me missing my graduation.”
“Do you remember the time you made me late to the Beyoncé concert? Because you drive so slowly…”
“We all move slow in our own ways,” he said suggestively.
“What’s that mean?” I shot him a glance.
“I make us what, fifteen minutes late to a concert. You take a few years to answer me when I ask if you want to give us a shot.” He smirked.
“This isn’t going to be a thing we joke about. This was an actual serious thing.” I tried to fight a smile.
“You also said the Beyoncé concert was a very serious thing.”
