Page 114 of Hunt for the Roses
It’s amazing.
“Hey,” I say with a large smile.
My mom is the first to turn around and hug me. “Look at you, you look beautiful.”
I shrug with a smirk. “I try.”
I throw my dad a big smile as he’s dressed in a navy tailored suit. “But not as good as you!” I exclaim as I bring my dad in for a bear hug. “I’m so proud of you, Dad. Everything looks perfect.”
He hugs me tighter. “Thank you, Ari.” When he pulls away, he jokes. “Let’s just hope everyone thinks the same. As long as they are fed and there is an open bar, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
I smile and reassure him as I say, “It’s going to be great. I have no doubts.”
My mom grabs my father’s arm. “Jared, we should probably go make our rounds so we can keep our head above water.”
When my parents walk away, I’m left to stand with Ronnie and his wife, and I automatically smile and hug Cheryl.
“How are you, love?” Cheryl says as she returns my embrace.
“Good. How about you?” I say as I pull away.
“Not much to complain about,” Cheryl replies.
I’m suddenly very aware that Ronnie is standing with us, and I realize I haven’t said hi to him. I decide to swallow my pride and throw him a smile, because after all, this night is not about me.
“That’s good to hear,” I finally say as I look back at Cheryl.
Cheryl turns to Ronnie. “Do you want something from the bar? I’m going to get myself water.”
“No, I’ll get a drink later. But you go,” Ronnie replies as he gestures to the bar.
Once Cheryl walks away, I’m the first to speak as I grab a champagne glass off the table. “We can put our differences aside tonight. Tonight is about Dad.”
He throws me a small smile and looks over at our parents mingling with guests. “He’s like a kid in a candy shop, look at him.”
I smile as I watch Dad mingle and laugh with guests, and he does look genuinely happy. “Yeah, he does.”
I’m still looking at my parents when Ronnie’s voice cuts in. “I really am sorry, Ari.”
I take a sip of my champagne and look back at him with a shrug. “Like I said, it doesn’t matter anymore.”
Ronnie shoves his hands in his pockets. “Well, it matters to me. I can’t have my sister despise me the rest of her life.”
I look down into my glass. “I don’t despise you. I’m just hurt, I guess.”
“I was really convinced that Dane had ill intentions,” Ronnie continues.
I’m still looking down at my glass as I slowly nod with a smart remark. “I think everyone knows that. You made it very clear.”
“Well, my opinion changed when he came to visit me last Sunday,” Ronnie says.
I pick my head up and furrow my brows, waiting for him to explain. Ronnie rubs the back of his neck, trying to find the right words to say. “He came to the house and sort of poured his heart out.”
I start to feel my face tighten with emotion, tears threatening to leave my eyes, but I refuse to allow it. Instead, I look away from Ronnie and just take another sip of my drink to compose myself.
“For what it’s worth, he’s head over heels in love with you, just like you are with him,” Ronnie says as he walks up to me, but I’m still facing away from him when he places a hand on my arm. “And no one should stand in the way of that. Not even me.”
When Ronnie voices his last words, he walks off to meet Cheryl at the bar, and I just stare mindlessly at the back wall of the restaurant as my lips morph into a frown. Guests are probably wondering what the hell a psychopath is doing at Jared Tate’s grand opening, and before I bring down everyone’s mood with my melodramatic life, I down the rest of my champagne in one gulp.
