Page 20 of Four Weddings to Fall in Love
Sometimes, unfortunately, Jon guesses the truth, and I can tell by the look on his face that he knows he’s hit upon it.
No point in denial now.
“Before you jump to more conclusions,” I say, desperately wishing a server would come around with some wine, “I didn’t treat her badly.It just could have gone better.”
Evan nods sympathetically.
“What could have gone better?”Dad asks.
Shit.I didn’t notice my parents approaching the table.
“Nothing,” I say.
“Actually…” Jon begins.
I’m pretty sure he’s not going to tell my parents what we were talking about.He’s just doing his best to get on my nerves.
At least, I think that’s the case.
“You’re in my seat.”Mom taps Jon on the shoulder.
I relax a little once I have my mother beside me rather than my youngest brother, but then something knocks into me, and I nearly fall off my chair.
“Max!”Nolan says.“I found you.”
This is the other part of today that I don’t know how to deal with: the fact that Isobel and Daisy’s son has decided I’m his favorite.
I have no idea why.Honestly, none.
I don’t dislike kids, but I wouldn’t say I’m great with them; Evan’s the one who babysat as a teenager.I’m completely baffled by what Nolan sees in me.
However, there’s something nice about being a child’s favorite, even if said child is in the process of grabbing your pants with his sticky hands.
“It’s my turn to hide!”he exclaims.
Apparently, we’re still playing hide and seek.
“I think it’s dinner time,” I say.The emcee—one of Dylan’s friends—is adjusting the microphone.“I’ll take you back to your mother, okay?”
Nolan doesn’t seem impressed with this idea, but he allows me to take his hand and guide him toward Daisy, who’s only a few steps away.
When I turn around, I notice a flash of peach out of the corner of my eye.
Why can’t I stop noticing her?Why?
Worst of all, my brothers now have some idea of what happened, and that will make it even harder to behave sensibly in front of her.At least I can take comfort in the fact that she hasn’t seemed particularly interested in speaking to me, either.
I hope that will continue.
After dinner and dessert, the dancing begins.I have no interest in partaking in such activities, and my head feels a little odd, perhaps from all the wine I consumed to chase away the memory of what happened with Kim.As I exit the tent, I see her looking at a large collage of the happy couple, a smile on her face.For a split second, I’m convinced it’s a sign that she secretly wants romance.A relationship.
Then I shake my head.I hardly know her.
And why would I care anyway?
I walk over to the wooden fence lining the patio, separating it from the lavender, and look out at the fields.It’s still warm and humid, but the sun has just set, and it’s not as oppressively hot as it was earlier.
“Hey.”
