Page 2 of You Didn't Know Me Then

The music in the background changed all of a sudden into something more melodic, then the D.J. announced that the ceremony was about to begin. Luke Delaney’s younger sister, Ava, was about to tie the knot, and despite what had just happened, Hope was still excited she had been invited as Libby’s friend.

“Here’s my mom and David,” Libby said, waving at the two.

Rows were filling up with people taking a seat for the ceremony. Hope sat next to Libby’s mother, Connie Latimer, and her partner, David. Libby remained standing next to them, and Hope couldn’t help but smile, knowing just from the expression on Libby’s face that she had spotted Luke.

Hope followed Libby’s gaze and, sure enough, it was Luke who Libby had locked gazes with. The expression on his face clearly indicated he was melting on the inside.

Hope shifted her eyes to the man who stood next to Luke, and her stomach dropped two floors. It was the grinner she had entertained at the bar.

Her stomach plummeted another floor when she realized that he and Luke looked incredibly alike.

He wasn’t looking in her direction, busy pointing people to what empty chairs were left, as the music ceased and the murmurs of the crowd were being hushed.

Coldplay’s “A Sky Full Of Stars” began playing, and the man, who she now figured was Luke’s and the bride’s brother, straightened up and looked over at the far end of the aisle, between the two blocks of chairs. He was an inch taller than Luke, and his shirt fit him in an unholy way, especially given the minister who had just passed him on his way to the flowery altar.

When even Luke and Libby tore their eyes off each other, Hope swung her head along with everyone else to watch first the groom, then the bride, make their way down the aisle, each escorted by their parents.

She didn’t know Ava Delaney, but based on the choices that she had made for her wedding, she liked her already. She knew from Libby how amazing Luke was, so that left what looked like another sibling of theirs as the douche sheep of the family. A man who sneered at women who didn’t know how to flirt.

“It’s Luke’s brother,” she said urgently to Libby as soon as the ceremony was over, pointing at the at least six-foot-tall man. “Now that I see them next to each other, they even look alike.”

“Jordan? That’s the guy who listened to you talking to Josh?”

“Talking to Josh! Making a fool of myself, you mean.” Hope’s cheeks reddened again at the memory. “It’s even more embarrassing now. I wanted to make a good impression on your boyfriend’s family.”

“Don’t worry about it. So he saw you trying to flirt with someone. Big deal. It’s a wedding—everybody does that. And I don’t think Jordan’s the kind of guy who would … Please don’t feel bad about this. If anything, it’s my fault for leaving you alone.”

Hope smoothed a hand over her dress and averted her gaze. “No, I wanted to … you know”—she lowered her voice—“get away, be all sexy and flirty, and sitting alone at a bar, and … Ugh … I’m so not made for this.”

“It takes practice to get back in the game, and you haven’t had that in a long time, so don’t worry about it. It’s good that you practiced on Josh. He’s too young, anyway. The next guy you talk to, you’ll do better.” Libby rubbed her palm over Hope’s arm. “And trust me; no one who knows you will have a bad impression of you. You’re the sweetest person I know.”

Sweet. She wanted to be spicy. Maybe Libby was right and all she needed was practice.

“Okay, but I’m not showing my face again at Life’s A Beach until Josh forgets what I look like.” She gave Libby an effortful smile.

“Plenty of other places we can go to for you to hit on their bartenders.” Libby chuckled. “Come on; let’s find our seats.”

Two hours and two phone calls later—one to the babysitter and one with her nine-year-old daughter—Hope zig-zagged her way through the wedding tent, from the table she was seated at to the dance floor. She tapped on Libby’s shoulder.

Libby and Luke turned to face her.

“Hey, sorry to interrupt, but I have to go. Your mom and David are leaving, so I’ll get a ride back to Riviera View with them.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” Libby asked, signaling to Luke that she would be right back and stepping aside with Hope.

“Yeah, Hannah and the babysitter are not getting along. They both called me.”

“Can’t Eric’s parents stop by or something?”

“You’d think, right? No, they’re in Nevada, visiting the prince himself.”

Eric was an only child and the center of his parents’, her former in-laws, existence. Remarried and living in Nevada, the old couple traveled there almost every other weekend instead of enjoying the company of their granddaughters, who lived in the same town as them.

“Oh, honey, you wanted this to be your grownup fun. If you stay longer, I’ll find you a ride back to Riviera View, if you don’t want to wait for us. Hannah will survive. Come on; dance some more.”

Hope had joined the dancing before and had even danced two couples’ dances; one with David and one with Luke, who had managed to leave Libby’s side long enough to dance with others. While she had been on the dance floor, she had spotted Jordan Delaney dancing with his sister in her beautiful, vintage wedding dress, and with his mother and an older aunt. Some of the untouchable sophistication was gone from his face when he chatted with them. It was rather sweet and weakened her resentment. Now, from the corner of her eye, she could see him standing and talking to two younger men.

She put her hand on Libby’s arm. “I had a great time. This was the grownup fun I wanted. But this Cinderella has to march her glass slippers home now. Thanks so much for making me your plus-one, Lib. Although, I have to tell you, Luke is everything you said and more. He’s your plus-one forever.”

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