Page 49 of In Too Deep

Catelyn

Caroline tugs on my hand, dragging me down the aisle to the front of the church where everyone is gathering for pictures. “Come on, you’re one of my oldest friends, you should be in my wedding photos.”

“But I’m not dressed for pictures.” My protest is a waste of breath, Caroline’s hold on me only tightens as she situates me in the middle of the altar.

My body quivers as the photographer gives us direction on how and where to stand, and I force a smile as she begins snapping pictures. I knew seeing Lawrence today would be hard, but I thought I could handle it. I’m grown now, teenage drama is beneath me.

Plus, I have Logan. We’ve been dating for almost a year, and things have been going great. He checks off a lot of my boxes—smart, funny, cute. It’s nice to be dating someone I have so much in common with. Until today, I felt confident our relationship would last. Maybe I should’ve brought him with me to the wedding.

I certainly should’ve suspected that Lawrence would have a date with him. She’s beautiful and thin, probably vapid just like all the girls he dated in high school. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself to feel better about it.

He was the first person I saw as I walked through the door. Perhaps I’d been seeking him out without even realizing it. Then, as soon as I took my seat, I felt his eyes on me. My face heated and spine tingled as I watched him out the corner of my eye, his smile making my stomach flip.

My mother scolded me for ignoring his efforts to gain my attention, but I couldn’t meet his eyes. Doing so would have been my undoing.

When the photographer finishes, I give Caroline a quick hug. “Congratulations, Care. You look beautiful.”

She beams, her eyes roaming to her groom across the room before settling back on me. “Thank you. It’s been a long road, but we finally made it.”

Things certainly had been bumpy for Caroline and William. I suppose ups and downs are expected for high school sweethearts, but they’ve endured financial hardships and unexpected pregnancies to boot. I’m truly happy for her.

“I’m sorry we won’t be at the reception. Mom just isn’t feeling well.” My stomach knots at the lie. I hate being deceptive, but I can’t handle going to the reception knowing Lawrence will be there.

“That’s okay I understand. I’m so happy you made it to the wedding. That’s the important part.”

She gives me another brief hug and a wave goodbye before scurrying off to speak with some of her other guests, and I make a beeline for the door where my mother is waiting for me.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the reception?” she whispers as we step outside. I nod, practically running to the car. It isn’t until I’m safely inside that I release the breath I’m holding, a waterfall of tears pouring out with it. My mother sighs as she sits in the driver’s seat, her expression filled with pity.

“What’s got you so upset?”

I shake my head as I muster up the courage to say what I’m thinking out loud. I felt more alive simply from being in the same room with Lawrence than I’ve felt during my entire relationship with Logan.

“I realized something today,” I tell her, wiping away my tears. “I don’t love Logan. I think I need to break things off with him.”

29

Lawrence

There’s a smile on my face as I walk through the front door of Grier’s, and my mother eyes me suspiciously as I approach her.

“Good morning. What’s on our agenda today?” She purses her lips, studying me. “What?”

Once my business started taking off, I brought my mother on to help with the books. My organizational skills have never been very good, and it seemed like the best way to keep a close eye on her. I’ve felt responsible for my mother since my parents got divorced when I was in high school, even though it was her affair that ended their marriage and she eventually remarried.

“You’ve been extra cheerful the last couple days.”

I come to stop at the front counter, drumming my hands on the laminate top. “This is a problem?”

My mother shakes her head. “Don’t get me wrong, baby. If you’re happy, I’m happy. But I am curious what’s put this pep in your step.”

“Can’t I just be in a good mood?”

She rolls her eyes, waving off the possibility. “Is it a woman? Lord, let it be a woman.” She pulls her hands together as if praying, then looks up at the ceiling before meeting my gaze again. “You’re getting too old to be a bachelor.”

My smile widens, spoiling my attempts to keep my face neutral. I’m only thirty-three, but I haven’t shown much interest in dating over the last couple years. There didn’t seem to be a point. They always wanted more out of the relationship than I could give them, and it never ended well.

But it is in fact a woman who’s caused my good disposition. And not just any woman. Cat has held my heart in her hands since the first time I laid eyes on her. She was my first love, my one true love. We were only kids, though, and had no business falling in love the way we did.

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