Page 73 of The Trouble with Runaway Brides

“Come on, let’s get out of here.” Brinley stands and turns to the door. “Aunt Brooklyn?”

My head whips around and I see Lance’s mom standing there with a box in her hands. The label is from her essential oil company, and the packaging has her logo stamped all over it.

“I’m glad I didn’t miss you girls, or I suppose you’re ladies now.” She steps into the room. “Everything all set for the wedding?”

“Yeah, it’s all on track,” Brinley says.

Mrs. Whitmore sits at the table with us, and Brinley sits back down. Then Mrs. Whitmore slides the box across the table to me. “This is for you. Just something special I like to do for the brides who have their weddings here. It’s a complete pamper kit for either the night before or after, whichever. I hope you enjoy it.”

“Oh, I’m sure I will. Thank you very much. That means a lot to me.”

Mrs. Whitmore smiles and looks at Brinley. “Hey, Brin, can you excuse us a minute?”

After a quick glance at me, Brinley says, “Sure. I’ll wait in the lobby.”

She walks out of the room and my heart rises into my throat. What does Mrs. Whitmore want to talk to me about? The fact I didn’t pick her son?

Mrs. Whitmore doesn’t say anything at first and I wonder if she can hear my heart beating like a bass drum.

Then after a sigh, she breaks the silence. “I should apologize. I didn’t like you coming back here, and I sure didn’t like the fact that you were marrying someone else while you were here. Lake Starlight is my home and it’s my son’s home. It’s supposed to be his safe place and it felt like you were taking more than you deserved when you planned your wedding here.”

“I probably was.” Her words sting a bit, but I sense there’s a but coming.

She shakes her head. “This is a town, not one person’s home. The only things I knew when you came to town were that all those years ago, when everything went down, my son was heartbroken and that he’s still in love with you. It felt like I was going to see him heartbroken all over again. But my husband reminded me he’s a grown man now and has been for some time, and sometimes he’s too smart for his own good. I think that whether Lance knew it or not back then, he was breaking up with you before you could hurt him. For some reason, he’s always been worried he wasn’t enough for you.” She waves her hand in front of her face as though she’s about to cry. “Anyway, this is for you. Congratulations, and I’m sure we’ll see each other around. The Asburys and Whitmores get thrown together more than either of us probably wants to be.” She clasps my hands. “Good luck. I’m sure you’ll make a beautiful bride and I hope Jasmine knows how lucky she is to have you as a daughter-in-law.”

She stands and walks out of the room. As soon as she’s gone, I let my head fall forward, hitting my forehead on the box she left for me.

“Whoa, that’s big of her. She’s been running your name through the mud for years,” Brinley says when she comes back in.

I raise my head and look at her.

“What? I’m kidding, just to family. You know, she thinks Lance is perfect in every way. That’s what happens when you have only one baby.” She rolls her eyes.

“Let’s go.” I grab the box and we leave the resort.

“Can I do anything?”

“Just keep everybody away who wants to tell me how much they think Lance loves me.”

Brinley stops me at the doors as they slide open, sending in a burst of cold air. “You know he does though, right?”

“Not you too.” I groan and walk outside.

“It’s undeniable.” She takes my hand and leads me down the small drive to where the parking is. “This is where it all started. Right there in that building. You realize you’re going to get married to Will one room away from where you first fell in love with Lance, right?”

“Jesus, Brinley! What don’t you understand? What happened to being neutral?”

“I can’t. I thought for sure it would only take you a few days, but why are you still denying your feelings for him?”

Thankfully no one is around since our voices are getting louder and louder.

“Because…” I don’t even know how to answer. “He hurt me, crushed me. I was devastated. I didn’t even recognize myself. For four years, I walked around that campus like a zombie, concentrating only on my grades. I wanted to graduate and get out. He threw us away like I hardly mattered. I just got myself back and I can’t go back to being that person. So, this is just easier.”

“What’s easier?”

I throw my arms out at my sides. “It’s easier to marry someone like Will because he can’t hurt me like that.”

“Yes, he can. It doesn’t hurt you the way he hasn’t been here the whole time? How he’s shown little to no interest in making sure your wedding day is special?”

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