Page 49 of The Plus One Professional

“Hey!” I smiled.

His lips began to curl in a smile, but then they dropped. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I lied.

He stepped closer to me, and I could see concern brimming in his eyes. The worry that clouded his expression started to chip away at the protective barrier I’d just built around my heart. Tears began to swell in my eyes.

“Bailey, darling. Is that you?”

My head turned in the direction of the voice, and I saw Mr. and Mrs. Prescott. Mr. Prescott was on a call and stayed in the lobby as Mrs. Prescott approached me with her arms extended.

I’d always liked Simon’s parents, even if I never felt like I belonged when I was around them. It wasn’t because of anything they did. They had welcomed me and always treated me like one of the family since the first time I’d had dinner at their house, when I was only fourteen.

I hadn’t seen them since their sixtieth-anniversary party four years earlier.

“Hi!” I forced myself to smile widely.

“Hello!” Mrs. Prescott greeted me with a hug and kiss on each cheek. “How have you been, sweet girl?”

“Good, yeah, great.”

She patted my cheek. “I was so sorry to hear about Betty.”

“Oh, thank you.” I nodded. “And thank you for the beautiful flowers.”

“Of course, dear.” She glanced to my left. “And who is this?”

“Oh, um, sorry, yes, this is Cole?—”

“Cole Crawford,” Cole said at the same time, holding out his hand.

“Annie Prescott, nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Prescott.”

“Bailey Bliss!” Mr. Prescott’s voice echoed off the walls as he ended his call and walked toward me. “How are you, my girl?” he asked as he pulled me into a bear hug.

Mr. Prescott had always given the best hugs. My dad had never been a big hugger. I’d always wished that he had been. I remember when I was a little girl, every summer when I saw him, I would race toward him and throw myself into his arms. My affection was returned with a brief pat on the back before he’d move away.

“I’m good. How are you?” I asked as I stepped back.

“Well, I’m not gonna lie; I’m a bit surprised that this is happening. It’s not like Simon to take things this far.”

“Matthew.” Mrs. Prescott said her husband’s name in a warning tone.

Since his father and grandfather were both Simons, everyone called Mr. Prescott Matthew. I wondered how they felt about Devin calling Simon, Matty. I wasn’t a huge fan of it, but it was none of my business.

“What? It’s the truth. I figured when Simon walked down the aisle, it would be with this one, not some twenty-something?—”

“Matthew, this is Cole Crawford. Cole, this opinionated man is my husband.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Prescott.”

“Call me, Matthew.”

Cole smiled and placed his hand on my lower back.

Mr. Prescott must have noticed because he asked, “Oh, are you two together?”

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