Page 104 of The Fiance Dilemma

The wedding.

Usually one thing followed the other. But this had never been a usual affair.

My gaze drifted away from my empty plate, toward my sister.

She immediately caught my eye and gave me a smile.

God, I hugged her so long and so hard when I’d seen her that Cam patted my shoulder with alarm. I’d missed them so much, even though I was still relieved after our visit to their place.

Witnessing Andrew and Adalyn’s reunion had made some of that relief fade. They never had the easiest relationship, but I’d seen something in the way they hugged, even if awkwardly. I saw intention. Effort. And I hated myself for thinking of it, but I hadn’t even gotten that. A hug from my father.

Before this wedding took the reins of my life, Adalyn and I had talked about Andrew’s desire to make amends. She’d told me the ways he’d tried to build that bridge for her, and that as skeptical as she was, she still was open to seeing him try.

I’d been open too. But things between me and Andrew were simply… different. For one too many reasons. And it was strange to be here, sharing a table, and having to see that, although their relationship wasn’t great, it still was worlds ahead of mine.

And on Saturday, he was walking me down the aisle to the man sitting by my side.

Andrew commented something about the wine, or dessert, or the weather. I couldn’t know, really. But Cam straightened in his chair and grabbed Adalyn’s hand from where it rested on the tableand brought it to his lips before releasing it and filling up her glass with water. Then he passed the carafe to Andrew with a curt nod.

I wondered when Cam and Adalyn would get married.I knew they both wanted to but weren’t in a rush. They were busy with work. The club. Would she ask me to be her maid of honor?It had taken me so long to do that. Oh God, I was really doing this. We were.

My knee started bouncing at the thought. Matthew squeezed, very gently, just like he had a dozen times tonight. It wasn’t astop that.It was more of anI’m here, I’ve got you.

I shifted on the outrageous folding chair.

I lowered my voice. “If I asked you to meet me somewhere at midnight and bring a big pack of matches with you, what would you do?”

Matthew’s answer was quick and serious. “I’d say we better dress in black. Ash stains are a motherfucker to remove.”

This man.

He was so perfect I couldn’t even breathe. I turned to look at him, realizing my eyes were starting to well up.

Concern filled his expression. “Wrong answer?”

Far from it. I didn’t think his answer could have been more perfect. I didn’t think I’d ever loved an answer like I did that one. I didn’t think I’d ever loved—

“Rubbing alcohol,” I croaked. “If nothing works, that’ll do the trick.” I shrugged, attempting to be casual. “One too many campfires gone wrong.”

Matthew’s frown didn’t go away; if anything, he looked like he wanted to press on whatever I had just shoved aside. Thankfully, the swiftly changing weather decided to give me a hand.

Thunder echoed in the distance.

“See?” Otto Higgings said with a clap, making Grandpa Moe flinch by his side. “I told you that storm was heading this way. I’ve been waking up to aching knees for three days straight.”

“That’s because you’re old,” Grandpa Moe muttered. “And why are you here? Shouldn’t you be all the way there, on the other side of the farm? Or I don’t know, in your house?”

I rolled my eyes, although Grandpa had a point. Somehow Otto had squeezed himself there, at this table of the many we’d set. I wondered whose seat he’d stolen or why Bobbi hadn’t made a fuss over my neighbor breaking the seat arrangements she’d so carefully prepared.

“I’m two years younger than you,” Otto countered, shifting his attention back to Andrew, where it had been most of the time. “So Andrew, you were telling us about the soccer club. The franchise. How did that come about? I remember you playing ball when you wereyeabig, but it was football, wasn’t it?”

Cameron muttered something into Adalyn’s ear as he retrieved the pitcher of water and filled Adalyn’s glass again. She smiled.

“What do you think he just said?” Matthew murmured in mine.

A shiver raced down my arms at having his lips so close.“Soccer’s not a real word,”I said, my voice low.“Football’s the name of the bloody sport.”

Matthew’s chuckle warmed my skin. “Uncanny,” he said. “It really is like I’m sitting right next to him.” His hand drifted a little upward, to the middle of my thigh. My breath caught. “Good thing I’m not. I don’t think he’d be appreciative of my table manners.”

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