Page 40 of The Problem with Players

“Two days,” I whisper-shouted so the guys wouldn’t hear me. “I’m getting married in two days, and you think you have the right to sweep in and say these things to me? You think it’s okay to tell me not to marry someone just because of a few moments of disconnect?”

“I’m thinking about you and what you deserve.”

“Well, don’t!” I spat out, feeling a mixture of emotions rocketing through me. “Don’t think about me, all right? It’s better when you don’t.” I started to walk away, and I didn’t look back. The rest of the event went well, and everyone headed off to their homes. I crossed paths with Nathan in the parking lot, and I still couldn’t comprehend our conversation that evening. My heart and mind were already at war, and Nathan didn’t make that any easier.

His words echoed in my mind, making me dizzy with confusion.

Don’t marry him. Don’t marry him. Don’t?—

“Hey, Coach?” Nathan called out.

I grumbled as I looked over my shoulder. “What, Nathan?”

“I’m sorry.” His hands slipped into his pants pockets as his duffel bag hung against his shoulder. “I was out of line.”

“Yes,” I agreed. “You were.”

Still, I didn’t know if that made him wrong.

“You’ll make a beautiful bride,” he stated softly.

The kindness in his words sent me for a loop. As I looked into his eyes, I saw the boy I once knew. The boy I once loved. The gentle boy who always made me feel as if I was the only thing that existed when his eyes landed on me.

That freaked me out.

Hefreaked me out.

“Thanks,” I muttered before scurrying away with thoughts that shouldn’t have belonged to me two days before my wedding. I couldn’t think about the fact that Nathan had just accidentally given me butterflies. I couldn’t allow those feelings to exist anywhere within my proximity.

Yara and Willowstayed with me at my house the day before the wedding. Wesley was staying with his groomsmen at a hotel in Chicago. We had the rehearsal a few hours before, and everything went smoothly. Daddy was still calling Wesley by the wrong name, but I figured that was just a bit of Daddy’s charm. I’d be weirded out if he called Wesley by his actual name.

Late into the night, Yara and Willow had retired to bed. My mind was moving too quickly to do such a thing, so I found myself trying to break through the thoughts racing through me.

“Avery?” Willow whispered, walking onto the back porch to find me standing there, staring out into the darkened sky. Ihadn’t been able to fall asleep. My mind had been spinning for days now. It was a little past two in the morning, the morning of my wedding, and I didn’t feel…happy.

I was supposed to feel happy, right?

I looked over at her and pushed out a smile. “What are you doing up? It’s late.”

“I know,” she said as she moved to stand beside me. Her eyes glanced up at the star-drunk sky, and a small smile curled her lips. “Do you know how much I love you?” she asked.

I laughed slightly and shook my head. “Go to bed, Willow.”

“No, I mean it, Avery. I love you so much and have always looked up to you. I don’t think I tell you that enough.”

“You tell me all the time.”

“I know.” She nodded. “And still, it’s not enough.” We moved to the top step of the porch and took a seat. She leaned her head against my shoulder as we stared out. “Not only were you my big sister growing up but you were the mama I never had the chance to have. You were my Mary Poppins. I don’t think I ever thanked you for that. For being a motherly figure to me all my life.”

“I’d do anything for you.”

“I know.” She sniffled.

“Are you crying?”

“Only a little.”

“Why?”

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