Page 71 of Gracefully Yours

But it wasn’t the truth. Because even if I loved her, she didn’t love me. Not like that. She loved me like a friend, that was all. “Of course, darling,” I said instead, leaning over to kiss her temple. “You’re my best friend. I’d give you whatever you wanted, if you asked.”

“Okay.” She shut her eyes as she took a deep breath in before exhaling. When they reopened, those beautiful gray eyes shining into mine, she looked determined.

Whatever she’d decided, the worry had eased from her eyes, and I squeezed the hand that was resting in her lap. “You good?”

“Mhm.” She inhaled another deep breath before turning to look at me. “Thank you. You always know exactly what to say.”

This time, I kissed her on the cheek before extending out my hand to her. “Shall we?”

She slipped her hand in mine, and we headed down the stairs together, bodies close and palms clinging tightly, and I could almost let myself believe what she’d asked.

Because all of this… it felt soright.

* * *

Charlotte’s handhad stayed wrapped around mine until we settled at the giant dining room table for dinner with our families and closest friends. Technically, it was our rehearsal dinner, but we’d kept it casual. Laid back. Food served family style, instead of plated. We’d planned no toasts, no speeches.

Just the way we wanted it.

“Last chance for me to be your Best Woman, you know,” Angelina said with a wink as we all sat down in our seats.

“Hey!” Charlotte frowned. “You’re not allowed to defect to the boy’s side.” She turned her head, looking at me, poking my chest with her dainty finger. “No stealing my bridesmaids.” My wife-to-be gave me her best little pout, even though she looked like an adorable little kitten begging for food instead of someone you’d take seriously.

“Relax, darling,” I said, grabbing her hand and kissing it. “I won’t steal my sister from you.” The irony didn’t phase me, considering how I’d stolen Charlotte from her to bemyfriend in college.

“Besides, Angel, he has me,” Benjamin smirked from beside his wife, and she rolled her eyes.

“Yes, but clearly, I am better than you.”

Ben huffed before Angelina leaned over and whispered something in his ear before kissing his cheek.

“Ah, to be young and in love,” my dad murmured from beside me, his wife smirking as they watched our friends.

Charlotte caught my eye, raising an eyebrow as if she was asking me a question. Instead of responding, I interlaced our fingers under the table.

“So, I heard you gang just got back from a ski trip to Bend, huh?”

It was Noelle who responded, her body language open and warm as she leaned against Matthew. “Yeah. We went down a long weekend after finals finished. It was fun. Even if Charlotte took a little tumble.”

Charlotte’s mom glared daggers at me, and I didn’t want to know what she thought about the fact that I couldn’t keep her daughter safe.

My dad looked at Matthew. “You said you’re a Professor, right?”

My tall, blond friend nodded. “Yes. Noelle works at the University too. She’s an advisor for the freshman and sophomores in the School of Business.” Matthew couldn’t help but boast about his girl regularly. In a lot of ways, I understood it. I wanted to sing Charlotte’s praises every chance I got.

“It’s nice that you’re all still connected,” Theresa said with a smile, putting her fork down. “I’ve hardly kept in contact with any of my friends from college.”

I hadn’t really either, except for Charlotte and the girls. My roommate and my closest guy friend during college had moved back home to Alaska, so now if I hung out with someone that wasn’t in this room, it was probably one of the guys I worked with.

Charlotte laughed. “Even though we all missed our five-year reunion this summer because of Angelina’s wedding?”

“Our wedding was better, anyway.” Angelina played it off. “Plus, who else did you want to see? All the people I cared about from college are sitting around this table.” She looked at me. “And my brother, too.”

I rolled my eyes as she laughed. “Who would have guessed that my older brother would marry one of my best friends and college roommates?”

“Not me,” I muttered as the rest of the table laughed. Maybe I’d always hoped, but I certainly never would have guessed that she’d pick me. I was just lucky she had.

“Sometimes I wondered if those three were going to make bets on how long it would take for you two to realize you were in love with each other,” Benjamin said. He pointed his fork between the two of us. “I was sure that a scheme would be required to push the two of you together, but then you figured it out all on your own.”

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