Page 70 of The Wedding Wrecker

"I'm not in a weird place," I said, settling onto a bench. "I'm in a perfectly normal place for someone who keeps making out with the guy who ruined her career. Because he’ll never find me here."

"Oh honey." Maggie's voice softened. "You really like him, don't you?"

"No. Maybe. I don't know." I watched a muscular guy effortlessly scale one of the harder routes without even using his feet.Show off.

"It's complicated," I sighed.

"When isn't it? Come on, start from the beginning. What happened after the pool incident?"

I filled her in on everything—the sleigh ride, the wildlife tour, and especially the conversation at Terry's Tiny Tacos that had made everything so much worse.

"Let me get this straight," Maggie said when I finished. "You basically asked if he thought some relationships were worth fighting for—meaning yours—and he went on about how obstacles only get worse?"

"While talking about his ex-wife," I added miserably. "Who, by the way, married his brother after cheating on him with said brother. And apparently still hooks up with the brother even though she's married to someone else now."

"Jesus. That's some Jerry Springer level drama."

"Right? No wonder he has commitment issues." I picked at a loose thread on my leggings where I’d torn them on a handhold. "But that's kind of the point. He's clearly not over what happened. And even if he was... I mean, look at us. I plan weddings. He ruins them. That's a pretty big obstacle."

"Only if you let it be." Maggie's eye roll was practically audible. "Have you considered that maybe you're both just scared?"

"I'm not scared," I protested. "I'm being realistic. The wedding is in four days, Maggie.Four. Days.And I still don't know if he's going to wreck it."

"Have you asked him?"

"Oh sure, great idea. 'Hey James, quick question—planning to destroy my sister's happiness and my career again, or can I pencil you in for a real date after the reception?'"

"Better than whatever dance you two are doing now," Maggie said. "Admit it. You’re scared. He hurt you once, and you’re worried the second time will be even worse than the first.”

I watched the show-off climber reach the top of his route. "Fine. Maybe I am scared. Happy?"

"Ecstatic. Now we're getting somewhere. What exactly are you afraid of?"

"Everything?" I slumped against the wall. "I'm afraid he'll wreck the wedding. I'm afraid he won't wreck the wedding and my sister will end up married to someone awful. I'm afraid of falling for him only to find out it meant nothing to him.Again."

"How do you know it didn’t mean anything to him? You two went your separate ways, sure, but who says he hasn’t been pining for you ever since? How do you know the opportunity to jump in and play fake boyfriend wasn’t a dream come true for him?"

I thought about how he'd held me after my fall, the way he'd babied my barely twisted ankle the other day, and how his touchalways lingered longer than necessary. I thought of the way he looked at me when he thought I wasn't paying attention.

"Maybe I don’tknow," I admitted. "But actions speak louder than words, and his actions in Ireland?—"

"Were three years ago," Maggie cut in. "People change, Em. Maybe it's time to let go of the past and focus on the present. Like the fact that you're clearly crazy about each other."

"We're not?—"

"Please. You light up when you talk about him. Even when you're complaining."

"I do not."

"You really do. It's disgustingly cute." She paused. "Listen, I get why you're scared. But what if this time is different? What if he's exactly what you need?"

"I don’t even know what I need, Maggie."

"Think about it. You're a perfectionist who needs everything planned down to the minute. He's someone who actively looks for flaws in perfect-looking relationships. Maybe you balance each other out. You can help him see that not everything is doomed to fail, and he can help you take off those rosy glasses once in a while for a dose of realism. And maybe youbothcan realize that sometimes messy is okay.”

I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it. She... might have a point.

"Plus," Maggie continued, "the sex must be pretty incredible if you keep going back for more."

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