Page 76 of Beautiful Storm

“No? That’s it? Well, since Thomas knows, I could go with him to the stadium for bring-your-fiancée-to-work day.”

“That’s not a thing,” I scoff.

“Sure it is. It’s this Friday.”

Thomas subtly shakes his head and I bark out a laugh. We have an away game this weekend, so we’ll be traveling Friday.

“I mean, Thursday.Obviously.”

“God, you’re annoying. You’re going to see her tomorrow at the wedding.”

Lainey’s jaw drops before she huffs like the child she was just accusing me of being. “I’ll be on a screen with my mic muted.”

“Close enough.” I shrug, holding back my smile. I was grateful when I discovered some states including California had introduced legal online weddings because it would ensure our privacy. But now, I’m discovering there are more benefits.

“Ugh.” Lainey pouts, making me laugh. “I’m getting a drink. Anyone else want some water?”

Thomas shakes his head. “I’m good.”

“I’d love a coffee,” I say as she gets up, ducking when she throws a cushion at my face.

“Two waters it is,” she sasses before walking away, knowing full well I don’t drink coffee at night.

When Lainey’s gone, I turn back to Thomas just as my phone vibrates across the table. I rush to grab it, not bothering to hide my urgency, a tension easing when I see that it’s Amelia.

Amelia: It’s been a strange week

That’s it?That’s all she’s giving me? It’s not enough. I massage my temples as I figure out how to respond. When I lift my gaze after a beat, Thomas is staring at me, his expression pensive.

“How do you really feel about everything?” he asks.

“What?” I frown, trying to recall what happened to make him ask that.

“I remember something you said after Lainey and I broke up. God knows why it came to me, but it did.”

Jesus, that was years ago and I was absolutely ragey. I can’t imagine anything I said was making sense. Thomas continues to stare, his lips pursed as he thinks, until I laugh. “Don’t leave me in suspense. What did I say?”

“It was something along the lines of ‘You did the best thing for now. You have to play the long game. She’ll be back when the time is right for both of you.’”

“Bullshit. That doesn’t sound like me at all.”

“You’re right. But it was. At the time, I thought you were spinning some shit to make things better, but now… I’m not so sure.”

“Of course that’s what I was doing. You were spiraling. I had to do something.”

“Or…maybe you’ve cared about Amelia for longer than you think? Why else would she drive you so crazy? Maybe you’re playing the long game.”

“Nope. I don’t have that kind of patience,” I joke. “This and that are completely unrelated.”

I laugh off his comment, but it sits with me as we wait for Lainey to return, my face pinched as I struggle with the idea of his words. I know I’ve always cared about her, on some level, but what he’s saying is so much more than that, and he’s wrong. That applied to him and Lainey. This is an entirely different situation.

As soon as Lainey appears, I jump up and make an excuse to leave. I've said my truth, and I don’t need to hang around while they pick it apart, which they'll undoubtedly do with or without me. Thomas already tried.

After saying goodbye, I pause in the driveway and send off a reply to Amelia, my body tense from her short response.

Luke: Can I see you? We should talk before tomorrow

My message turns to “read” almost immediately as though she was waiting by her phone, but I’m halfway home before she actually responds.

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