Page 25 of Take Me to the Wedding

Sam caught me in the hallway, on her way upstairs to pack up for our trip.

I was a little off-kilter from what had just happened in the kitchen. Parleying with her had been fun. Exhilarating actually, if I was being completely honest. When I managed to forget the trouble she’d gotten me into with Lilly, that is.

“How did things go with Lilly yesterday?” Sam asked. She’d halted on the second stair, her hand on the railing. Her hair was messy from the run, and she was wearing a gray T-shirt that saidI got an A in Anatomy. Which seemed just like her—I had no doubt that she’d graduated at the top of her class. Yet there was no denying that her personal anatomywasindeed A plus. But I digress.

I knew she was trying to help and that she felt bad about things. But unfortunately, the damage had already been done. Frankly, things hadn’t gone that great with Lilly. Yesterday I’d tried to connect with her on the way to her shop. Oh, she’d been friendly enough, but when I’d tried to remind her of all our good times by bringing up a memory or pointing out a place we used to hang out, she’d gone radio silent.

I knew that I needed to show her, not just tell her, that I wasn’t the guy she’d heard those rumors about. My sense was that she didn’t quite believe me. Also, she kept fielding a beehive of texts on her phone as she walked, which also wasn’t an ego boost.

“That good, huh?” Sam was regarding me from the step, from a vantage point of height. I felt like she could somehow peek right into my brain at all the jumbled thoughts swirling around there.

“It’s early yet. I’m looking forward to spending time with her this weekend and showing her who I really am.”

“I could totally help, you know.”

“Thanks, but I don’t need it.” I didn’t want or need Sam’s help with Lilly, but I’m not going to lie, the matchmaking hocus-pocus stuff she’d mentioned sounded a little intriguing. Especially coming from a scientific, no-nonsense person like her who seemed to reject any kind of romantic notions about love. Wouldn’t it be amazing if someone could really tell if a couple was meant to be? It would save a whole lot of money on divorce attorneys, right?

I wasn’t that desperate. I felt certain that if Lilly could just spend some time with me, she’d see me for who I really was and realize how great we could be together.

I was going to be positive. I had an entire weekend to convince her. And I was going to make certain to clear this up once and for all.

“You should let me help,” the pain in my tuchus said. “At least let me put in a good word or two.”

Jeez, and my family thought thatIhad a tough time throwing in the towel on anything.

I studied her carefully. “I can handle this myself.”Pleaselet me handle this myself, I almost added. But I was afraid that would sound desperate.

“Okay, if you insist.” She continued walking up the stairs. And I continued to not be interested in seeing her cute behind as she did that.

I had another way to get her off my case and keep her otherwise occupied. “Actually, there is something you can do.” She froze halfway up the stairs. “Quinn will be riding with us after all. I know you won’t mind sitting in the back seat with him.”

“No, of course not,” she said with a fake smile. “See you in the morning.”

I was determined to make Lilly see how sincere I was, and for that, the only thing I needed was together time at the farm. Beginning with the ride there tomorrow.

* * *

Samantha

“Have fun this weekend,” Mrs. D. said. “Here are some cookies for everyone for the road. Give Mia a kiss for me.” She gave me the cookies and a squeeze. “And Samantha, thank you—for going shopping with me. It was so much fun.”

“Thank you for making me feel so welcome,” I said as I hugged her back. I meant it more than she could ever know. I moved to head down the steps when she grabbed my arm.

“You are welcome here anytime,” she said, her gaze locking with mine so I couldn’t look away. “With or without my kids.”

A big ball formed in my throat. Those simple gestures—a hug, a kiss, someone handing me treats and sending me off into the world—brought a giant lump to my throat. She treated me like one of her own kids, and she had no idea how much that meant to me.

“Thanks for… everything,” I mumbled. Not the most articulate thank-you. I could have done better if my throat didn’t feel as if it were clogged with a Kleenex.

Just then, Caleb pulled up in his truck. He’d picked up Lilly and apparently had met up with Quinn and helped him park his car near the barn, and now we were ready to go. A quick glance showed the fuzzy outline of an unfamiliar face in the back seat surveying me. A sensation of dread diffused through me. I know that might sound harsh, but I’d been through this before: Guy desperate for love gives the hard push to go out. The last thing in the world I wanted was to cause conflict within this wedding party. I couldn’t see him very clearly, but he looked fresh-faced and eager, just as Mrs. D. had warned me. But maybe I was just being an alarmist.

I didn’t realize I was hesitating until Mrs. D. spoke. “Would you mind if I give you a piece of motherly advice?”

I felt my cheeks burning. Maybe she’d seen my apprehensive look. Or did this have something to do with Caleb and how we’d gotten caught up about that stupid sweatshirt in a way that might have seemed a tiny bit flirtatious? “Sure. Of course.” I braced myself for what was surely going to be a critique.

“You don’t have to be an adult all the time. It’s okay to let down your guard and follow your heart once in a while.”

That poor heart of mine plunged. I didn’t expect that. But Beth didn’t understand that I couldn’t have survived, let alone come as far as I had, by letting down my guard.

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