Page 74 of How Sweet It Is

She crouches down, and I casually walk to where my family is.

“Where’s Amelia?” Savannah asks.

I shrug like it’s not a big deal. “I can’t find her.”

“She was just standing there with you.” Savannah scans the crowd.

“It’s okay,” Micah says. “He’ll be dating someone else next week anyway.”

Savannah gasps. “Micah!”

I laugh and point at the impatient camera woman. “He’s not wrong,” I say lightly. Except this time, he might be.

Pictures are taken, and I duck away to the shrub. “You okay?” I ask the foliage.

“My legs are cramping,” the shrub says to me.

“Levi, get back in here!” Kiki calls, waving me forward from the center of the group.

The photographer echoes it, excited. “Yes! I need to get the brothers of the groom!”

“Can’t. I’m holding up this decorative bush,” I call back, gesturing vaguely behind me. “Critical landscaping duty.”

Claire stifles a laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously helpful,” I say.

“Get over there,” she hisses.

I laugh and go back in front of the camera. As the photographer takes family photos, I see Claire pop out from behind the shrub. I guess since the camera is pointed at me, she feels relatively safe uncramping her legs.

But it doesn’t take long before the photographer is prowling again, trying to get “fun candids” of couples kissing and guests laughing like they don’t know they’re being watched. Claire keeps subtly ducking behind taller people, pretending to check her phone, adjust her shoe, or help Skyler retie her sash. Anything to avoid the lens.

At one point, she tries to disappear under the gift table, but Savannah catches her arm.

“Oh, Amelia! Quick photo!” Savannah says brightly, trying to pull her in for a pic.

Claire freezes, and I jump in. “Sorry, can’t. She’s got spinach in her teeth.”

Savannah blinks. “She hasn’t eaten anything.”

“Exactly,” I say solemnly, dragging Claire backward. “It’s a mystery spinach. Very contagious.”

We leave Savannah, who just looks confused. When we’re out of earshot, Claire pokes me. “That was the worst excuse ever.”

“And yet you’re not in a photo, are you?”

She snorts. “Point.”

I put out my elbow. “Are you ready to go to the church and help me get the cake set up?”

She slides her hand into the crook of my arm. “Yes.”

I have to admit, it feels good to have her on my arm.

CHAPTER 35

CLAIRE MATTHEWS — SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

---