Page 23 of A Chance for Us
Sean shrugs. “It was a tough blow, but we’ll get them next year.”
Devney comes toward us. “Ollie.” Her smile is warm as she reaches to give him a hug.
I wait to see if he stiffens or pulls away, but it’s almost natural. He doesn’t look uncomfortable or regretful. He releases her and steps back, looking toward the living room. “I heard you guys had a baby?”
Sean smiles as though he can’t help himself when he thinks of his daughter. “We did. She’s a few months old, and . . .”
“Sean, guess what?” Austin barrels into the room and then looks up. “Oliver!”
“Austin, my man, look at you!” Oliver squats down and pulls him into his arms. “You’re so big.”
Austin looks overjoyed, and my heart swells. My father always said you can tell a lot about a person by the way kids react to them. It’s clear that Austin has a deep affection for Oliver.
The two of them chat about baseball, and Sean rubs the top of Austin’s hair. “He’s really remarkable,” Sean explains.
“I remember going to his games and thinking how talented he was,” Ollie says with a smile. “It’s really great seeing you guys. I’m honestly happy that everything worked out for you all. Truly. I know people say that when they’re in this situation, but I mean it.”
Devney wraps her arm around Sean and leans into him. “You have no idea how much that means to me. I hated that I hurt you. It wasn’t easy. I promise you that.”
“I know,” Oliver says easily. “I think things worked out exactly how they were meant to.”
Sean laughs. “You mean with you getting talked into marrying Maren?”
I roll my eyes. “We’re not actually getting married. I’m just doing what I can for my dad.”
“You don’t think this is a good plan either?” Oliver asks Sean.
“Hell no I don’t. As a father, I would be devastated if I found out my daughter lied about getting married. Don’t get me wrong, I understand why Maren wants to give her dad this, but I worry it’ll all backfire.”
I worry the same, but I have plans. Plans and contingencies, which means I’ll be able to get through this successfully.
Or I’ll die trying.
“All right,” I say. “While I’d love to sit and talk about how this is going to fail and disappoint everyone, Oliver and I have things we need to do.” I turn to Devney. “You’re going to handle the room stuff and finalize the itinerary today, right?”
She nods. “I’ll take care of everything on my list.”
Oliver furrows his brows. “What room stuff?”
“We have welcome bags for everyone, and Stella and Devney are going to update all the names on the programs so they match the new plan.”
“And the itinerary?” he asks.
“Well, we have to do things to keep people occupied for a week. Stella is who helped me come up with it yesterday, but we have to reprint everything.”
He runs his hand through his hair. “I just . . . I have stuff to do at the resort. I’m not sure how I’m going to split all my time.”
“I’ll help,” I offer. “I’m really good at planning.”
He smiles. “I see that.”
He has no idea . . .
* * *
“You’re getting married?” the little old lady behind the counter at the registrar’s office asks.
“I am, Mrs. Garner,” Oliver replies smoothly as he places his hand on my back.
