Page 29 of A Chance for Us
She bites her lower lip. “Pretty big. My dad has five siblings. Aunt Eileen, who you’ll love, is divorced. Aunt Marie, who is a pistol and is married to Arthur. He indulges her every whim. Uncle John, who is married to Gail. He’s a dean at a college in New York. Then there’s my uncle Jim, who refused to come if Satan’s sister was invited because he didn’t want to cause drama. Then my aunt Shannon is the baby, and she swore off men years ago. All of them together are amazing and loud and funny, and . . . well, I think my dad really needs them. It’s been a few years since they’ve been together, which is another reason this wedding is so important. I want to see Daddy happy. I want to give him this wedding because I think it’ll give him closure with his siblings he misses.”
“And if this backfires and he ends up heartbroken?” I ask because I think she might be ignoring the fact that it’s a real possibility. She’s so focused on figuring out how to make her father happy that she isn’t seeing how crushed he will be if he finds out his daughter lied to him.
“Then I’ll figure it out, but . . .”
“But you still want to try.”
Her big green eyes are wide and open, full of vulnerability and hope floating through them. “Do you think I’m horrible?”
“No.”
After hearing how much this means to her, I don’t know if I would’ve said no even if I didn’t have the resort to think about. None of that seems to matter as I look at her.
Which is fucking stupid.
Maren is literally coming out of a failed engagement, lives hours from here, and isn’t someone I have feelings for.
Yet.
I can’t stop looking at her and wishing I could take all her pain away. I need to get my ridiculous hero complex under control. Lord knows it’s done enough damage over the years. I don’t need another reminder of how I’m good but not good enough.
Before I can think much of it, Fred, the permanent fixture at the diner, appears next to me. “I hear you’re tying the knot.”
Bill, his counterpart, stands next to him and answers. “You don’t hear anything.Iheard he’s getting hitched.”
Fred slaps his back. “It’s the same thing, you dumb-dumb.”
I offer a tight smile and release Maren’s hand. “I see you spoke with Mrs. Garner.”
Bill shakes his head. “Kristy knows too?”
“You didn’t hear it from her?” I ask.
“No, I heard it from Jeremy. Came in here for his coffee and sandwich before his shift and said he heard it from Joey, the plumber, who heard it from Michael, who is working on the traffic light, who heard it from one of the Andrews sisters.”
“I’m sorry I asked,” I grumble under my breath.
“So, it’s true?” Fred jumps in, looking over at Maren. “Please tell me it ain’t you. You’re much too pretty for this boy.”
She clears her throat to cover a laugh, and I bristle. “What does that mean?”
They ignore me, staring at Maren with wide grins.
Maren returns their smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Bill sits beside her and practically purrs. “The pleasure is all ours. Believe me, we are the ones who areveryhappy to meet you.”
Oh, Jesus. “You two get away from her,” I warn and reach for her hand.
“You don’t want to marry him.” Fred jerks his head at me. “He’s not all that bright.”
“And has bad hair and no skill with the women,” Bill says.
“You have no hair,” I fire back at Bill.
“In my day—”
“Which is far gone,” I finish.
