Page 46 of A Chance for Us
“But we have to,” Amelia says as she releases me. “Daddy said we have to make you smile, and I always make you smile.”
“You do,” I tell her with sincerity. “But I am tired and just want to rest.”
Kinsley clears her throat. “We were told we had to stay.”
“In case I plan to run?”
She shrugs. “Unfortunately, you’re considered a flight risk.”
“You’re too much like your mother,” I say as I get a flashback of my sister at her age.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
She would.
The girls settle in, going on and on. Amelia talks a mile a minute, telling me about the new dance teacher she has and how much fun the class is now. “But I don’t like putting my hair in a tight bun,” she says.
“Uh-huh.”
“It hurts sometimes because Mommy uses the clips I don’t like.”
“Sounds terrible,” I say, not registering what she’s saying.
I’m too absorbed with thinking of Maren and what she must be feeling. My thoughts go in circles, trying to wrap my mind around it all. Is she upset? Is she regretting it? Is she going to go through with it, or will I look like an idiot standing there with no bride?
My obligation to the resort is fulfilled. We successfully had our soft opening. The staff have been exceptional, and the issues we’ve found have been easily rectified. The fully booked rooms allowed us to push the project to the finish line. Also, Maren’s aunt is a travel blogger and told Maren she couldn’t wait to post about her stay.
All of this is good. I should be happy, but instead, I’m a wreck.
And I can’t stop thinking about Maren.
A hand waves in front of my face. “Hello? Are you in there?”
“Yeah, sorry, I . . .”
“You’re freaking out. Are you going to bolt? I have a code word I’m supposed to use if so,” Kinsley says, grabbing her phone.
“No, I’m not ready to bolt.”
She shakes her head, watching me closely before typing on the phone.
“What’s the code?” I ask.
“Chicken.”
“No doubt it’s what your mother picked?” I ask, and Kinsley smiles.
I hate my siblings some days.
I look down at her phone, and sure enough, the word is there. “Let me go talk to her for a second,” she says while getting eye-to-eye with her younger cousin. “Come on, Melia. We need reinforcements. We’ll be right back.”
“I’m fine, Kins.”
She shrugs. “I’d rather not be in trouble with the boss. She can get really scary.”
“And who is the chicken now?”
“You.”
