Page 9 of A Chance for Us
She nods. “Then make sure you’re forever-ing yourself with the right guy.”
Even if I didn’t think Oliver was the right guy, there’s no way I’m backing out at this point. All my dad wants before he dies is to walk me down the aisle. I won’t take that from him.
“I know what you’re saying, and I love you for it.”
Devney laughs. “But you’re still doing it.”
“I am.”
She nods. “Then, there you have it.”
I mean, I know what I want, and I’ve already considered all the possibilities. I want this. I could love him. I could at least see myself loving him, which is more than I have had with anyone else.
These are good odds.
I think . . .
Four
MAREN
“I’m so glad you came down early with me,” I tell Devney as we are entering the town of Willow Creek Valley.
“Me too. It gave me a break from the kids and forces Sean to play Mr. Mom for a bit.”
Devney’s husband is a major league baseball player. He’s amazing but on the road a lot, so they go back and forth between Florida and Sugarloaf whenever they can to maximize time together. I understand how hard it is to do the long-distance thing since Oliver travels a lot too.
It’s hard, but it’s what we do for the people we love.
“When will he get here?” I ask.
“Tomorrow. He and the kids are flying to Charlotte and renting a car.”
“Two kids on the plane by himself?” I ask. “Brave man.”
She laughs. “Please, the nanny is coming too. She is usually off for the summer, but we asked her to come on the trip so he and I can enjoy the wedding.”
I nod once. “Makes sense.”
We pull up to the house they rented, thinking it would be better to have their own place than be right under her ex’s feet. She said she talked to Oliver the other day, just to ease some of the awkwardness, but . . . I can’t imagine anything will completely relieve it.
Oliver Parkerson and Devney were supposed to be the real thing. I truly thought they’d end up together, but seeing her with Sean is otherworldly. They love in a way that I’ve never seen before.
Devney and I get out and unload the bags, putting the favors and table charts over to the side.
Once that’s done, we each grab a bottle of water.
“Do you want to head to the resort now?” Devney asks.
“Sure, do you mind driving? I’m beat.”
We make our way back into the car and use the directions that Oliver sent this morning since the resort isn’t on a map yet.
It’s about a thirty-minute ride and about halfway there, I dig out my phone. “I need to call my dad and check in.”
I grab my phone and dial his number. He answers, his voice is raspy. “Hello.”
“Hi, Daddy.”
