Page 37 of A Chance for Us
“The sense of peace it gives me to know that she’ll have you by her side, that you’ll be there to hold her together when she falls apart, is something I can’t explain. I’ve held on for so long out of fear that those I love would need me, but Maren has you now.”
If I hadn’t been going to hell before, I would be now. “Patrick,” I say, hoping the rest of what I want to say will suddenly come to me, but truly, I’m at a loss.
“I’ll be able to rest easy knowing she’s not alone, but I need you to promise me something.”
No, no, no. I am not promising the McVee family anything else. I’m already in enough freaking hot water. I need to find a way back into the big guy’s good graces.
He continues on as though my silence is acceptance. “Promise me that, even when things are hard, you’ll always remember how special she is.”
Okay, that I can do. “I promise.”
“Good. And that you’ll always be there, even when I can’t be.”
I stay silent, feeling like the worst human being ever. Patrick rises, his hand resting on my shoulder as a tear falls down his cheek. “You’re exactly the kind of man I wished she’d find.”
And I’m the worst person who ever lived.
Eleven
MAREN
My entire family has arrived. My aunts, uncles, two cousins, the Parkersons have settled into their rooms, and both groups have gathered down at the lake for an informal meet and greet.
Well, it was supposed to be informal. I’m not sure Stella knows what that word means. There’s a full bar and servers, handing out champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Everyone is smiling, laughing, and getting along wonderfully.
Oliver comes up beside me, his hand settling on the small of my back. “Everyone is having a good time,” he says against my ear.
“I know, make it stop.”
He chuckles. “You want them to hate it?”
I press my hand to his chest, leaning in as though we’re talking about something that has embarrassed me. “No, but this is almost too easy.”
Oliver kisses my forehead. “Relax, let everyone have fun.”
I sigh, smiling up at him. “What about you? Are you having fun?”
“I’m not even sure what’s happening anymore.”
“Same,” I admit. “It’s like our families have been friends for a lifetime, and I was an idiot for spending so much time worrying about them getting along.”
I thought that it would be awkward, but it hasn’t been. Everyone hugged, my aunts gushed over how handsome Oliver was, and my uncles wanted to talk about the land.
Oliver and I fall silent, too lost in watching each other, until there’s a slight tapping on glasses.
We turn to look around, and my eyes land on his brothers, who are all grinning.
“Kiss her, Oliver,” Grayson says first.
Then Josh steps forward, lifting his glass. “To the happy couple.”
Oliver grumbles under his breath, but his smile doesn’t falter. He pulls me to his chest and then kisses me softly.
Josh laughs. “Kiss her like you mean it!”
He mutters again, and this time, I catch something about brothers and death before he plants one on me again. This kiss isn’t soft like the one before. He kisses me hard, and before I know it, I’m kissing him back.
My fingers grip his shirt, holding him tight until the laughter has us breaking apart.
