Page 60 of Wedding Season
“Until Amber ruins it by trashing you or the Wildflower,” Emma said. “It isn’t worth it, Mariella.”
“You need to talk to Alex,” Mariella said to Avery. “He’s got more to lose when it comes to Amber.”
“Why are you acting like this is an option?” Emma crouched down in front of Mariella and took her hands. Mariella could feel the warmth of her friend’s fingers, but she barely registered the touch. All she could feel was the cold seeping through her. Not just at the thought of what Amber could do to her but also her uncertainty over Alex’s potential reaction to having his ex-fiancé return to his life.
She forced a smile. “Amber and Jacques aren’t even together anymore. They lasted about five minutes.”
“This isn’t about them.” Emma’s features were so gentle, and Mariella wondered what she’d done to deserve this kind of friend in her life. She thought about Alex’s words—that faith wasn’t something you had to earn or deserve.
Apparently, friendship could work in a similar fashion with the right people.
“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m not the same person I was back then.”
“This is your home. We are your people. There’s no business worth you being put in a position that makes you uncomfortable.”
She appreciated the sentiment. She really did. “I want to do it as much for myself as for the inn. I need to know I’ve moved past what happened. I’m stronger than anybody in my old life gave me credit for. You are helping me see that.”
“I don’t like it.” Angi stepped forward. “I don’t trust America’s sweetheart as far as I can throw her and my upper-body strength has never been the best. What if she’s doing this for another publicity stunt? What if she wants to find a new way to hurt you?”
Mariella shook her head. “She might not know I’m here.”
“She knows,” Avery said. “Her publicist reached out to me after I spoke with Drake’s people. They don’t want any questions or mention of your shared past while Amber is in town.”
“That’s easy enough to accommodate.” Mariella squeezed Emma’s fingers. She wasn’t sure if the heat she suddenly felt came from her friend or if some of the icy cold that normally surrounded her heart was melting.
“I can do this,” she told Emma then glanced toward Angi. “We can do this.”
MARIELLALETHERSELFout of the store’s entrance the following evening after closing. She scanned the street until she spotted Alex’s Land Rover parked about a half a block away.
She started walking toward the car then noticed him coming in her direction. He’d texted earlier and invited her to go fishing at a nearby lake. His version of the beach, he’d explained, and how he recharged.
She tried not to read too much into the fact that he’d included her in an activity that meant something to him. Especially when he’d added a follow-up text that they needed to talk about Amber.
She’d known Avery was going to tell him, but Mariella wanted to discuss Alex’s former fiancée with him like she wanted to stick a fork in her eye. If he needed to be convinced to agree to let Amber and Drake do their little PR event as part of the Magnolia Blossom Festival, then she’d do it.
She knew how much the press would mean to the town and specifically to Emma and the Wildflower Inn.
Faith might not need to be earned, but she wanted to be worthy of it nonetheless.
“You know, Magnolia is a fairly safe town,” she said when he was only a few feet away. “I can make it to your car on my own.”
Tonight he wore a faded gray T-shirt and jeans that hugged his muscular thighs. A baseball cap turned backward sat low on his head, and she could see a strangely sexy five-o’clock shadow darkening his jaw. The man was as handsome in fishing attire as he was in a sophisticated suit. Her body tingled in approval as she watched him move closer.
He gave a tight nod. “I know. Heather is joining us,” he said without preamble.
Mariella tried and she guessed failed at looking unfazed by the news. “You invited Heather?”
“Not exactly. She invited herself, and I didn’t feel like I could say no.”
“Does she know I’m going?” They’d gotten along at the meeting surrounded by other people, but Mariella could not imagine a world where the girl would want to purposely spend time with her.
They already had to see each other regularly for work on the festival, but normally Mary Ellen or Luann were with them, which took the sting out of some of the potential awkwardness.
He nodded. “I think that’s what made her want to go in the first place.” He sounded as stunned as Mariella felt. “Although she’s kind of playing it off.”
“It’s a big deal.” She schooled her features and started toward his car. “Let’s not make it weirder by standing here.”
“It is weird.” He fell into step next to her.
