Page 39 of Uncovering Love: The Wedding

“Hey.” He pulls her into his side, shifting Claire out of the way as she babbles something most of us can’t understand. “Don’t cry, babe. It’s not your fault. We can blame it on the hormones. I know you trust me, and I have been acting weird. It’s hard to keep something from you, even for a surprise. Just sucks that it was all for naught. The idea sounded way cooler in my head, but now the whole thing seems silly.” Drew shrugs and his cheeks blotch with his blush.

“No, I love it. I love you. That you wanted to make our anniversary special even though I look like a blimp.” She’s still crying, but a smile paints her features.

“You look beautiful, and I will take you to France one day. Until then, next weekend your parents are taking Claire and we are bringing Paris to us.”

“Did you really learn French for me?”

“Je ne peux pas vivre sans toi.”

“Fuck, baby, that’s hot. What did you just say?”

“I said I can’t live without you. Because I can’t, Melissa.”

“You could talk about conference calls and spreadsheets in that language and I’d drag you home,” she murmurs but everyone can hear.

“Tu estrèsbelle. J’ai besoin de toi.”

“So, we’re leaving now!” Melissa grabs Drew by the tie, then gives us all a quick wave. “See you at the wedding tomorrow.”

Drew follows his wife.Smart man.

“You are all crazy.” Carlos shakes his head and then nods at Evie. “Sorry about interrupting your party. Though, I think maybe it helped. Jeez. I guess my college professors aren’t wrong. Communication is everything. Later.” He waves and turns toward the exit.

“Carlos, wait!” Evie calls and he turns around with his eyebrows raised. She jogs over to close the space between them and lowers her voice, but I manage to overhear. “I know you have feelings for Amelia ...”

“She’s my friend, yeah.” He fiddles with the brim of his cap.

“And I know we don’t know each other at all. But if your feelings go deeper than friendship, maybe you should take a risk and ask her out.”

“I don’t know. I’m a few years younger and there’s no chance she’d want to date me. Her last boyfriend had everything—car, money, career. I have student loans, a bike, and work weekends at Jimmy Johns.”

Evie shrugs. “Funny, I didn’t see her as shallow when we talked last week.”

Carlos shakes his head, his voice rising. “She’s not at all. She’s kind, hard-working, smart, and one of the most considerate people I know.”

Evie grins. “Ask her out.”

His hands slide into his back pockets and he rocks back and forth on his heels.

“Carlos, I think you’ll regret it if you don’t. Besides, I think you’re one of the good guys. That’s what she’s looking for right now.”

He nods and flashes a smirk. “Yeah, okay, maybe I will.” He shakes his head and waves. “Later.”

“Okay, so this has been the strangest rehearsal dinner I’ve ever attended.” Kate’s voice cuts through the bustle of the once again busy bar. “Are we eating soon? ’Cause I’m doing that for two.”

Evie whirls and gives Kate a pointed scowl before she meets my smile and winds her fingers through mine. “Kate’s right. A party isn’t a party without food.”

“This is perfect, really,” Kate says. “You got all the drama over with ahead of time. Now tomorrow will go seamlessly.”

“Let’s not jinx it.” Evie laughs. “The only thing that matters tomorrow is marrying this guy. Everything else is gravy.”

I couldn’t agree with her sentiment more.

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