Page 112 of Merritt and Her Childhood Crush
Of course,I’m regretting this choice an hour later when Hunter has to wrestle the rings from Banjo. He walked—waddled—down the aisle just fine, but then decided he didn’t want to give up the rings.
“We talked about this,” Hunter grumbles, fighting to keep Banjo from bolting.
The rings are attached to the back of his bow tie, but with the raccoon tucking into a ball and attempting to squirm away, it’s impossible to reach. Hunter looks caught somewhere between irritated and amused as our small group of guests laugh.
Sadie leans forward. “Check your bouquet.”
I do, and I’m not sure how I missed the tiny baggie of Fruit Loops hidden below the blooms. “You’re a lifesaver,” I whisper back, and within ten seconds, I’ve plied Banjo with cereal and Hunter procures the rings.
“Sorry,” he says quietly, giving me a chagrined smile.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
And it’s true. I hadn’t ever spent a lot of time imagining a wedding. I was too busy manifesting corporate success. But this small backyard wedding at the edge of Hunter’s marsh with two dozen guests and a raccoon ring bearer is somehow magically perfect.
Even the weather cooperates. There are heat lamps Dante managed to find, but we may not need them on this unseasonably warm December day. Though I guess it depends on how long the party goes into the night.
Personally—Iwillbe dancing.
The ceremony is intentionally brief, and when Frank—who got his officiant’s license just for this—tells Hunter he may kiss his bride, I step closer first, kissing my groom.
The world falls away a bit as Hunter’s hands find my waist, tugging me closer still. His mouth tastes of mint and feels like warm affection against mine. It’s only when our guests start to cheer, startling the dogs into barking, that we break apart, smiling against each other’s mouths.
“Later,” Hunter promises, and the gleam in his eye makes me shiver.
I’ll be looking forward tolaterfor the rest of the night.
* * *
I’m still thinkingaboutlaterand shooting Hunterlatereyes across the yard lit with fairy lights when a hand touches my arm. I’m in no way sad about anyone interrupting Virginia Hopkins from a story about some new neighbors who had the audacity to get solar panels. But when I see that it’s Cassidy, I’d rather keep discussing how tacky the panels are.
“I’m about to take Isabelle home,” Cassidy says, and I watch with regret as Virginia slips away, probably to grumble about something else or to enlist a new member of her Panty Melters book club.
“Thanks for coming,” I say, wishing it weren’t so obvious from my voice how awkward this is—being greeted on your wedding day by the woman who married your husband first.
Yay.
If Isabelle hadn’t insisted and begged and cried to me about her mom coming with her, believe me—Cassidy wouldn’t be here. Things have been fine since Hunter talked to Cassidy. Or maybe she’s just been too busy with a baby to call Hunter for every little thing. But it doesn’t mean this moment isn’t incredibly uncomfortable.
Sadie catches my eye from across the yard where Benedict King is trying and failing to win her over. She raises her brows, checking to see if I need backup. Actually, her look says more,let me know if I need to drop-kick her behind out of here. I give a slight shake of my head.Give me a minute, I hope my look says.
Cassidy draws up her shoulders until she’s ramrod straight. “I just want to say, officially, that I’m sorry for overstepping with Hunter. Adam has worked out some things with his schedule so he’ll be around more. But even if not, it wasn’t right for me to ask Hunter for so much. I see that now, and I’m sorry.”
Man—next time I need people to apologize, I’ll just have another wedding. Something must be in the air. Or the champagne.
I almost tell her it’s fine, but instead, I say, “Thank you. I’m glad you came.”
The words aremostlytrue, even if it’s primarily for Izzy’s sake. Though for the first time, I can feel a bit of tension leaving the air between us.
Cassidy smiles, looking relieved. She glances over to the house, where Hunter is watching us from the porch, Lilith and Vroom by his side. He lifts his glass in a silent toast. We both wave, and it should still be super awkward—maybe it is for him; I’ll have to ask later—but this moment of peace feels like a truce. A start to something new. Not like I want to be friends—but because of Isabelle, I don’t want there to be friction between her mother and me.
“It was always you, you know,” Cassidy says, a note of wistfulness in her voice.
“What?” I ask. I got caught up staring at Hunter’s handsome jaw underneath his neatly trimmed beard.
“Hunter always loved you,” Cassidy says. “I knew it, even when he didn’t. And I thought maybe our friendship was enough of a foundation or that, over time, once we had Izzy, that might change. I was naive.” She shakes her head, then smiles. “You have always owned Hunter’s heart.”
I have no response to that, but I’m saved from it when Cassidy gasps. Her arms come up, hovering over her chest.
