Page 98 of The One I Love
This gets a laugh out of the crowd, and a fake one from Amelia and me. She steps in closer, and I put my arm around her so she’s flush against my side. I hate that the first time we’re in public together that everyone is staring at us. And I hate that I’m holding her because we’re nervous, not because of happiness.
“I kid. I was one of the few who knew they were together, but I should have seen it long before that. The two of them have never been happier. Did anyone know Officer Shane Cunningham could smile? Well, he can! And boy does he do it anytime he hears Amelia’s name.”
As if on cue, I feel myself smiling as I look down to Amelia. A few tears have escaped as she looks up at me. I know Simon’s doing this to take the pressure off us—and to continue our story because none of us know what the plan is—but that doesn’t make his words any less true.
“Amelia…I’m going to save the speech about how I defended your honor, multiple times, for the wedding. But know this. I love you like a sister. And there is no one, I mean no one, better matched for this man than you.”
“Thank you,” I hear her whisper. Simon nods in return and grabs a coffee mug from the table beneath him.
“With that, raise your cups of coffee—or champagne. To Shane and Amelia!”
“To Shane and Amelia!”
Everyone in the diner starts applauding, including Luke and Mariah, who somehow found noisemakers.
“Thanks,” I say as Simon steps down from the chair. “You didn’t need to do that.”
“Oh, but I did, my friend. That’s a glimpse of my best man speech.”
“I thought you were officiating?” Amelia asks.
“Who says I can’t do both?”
“You’re not doing both,” I say. “Speaking of best men, do we know where Oliver is? I don’t want him finding out like this, or walking in and seeing everything.”
“First off, rude,” Simon says. “Second, he’s been in his dark place.”
“Why?” Amelia asks. “Is he okay? Did something happen with Izzy? We need to go see him.”
Simon shakes his head. “Don’t. He told me he’d come up for air when he was ready, but not now.”
Before we can ask any more about Oliver, I hear the very loud, and very distinct, noise of my mother clearing her throat. It’s her tried and true way to get anyone’s attention.
“Good luck with that,” Simon whispers before he ducks and weaves back into the crowd.
“Here we go,” I say, taking Amelia’s hand as we walk over and sit in the booth. Our mothers are sitting across from us, their faces blank. I’d rather have angry right now. Anger I know how to deal with. Not knowing what’s about to hit us? That’s the worst.
“Mom, I’m?—”
Tammy cuts me off. “No. We’re going to start.”
“Mrs. Evans, let me?—”
“Shesaidwe’re going to start, Shane.”
I hang my head. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Tammy, did you know our children were dating?”
“I didn’t, Barb.”
“Don’t you think that’s odd, that we’re the last to find out?”
“I do, Barb.”
“Actually, you’re not the last,” Amelia speaks up. “We haven’t told Oliver.”
“Oh!” Tammy says, dramatically throwing her arms in the air. “Well, sinceOliverdoesn’t know, that makes everything so much better.”
