Page 45 of Deal Breaker
“Yesterday was fantastic, wasn’t it?” I steered the conversation away from Sophie and me, back to the happy couple. “When are you heading on your honeymoon?”
“We go on Tuesday. Two weeks in Wilmington,” replied Brianna. “It’s going to be heaven. Just me and Joshua, and lots of rest and relaxation.”
“Sounds glorious, it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go,” said Sophie, a wistful look in her eyes. “I’d kill for a vacation right now.”
I banked that piece of information for a later date. Maybe I could surprise her with it one day.
“Never mind our honeymoon,” chipped in Joshua. “I’m more interested to learn how you two finally got it together.”
Sophie and I exchanged a glance. I’m sure neither of us wanted to tell the story of our first kiss on Friday night. When there was vomit involved, it didn’t exactly make for a romantic tale.
“What can I say? The romance of your wedding got to me.” I joked, clutching a hand to my chest.
“About time. It’s not as if you’ve been in love with her since we were sixteen.”
“Um?” I wagged a finger between him and Brianna. “I could say the same about you.”
“And look how it turned out.” Joshua grinned. “I got the girl, and it looks like you did too. Seriously, buddy, I’m so happy for both of you.”
The rest of brunch was a jovial affair, until the woman with the notebook I recognized from the rehearsal dinner came over to the table.
“Joshua, Brianna, I wanted to come over and say goodbye,” she began. “I’m so pleased how everything went yesterday, and I hope you are too?”
The couple cooed and nodded in agreement.
“Melina, this is Max and Sophie. They might be in need of your services soon,” joked Joshua.
I kicked him under the table. Sophie’s eyes widened.
Melina smiled and hooked a business card out from her notebook. “Well, here are my details should you need them. Having been to a Holiday Springs wedding as a guest, I can assure you that as a bride and groom, it will be a delightful experience.” She leaned down and kissed Brianna on both cheeks, then Joshua. “All the best for the future. Let me know if you need anything further before you leave.”
The wedding planner walked away, and I shot daggers at Joshua. “What the hell did you say that for?”
My best friend laughed. “Who knows what the future may hold?”
I caught Sophie’s gaze. She was my future, whatever that looked like.
After we’d said our goodbyes to Joshua and Brianna, we spent the afternoon taking a walk around the resort and exploring it. No doubt in the summer there would have been a lot more activity, but on a chilly November afternoon there wasn’t anyone boating on the lake or swimming.
“I never thought you’d be interested in someone like me,” I began. “You’d graduated, started a job in a law firm, and there I was working on construction sites. We weren’t exactly moving in the same circles.”
Sophie stopped walking. “Why? You’re the same person you’ve always been. Caring, protective, sensitive… hot.” Her mouth twitched.
“But I never thought you’d be interested,” I repeated.
“Did you know nothing, Max? All the times I came to your house for sleepovers with Autumn, engineering it so we were in the same room together? Did you even notice?”
Of course I had. I’d always noticed Sophie. Every single time.
I took her face in my hands, her cheeks cold. “How could I not? You’re beautiful, smart, funny, everything I want. Everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“And if Autumn hadn’t told you to stay away, would you have made a move sooner?”
“Oh, Sophie, yes. A million times, yes.”
My lips crashed against hers. I knew she found it hard to believe I wanted this, that I was serious, that this weekend was more than just an alcohol-fueled fling. I had to do everything I could to convince her.
By the time we finally got back to the suite, dusk had fallen.
