Page 94 of Meant for Me
twenty
“Thanks for calling back so fast.” Zoey paced the concrete in the church parking lot the next afternoon, keeping her voice low and a steady eye on the front doors for Linc’s emergence. She’d hurried outside after the service when Elisa had called, hoping to snag the brief opportunity to update her best friend on the big news. “Linc kissed me.”
“Hedid?” Elisa’s pitched with excitement over the phone. “Finally!”
A car pulled away from the church—Sadie. She waved. Zoey waved back. “Or maybe I kissed him. I don’t know. It happened really fast.” Ended rather abruptly too, with their swan dive off the pier.
“What did he say? What did you say?” Elisa’s voice muffled, as if she turned away from the phone. “Linc and Zoeykissed.”
In the background, Noah let out an exclamation Zoey couldn’t quite decipher.
“By the way, your friendship is really over and above for responding to my SOS text message on your honeymoon.” Zoey winced. “Tell Noah I’m sorry.”
“Are you kidding me? We’re both totally invested in this.” She could hear the smile in her friend’s voice. “Besides, we’re just sitting at Louis Armstrong International right now, waiting for our flight.”
As if on cue, an intercom buzzed. “Hang on.” Elisa listened as the voice announced the next flight number. “Okay, not us. Continue.”
“It was after the wedding, outside by his pond. We started talking and then he got really serious and said he was grateful I was around and then it just…happened.” Zoey pressed her fingers against her flaming cheeks, despite the cool fall breeze swooping through her hair.
“And then what?” Elisa’s voice dipped.
“Then we sort of tripped and fell in the pond.”
Elisa burst out laughing. “That sounds about right.”
Her chest warmed. She could stand there, if she wanted, and easily recall the way his arms had hauled her up, his soaked shirt clinging to his chest, the barely extinguished fire in his eyes as he held her steady.
Probably shouldn’t remember all that in the church parking lot, even if Lincwasher husband.
She cleared her throat. “We cleaned up after that and I thought we’d talk about it, but, get this—Amelia called Lincdadlast night.”
“What?” Elisa gasped again. “That’s huge. Good gravy, what a night.”
“Yeah, we started talking about that first, and then both fell asleep on the couch.” Her legs stretched across his lap, his hands resting on her ankles. Had been nice, despite the lack of closure with the elephant in the room.
Zoey looked over her shoulder—coast was still clear. She ducked her head low. “Then we all three overslept for church and rushed around trying to get here on time. So I don’t really know what he’s thinking.”
“Well, is he acting normal?” Elisa grunted. “Never mind. Noah just said you can’t go by that with Linc.”
“Good point.”
“I’m sure you’ll talk soon. Don’t worry. Things are happening, which is great.” The intercom buzzed again, and Elisa sucked in her breath. “That’s us. Gotta go.”
“Have fun in the mountains!”
“We will. Text me when you have more news.” Elisa’s voice muffled again, then she laughed. “Noah says I might not answer right away.”
“Fair enough.” Zoey snorted. “See you guys later.” She hung up, pocketed her cell, grinning at her friend’s happiness—daring to think it might become her own.
Could that finally be her and Linc one day? For the first time since the courthouse, she dared to think it was possible. That maybe their friendship could turn into a real relationship, a real marriage in every way.
Maybe even a real honeymoon.
She started for the church, then paused at a familiar figure walking under the awning, wearing a skirt and carrying a briefcase. She frowned. Then her heart dropped.
What in the world was Ms. Bridges doing here?
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