Page 130 of Hate You, Maybe
He’s not going to Harvest High because he’s loyal, and family means everything.
He rescued me from the storm. He rescued me from MY storm.
He’s my date to my mom’s wedding. (Bring on the storm.)
Clara.
Chapter Forty-One
Two Months Later
Dexter
“I’ll be on my way in five,” I tell Sayla, wrestling with my tie in the hotel mirror. I’ve got my AirPods in so I could call her and finish getting ready at the same time. We’re in Apple Valley, Oregon, for Colleen and Eugene’s wedding. Sayla spent last night with her mom, and I’m staying at a place called The Granny Smith. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about this town, they really lean into their apple puns.
“How’s it going?” she asks.
“Once I get this tie sorted, I’m good.” This may come as a surprise, but I’m not often called upon to wear a suit in my line of work. Or maybe that’s not surprising at all. Either way, I wouldn’t trade my gym clothes and whistle for any wardrobe featured inGQ. “How are things at The Clumsy Goat?”
“There are a surprising number of people here,” she says. “I had no idea my mom kept up with so many friends.”
“Well, she can be an awfully friendly lady.”
“You’ve met her twice,” Sayla says.
“What can I say? Colleen Kroft makes an impression.”
Sayla laughs, and the mirror reflects my smile back to me. Man, I love the sound of her laughter. “Anyway, the back room here looks beautiful,” she reports. “Very festive. Lots of poinsettias and holly and white lights. I’m just glad she was able to move the wedding up a week.”
“I need to thank her again for that.”
“You’ve thanked her plenty already.”
“But I need to say it on behalf of my family now. They would’ve understood if I missed Christmas to be your plus one, but this way, you’ll get to celebrate Christmas with the Michaels family while your mom and Eugene are off on their honeymoon.”
“Trust me. Nobody wanted this wedding on actual Christmas except my mother. But you really have the magic touch. She wouldn’t even change the date for Eugene.”
“I think she just wanted to know he’d be willing to do anything to make her happy.”
“It’s like you understand women or something,” Sayla teases.
“For the record, I’ll do anything to make you happy.”
“Then get here soon,” she says. “I miss you. And remember, on time is?—”
