Page 45 of A Love That Broke Us
I melt into him, letting his mouth wake me up as all the sleepy parts of me start to perk up, a slow buzz igniting inside me.
A knock interrupts us.
Jensen ignores it, completely consumed by our kiss.
The knock turns into a pound.
I pull back. “It’s Matt. He’s here to help clean.”
“Just ignore him. He’ll go away,” Jensen mutters, voice low, leaning in for another kiss.
I laugh, wiggling free from his arms. He groans as I make my way to the front door.
I swing it open.
Matt steps inside, grinning way too big for ten a.m., and holds up a bag. “Hey, guys. I brought bagels.”
Chapter Sixteen
JENSEN
THEN—TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO
FEBRUARY
“Alright.I think that’s it. I think that’s everyone.”
My mom’s voice pulls me from my list. I look up and reach across the large dining room table as she passes me her stack of papers—as in, multiple.
I flip through the endless names. “Mom. This is way too many fucking people.”
She rolls her eyes.
I skim the pages, stopping when I land on the Bennetts. “The Bennetts? Seriously? They hate me. Jack spent my entire childhood making my life hell, and now we’re sending him a free dinner invitation?”
“Oh, stop. He doesn’t hate you.”
I keep flipping, irritation rising with every name. “Who the hell are half these people anyway? There’s no way you know all of them.”
Beside me, I catch Alley’s shocked expression as she scans the list in horror.
“These are our friends, Jensen. Your father’s and mine.”
I set the list down, shaking my head. “No. You need to cut at least a hundred names, Mom. We don’t want a wedding this big.”
Honestly? I don’t care who my mom invites, but I know Alley would love to keep it intimate. She’s already pushing past her comfort zone—one hundred guests max, fifty if she had it her way. But between my list, hers, and now my mom’s? This thing isn’t just big. It’s a goddamn production.
“What do you mean you don’t want a big wedding? It’s already big. Another hundred won’t make a difference at this point,” she argues.
Alley meets my gaze, and I see the resignation there. “She has a point,” she says, forcing a small smile. “What’s another hundred when there are already hundreds?”
God bless her for trying to be okay with this. But I’m not. I take a deep breath, then push back from the table, her list in hand. “I’m hungry. I need to eat before I lose my mind.”
I give my mom a look that says,You better follow me.
My mom hesitates. “Right… I think I’ll join you. Alley, do you want anything to eat?” she asks, standing.
Alley’s eyes flick up. “No, I’m good. Thanks.”
