Page 74 of To Belong Together
She glanced at John’s note and the key. He’d given her the option of driving his one-hundred-thousand-dollar car or staying in a room he’d paid for. Both offers rang with generosity, awfully trusting for a guy who didn’t want his money motivating people in his relationships.
Come dance with me?
Excitement purred through her at the second read of the handwritten invitation, but moments later the emotion sputtered. No man had ever been as interested as John seemed.
She might be reading too much into it. The car he’d lent her and the money for the hotel couldn’t mean much to a man with his resources.
No, he’d been pursuing her for weeks. And that kiss … He really wanted her company.
She was almost certain.
For a little while there,John had feared he’d already experienced the highlight of his day at eight a.m., when Tara had called to cancel. Last night’s blizzard caused a tree to fall across her driveway. She hadn’t gotten much sleep, and she didn’t feel right leaving for the ceremony instead of helping the friends who offered to clear the massive trunk.
He’d said the right things—he was sorry to hear that, hoped everything worked out, wished he were around to pitch in. Meanwhile, his pulse had thrummed because, as soon as she’d started her apologies, he’d realized he was free to invite Erin.
It’d taken her more than an hour longer than he’d expected to accept the offer to join him at the dance.
When she’d finally texted, he wished he’d asked her to the other events, as well—the ceremony this afternoon and the dinner this evening. But even without being in the wedding party, he had family obligations—photographs to pose for and relatives to chat with, if nothing else. Hopefully, the day would also allow some interaction with his sisters, and those exchanges would be most healing if he were focused on family, not distracted by Erin.
By the time the dance rolled around, he imagined he would have finished most of his responsibilities. As everyone else paired off, they couldn’t fault him for doing the same. Besides, having that bright spot to look forward to at the end of the day would help him handle the rest of it as he should.
Watching Kate marry Tanner would be tough. She’d changed into a different person than John remembered, and marrying a guy like Tanner would cement that. After all, they clearly lived a certain kind of life together. If Kate ever wanted to return to the beliefs she’d been raised with, Tanner wouldn’t make it easy for her—unless he had his own change of heart.
From the backseat of his parents’ sedan, John lifted another prayer for the couple. Outside the window of the vehicle, his childhood church waited. He inhaled, feeling the weight of his seatbelt against his chest.
He unbuckled while Mom and Hank did the same, but he couldn’t muster the enthusiasm to open his door until he saw Gannon’s SUV roll into the lot.
Perfect. Backup.
He followed his parents from the car and stepped out and into a puddle. The ice and snow that had caused him so much trouble yesterday was melting. Inconsistent spring. He’d take straight-on winter any day.
Addie hopped out of Gannon’s SUV, waved to John’s parents, who had lingered to say hello, and grinned at John. “Looking good.”
Since the weather had prevented his final trip home before the wedding, his apparel choices had been limited. Instead of angering Kate by re-wearing the clothes from the rehearsal dinner, he wore the tux he’d already rented to be in the wedding party. Apparently after the accident, his mom had taken it upon herself to call the tailor and had the sleeve altered to fit over the cast.
The rented suit was one more reminder of everything that had gone wrong.
“The dogs are okay?”
Addie nodded. She’d dropped them off at a kennel that morning. “The owner was there. They’re in good hands.”
Gannon exited the vehicle and joined them.
“You’re early,” John said.
“We were with family. When that wrapped up, we came this way.” Gannon stepped away to shake Hank’s hand.
“It’s been so long since I’ve seen you two!” Mom gripped both Gannon and Adeline in hugs. Since Gannon, Addie, and John had been nearly inseparable in high school, the warm welcome made sense and saved John from having to manage conversation.
He stepped ahead and got the door to the church. Mom and Hank entered first, followed by Addie, who pulled her hair over her shoulder as she passed. Light caught on her hand as she lowered it, but she moved into the foyer without John getting a good look at the ring.
He edged in front of Gannon, and the lead singer stopped in his tracks. John hiked his thumb over his shoulder toward Addie.
A grin broke across Gannon’s face. The guy hadn’t looked this thrilled since their first big music award.
So he’d proposed, and she’d said yes.
“Congrats, man.”
