Page 38 of Sugar
I keep my eyes on Rhett when I say, “Everyone makes mistakes. It’s a part of life. The goal is to be a better man tomorrow than you were today.”
Rhett flashes a grin that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
The front door swings open, revealing my mom on the other side. She’s wearing a yellow house dress, her hair pinned in a neat bun on the top of her head. “There you are,” she says, looking at Liam.
“Go easy on him, Ma,” I say. “Let him tell you his side.”
She tuts. “Don’t I always listen to you boys and yoursides?”
This time, Rhett’s smile is genuine. “She’s got you there,” he says.
I laugh, turning back to Ava. “How are you feeling?” I ask.
“Fine,” she says. And I believe her.
“Wanna go for a ride?”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
AVA
On Friday, I pick up Layla from the ranch in my Range Rover and drive us to Luna’s Bakery.
“Have you thought about what you might want?” she asks, looking at me from where she sits in the passenger seat. She’s wearing white linen shorts and a black-and-white-striped shirt with a pair of black leather sandals. I’m intrigued by her simple-yet-sophisticated style, much more in line with my colleagues at the law firm than what I’d expect to see here at home. Although, I remember her mother, Lynette, always showing off the money she married into. Maybe Layla gets it from her.
“For cake?” I ask.
She nods.
“Something simple. Vanilla, maybe.”
She looks offended. “Not even marble? Or red velvet?”
I shake my head. “I think it’s best to keep all of this as easy as possible.” I donotneed to be out here caring about wedding details. “What?” I ask when Layla’s brow furrows.
“You’re allowed to still havesomefun with this, you know.”
I sigh. “I’m not sure Kasey would agree.”
The last couple of days have been . . . confusing. I’m still frustrated with myself for letting my nausea get as bad as it did during our appointment with Pastor Brown, but Kasey handled it much more graciously than I expected. It made me feel like he still cares—at least more than he lets on. And then letting me tag along to pick up his nephew from school launched a riot of emotions in me, seeing the way he managed the situation and advocated for Liam.
It felt . . .goodtobe included in something like that. Like maybe, at the very least, we can keep a real friendship alive during this marriage. And who knows, I might actually let myself enjoy being integrated into moments with his family and not have to keep such a guard up.
But then he asked me to go riding with him, and things went downhill pretty damn quick.
“Even if he doesn’t agree,” Layla says, pulling me back to the present. “To hell with it.”
I laugh. “You know, that’s actually a motto I can get behind.”
We pull into the lot in front of the bakery and make our way inside. There’s a handful of people in line already, so Layla and I trudge to the back and wait our turn. When we make it to the counter, Luna is thrilled to see us, her hazel eyes rounding wide. “Ava! And Layla! What a power duo the two of you make. I love to see it.”
I give her my best smile. “You know me, always looking for new ways to harness a little bad-bitch energy.”
Luna chuckles. “What can I get you girls?”
“Actually,” I say, hesitating a little, knowing things are about to becomereallyreal. “We were hoping you might have availability to book a wedding cake? For just over a week from now?”
It looks like Luna stops breathing altogether. Her gaze moves to Layla. “You and Wells?” she asks quietly.
