Page 16 of Something Borrowed

Before he could pull out, she laid a hand on his cheek, turning his head to face her. “Grady, we’re too different. It will never work. You’ll hate my working all the time, resenting me and fighting with me. And I’ll worry every day that you’ll walk out on me. Grady, neither one of us deserves that.”

He gripped her hand in one of his own, holding it against his cheek for a long moment as he looked into her eyes. She finally looked away, and tugged at her hand, but he wouldn’t release it until she raised her eyes again. “You just need to give us a chance. I can be patient.”

This time, when she yanked her hand away, he let it go. After a moment, he pulled out and headed to Caroline’s.

Brigid didn’t know it yet, but she was still interested. He just needed time and patience. And this week was the perfect time to convince Brigid he could be the right guy for her. Although she brought up one issue that bothered him. Could he trust her not to walk out on him, that he would be enough for her? But he was convinced they could figure everything out. If only she would give them a chance.

He’d already been waiting four years. What were a few more days?

ChapterSix

They pulled up to the Masters’ house, and Brigid jumped out as if she had been scalded. She slammed the truck door and grabbed her things out of the back, swinging around almost violently. Her grip on her laptop bag slipped, and it flew out of her hands, headed straight for the gravel driveway. Her stomach turned, and she lunged for it, but she wouldn’t make it. Out of nowhere, Grady snagged the bag just before it hit the ground.

“Saved you again.” He offered the bag to her, a solemn expression on his face.

“If that has a laptop in it, maybe you should have let it drop.” Caroline spoke from the steps, a disapproving tone in her voice. “Brigid, we discussed this.”

Brigid grimaced, then turned to face her friend and the bride, Caroline, feeling like a little kid called to the principal’s office. “Caroline, I…”

Caroline looked at the bag. “You’re not bringing work to my wedding, are you?” When Brigid tried to speak, Caroline arched an eyebrow. “That’s not an excuse you’re handing me, is it?”

Brigid grinned. “You definitely are your father’s daughter. Just as tough as he is.”

“Don’t let her intimidate you, Brigid.” Matthew broke in smoothly, stepped out onto the step next to Caroline. “She understands the score, probably better than anyone.”

Caroline frowned. “This is my wedding week. Is it wrong of me to ask for my bridesmaids and my groom to be focused on that and not work? We have a lifetime for work. It’s certainly all I hear at home.”

Matthew put his arm around her. “Well, you have my undivided attention for the week and the honeymoon.”

She looked up at him. “Promise?”

“Definitely. But lay off Brigid. You remember how difficult this time was for me when I was up for that promotion? She has it tougher with Peterman than I ever did.” He pulled her close and kissed her head.

Caroline pursed her lips. “Well, I just asked for one week. You’d think Dad could order her to take a break, tell Peterman to lay off. But, whatever, as long as she takes part in everything. And I mean everything.”

Brigid climbed the three steps and kissed Caroline on the cheek. “Don’t worry. I’ll get done as much as I can before everyone gets here and work around the schedule. Promise. Your wedding will be perfect.”

Caroline sniffed, but hugged her back. “Grady, can you bring Brigid’s things upstairs? Matthew will show you where.”

Caroline steered Brigid inside and toward the kitchen, away from her father’s study, where Brigid had planned on parking herself for the afternoon, as promised. Instead, she sat at the kitchen table and went over schedules and the plan for the week, while drinking lemonade. Meanwhile, her foot danced nervously under the table, her tension over Peterman’s edits weighing on her mind, dreadful thoughts chasing each other around in a circle like a dog chasing its tail.

Finally, Caroline leveled a steady look at her. “Brigid, can you really not take one week off from the job? For me?”

Brigid’s hands twisted in her lap and she stared down at them. “You know how it is, Caro. You remember what Matthew had to do for the job. He had a lot of pressure on him, dating the boss’s daughter. You know, I have pressure as well. I’m a woman and friends with the boss’s daughter. I have to prove myself, maybe more than the other associates.”

“So, you’re saying it’s my fault? That you both work yourselves to death because of your friendship with me?”

“Of course not. We’d have to do the same anywhere we went, but that’s the job.”

“You don’t have to tell me. My childhood was wrapped up in my father’s absenteeism, then my fiancé, and now one of my best friends. I really hate the law.” The fierceness in her voice caught Brigid off guard, and her head whipped up.

“I never knew you felt that way.”

“Would it have changed anything for you?” Noticing Brigid’s expression, she continued. “I thought not. It wouldn’t change Matthew, either. And I understand that, but it gets lonely.” Underneath the fierce tone was a hurt.

Impulsively, Brigid leaned forward and hugged her friend. “I’m sorry I’ve neglected you. I guess I haven’t been a good bridesmaid.”

“We figured it out. With Anna working in California, and Delaney in her own world, I’m just glad you all are coming for this week. So, I really want us to regain our closeness. I miss all of you. So much.” Caroline gripped Brigid’s hand. “I need you to be involved, not off buried in your books like so many summers.”

---