“You said I was a cocktease. How does feeling lonely account for you doing that?”
He looks at his feet, shaking his head. “I was mad because I felt judged by your sister and her fiancé, so I lashed out and said mean things to make you hurt the way I was. But I promise it’ll never happen again. Just give me another chance. Please, Chevelle.”
I look at him, really look at him, to see if he’s sincere and I think maybe he is. My head says to tell him to leave, but my heart feels that tug as it always does when someone is asking to be forgiven. I mean, everyone deserves a second chance, right? No one is perfect. I know better than anyone what it’s like to make a mistake.
My family doesn’t know I broke off whatever we had because any time they inquired about him, I just said he was out at sea. If they knew we split so soon, they’d probably chalk it up to me picking a loser again.
“I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.” He drops to his knees with a small smirk because he can probably feel me softening.
“Get up, Derek.”
He stands and he’s about to step into the house when I place my hand on his chest. “I have to go to the inn to get ready.” I run my hand down my face, hoping I’m not going to regret this decision. “We can start off by you coming to the wedding with me.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I heard your sister’s wedding was moved to today. That’s why I came prepared and dressed in a suit.”
“I’m not saying everything is okay, but we’ll go to the wedding and then we’ll figure it out from there. Deal?”
He nods a bunch of times. “More than fair. And I’m going to treat you like a fucking queen. You’ll never wanna let me go.”
I give him a small smile. “I hope so. Can you drive me over to the inn?”
He steps out of my way and puts out his hand. “Your chariot awaits.”
I grab my stuff and lock the front door then walk to his car and put everything in the back seat. He shuts my door and I put on my seat belt. I watch him walk in front of the car to his side and his smile is so wide. He looks so happy.
I can’t imagine living with no family. No one on your side to care about you even when you screw up. I mean, my family still loves me even though it’s my fault my mom is dead. What could Derek have done for them to disown him like that? But I don’t want to broach that conversation today when we’re trying to repair things between us.
After he pulls out of the driveway and starts down the road, he holds out his hand to me. I slide my palm into his and our fingers lock. His thumb runs along my forefinger.
“Thank you,” he says with such an earnest expression that I no longer question my decision to give him a second chance. “I have to go to work after the ceremony, but I’ll be back in a couple of days. Maybe we could go on a date?”
I smile at him. “I’d like that.”
He tightens his hand around mine. “Good.”
We arrive at the inn, and I give him a peck on the cheek before climbing out of his car and gathering my things.
“Can’t wait to see you all dolled up,” he says.
I don’t bother to tell him that the senior citizens from the retirement home made our dresses and to temper his expectations. Rather, I say, “I’ll be interested to hear what you think.”
We smile at one another, a spring of hope running through my heart. Maybe I was too quick to judge him. He has some unresolved issues in his life. Who doesn’t?
By the time I reach the room upstairs where everyone is getting ready, I’m the only one still in street clothes and not in their dress.
“Finally! Do you not have a clock?” Nikki says as soon as I walk into the room.
“I’m, like, five minutes late.”
Marla, my stepmom, comes up and runs her hands down my hair. “Don’t worry about it. You’re here. I saw a young man drop you off.”
Marla’s a great stepmom. She’s always been there for me, and even though I’m not her blood, she still senses when something is off with me.
“Yeah, it was Derek.”
She smiles as if that spring of hope is running through her heart too. Everyone wants me to find my happily ever after, it seems.
“Every relationship starts somewhere.” She kisses my cheek. “Now, go get dressed and ready. We’re walking down in ten.”