Page 94 of Then There Was You

“Will do,” Seb shouts back, raising his hand in a wave.

When we get out onto the sidewalk, nerves bubble in my stomach. Seb’s parents are just across the street from us, climbing out of their parked car. Although I’m nervous, I’m glad we’re seeing them outside and not in front of everyone in the restaurant. As we get closer, Tessa’s eyes drop to our joined hands, and she smiles.

“Well, it’s about time,” she says as she pulls Seb in for a hug. “I wondered how long it would take.” She turns and hugs me too.

“What does that mean?” he asks, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me against his side.

“It means it doesn’t take a genius to see the connection between you two. Even your dad noticed.”

“I can’t decide if there’s a compliment or an insult in that comment,” Henry says as he shakes Seb’s hand and smiles at me. His voice is full of humor.

“Oh, hush,” Tessa says, waving her arm. She takes my hand in hers. “I’m happy for both of you.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Seb squeezes my waist and I look up at him. He smiles and brushes a kiss on my lips.

“One son married, one engaged, and another in love. I thought the day would never come,” Tessa says, taking Henry’s arm and leaving us on the sidewalk as they head into the restaurant.

My eyes widen at her words. While I might have told Seb I love him, I know he’s not there yet, and that’s fine. I don’t want to rush him into saying the words if he doesn’t mean them. I know falling in love isn’t something he thought would ever happen again after he got hurt before. I do love him, though, and I can’t imagine walking away from him. I wish he’d open up to me. I’ve tried a couple of times to talk to him about his past, but he shuts me down every time. I have to admit, his reluctance to talk makes me a little nervous. I’ve been someone’s second choice before, and I don’t want to be second choice again.

“We should head inside,” Seb says. “I think everyone else is already here.”

We walk hand in hand into Franco’s, and I smile when we’re led into a private dining room where everyone’s already seated. Chatter and laughter fill the air, and although I’ve only been in Hope Creek for a short while, the people in this room are fast becoming the family I always longed for. While I wish every day that my mom was still here, it was only ever me and her growing up, and I can’t deny that I was lonely sometimes. I don’t think I could ever be lonely in Hope Creek, not with my best friend and the family she’s going to marry into all around me.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR

Seb

Nash and Paisley’s engagement meal is the first time Taylor and I have been out together as a couple. Knowing I can hold her hand or kiss her whenever I want isn’t something I thought I’d crave as much as I do. I don’t think ten minutes have passed where I haven’t been touching her, even if it’s just a hand on her leg. I love that I’m able to be this way with her.

I saw her reaction when my mom mentioned me being in love. Despite Taylor telling me how she felt a few weeks ago, neither of us has mentioned theLword since. My mom’s right. I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with her. It feels too soon to voice it, though. I don’t want to jinx anything. I’m happy as we are, and I think Taylor is too.

“Can I have everyone’s attention,” Nash says, standing and tapping a knife on his champagne glass. I look over, and he and Paisley stand. “As well as thanking everyone for coming and celebrating with us tonight, we have an announcement to make.”

“Another one,” Wyatt shouts, humor lacing his voice. “You’ve only just announced the engagement.”

“Shut up, Wyatt,” Ashlyn says. I’m guessing from the way Wyatt yelps that she’s kicked him under the table.

Nash chuckles. “So, as I was saying, me and my fiancée—”

A cheer erupts around the table when Nash refers to Paisley as his fiancée and Nash turns to her, pressing a kiss on her lips.

“Me and myfiancée,” he exaggerates the word and grins at her. “Have set a date for the wedding. Neither of us wants a long engagement or a huge wedding, so we’ve set the date for February fourteenth.”

“February fourteenth? That’s in…” Ashlyn pauses and uses her fingers to count the days. “Three weeks!”

“Yep. Twenty-two days,” Paisley says, smiling widely.

“I think we have some organizing to do,” Mom says, standing from the table and walking to where Nash and Paisley are, hugging them both. “Have you thought about where you want the ceremony?”

“We were hoping we could get married at the house. Would that be okay?” Nash asks as he slips his arm around Paisley and pulls her into his side.

My mom looks across at my dad, tears pooling in her eyes. I flick my eyes to my dad, who smiles before standing and going to her.

“We would be honored, son,” Dad says, pulling Nash into a hug and then hugging Paisley. “Your mom always hoped one of you would want to get married at the house.”

“You did?” Nash asks. “You never said.”

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