Page 73 of Loving You

Her eyes narrowed, but she grinned. “That’s nice.”

I laughed, feeling her frustration like a poke to the chest. “Should I not say it? There are no rules here. You should say what you need to say.”

She shook her head. “No. I’m going to say whatever it is I want to say when I decide to say it. And you should definitely tell me you love me because I will never tire of hearing it.”

“Good.”

Her brow furrowed. “But hey, you’ve told me you love me, and I don’t even know your college major.”

I laughed again at the abrupt nature of her comment. “Uh, sorry? Is that an important part of courtship in your mind?”

She bit her lip and a smile bloomed until it took over her face. “Can I just say how completely dorky it is that you just saidcourtship, and how much Ivery much likethat about you?”

My cheeks heated. “Glad it’s not a turn off.”

Her eyes widened and she shook her head slowly. “Oh, no. Definitely not. I like that you’ve got a little old-fashioned gentleman in you. But I do need to know—who is this man I’m dating? A business major? Accounting?English?”

I grinned at her silliness. “I double majored in accounting and management. I did start out in English, actually, but then Dad passed, and I buckled down to something practical. I got my MBA online a few years ago as well.”

Her lashes fluttered and she looked… aroused?

Her hand gripped my wrist and slid up in a caress. “So wait. You’re saying you wanted to be a poet, but then you double majored in undergrad, later got your master’s,andyou’re a black belt in karate?”

“Uh, yes? Although it’s not karate, it’s—”

“I’m just saying, you’re like this gorgeous, nerdy, brilliant, serious, sexy, black belt…andyou can cook?”

I laughed loudly at that and several people, including our mothers, eyed me. With a shake of my head I said, “You’re wild, woman.”

“I’m just wondering how you’ve been single for so long.”

I sobered then, feeling the gravity of what I’d say next and believing it with every atom in me. “Probably because I was waiting for you.”

“We’re leaving,” Mrs. Carrigan said, cutting off any chance for April to respond to my sappy but true comment.

“Did you—? Is everything okay?” April asked, shooting to her feet.

Mom spoke then. “We’re good. Right, Candace?”

The women exchanged a look and though they didn’t seem like they were about to hug it out, April’s mom nodded. “We are. And now I’ve got meetings this afternoon to prepare for.” She turned to my mom. “I’ll see you at the rehearsal, yes?”

My mom smiled. “See you then. Have a good week.”

Candace blinked, then her face softened. “Yes. Thank you. You too.”

My mom leaned down and gave me a kiss on the cheek, hugged April, and we all wandered out together.

The sunshine hit, seeming particularly bright, and I inhaled the fresh mountain air. The feud was done. April was happy.

And hopefully, soon enough her ex would be gone for good, and we’d move forward together.

23

APRIL

“Brenna, would it be weird for us to play your music while we get ready?” I asked, holding up the bridal suite’s Bluetooth speaker. “I’m unapologetically fangirling right now, so don’t judge me.”

I braced myself for the country star’s reaction. She may be the youngest Walker sibling, and therefore a damn good person as far as I was concerned, but she was still mega famous and therefore didn’t knowmeas well as the rest of them.

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