Page 21 of Carly's Heart

The heat of his body, just inches away, warmed her cold shoulder.

“Bad day?” he asked mildly.

She greedily chowed down the lavishly buttered roll before answering. “Not my best day, no.” Man, the bun was delicious. She could eat ten of them.

“I didn’t see you at the ceremony,” he offered. “Did you make it? I wouldn’t have thought you’d miss your best friend’s wedding.”

“I was there four hours before the wedding. Checking the dress, doing the hair and makeup of the entire wedding party who didn’t want to pay someone to do it, unlike Tanya and I who paid through the nose.” Another expense she could barely afford. Tanya had offered to pay, but pride made Carly refuse to let Tanya cover it. The plan was to get formal pictures taken together. Pictures to replace nonexistent ones of her in the wedding party.

“Somehow,” she said, “I got roped in babysitting. I only saw the ceremony through the video streaming.” She barked out a sad laugh.

“You had a spot reserved up front,” he said, though it sounded more like a question than a denial.

“I thought so, but an usher, on the Romero side, informed me that I was needed downstairs.” Her voice was hard and bitter, and for the first time in her life, she didn’t care if she hurt another person’s feelings.

“George met me downstairs and asked me to fill in, just until the girls he’d hired as babysitters could show up. I’d still be there if I hadn’t dragged the last two Romero hellions upstairs to their parents.”

“Seriously? Tanya will have a fit when she finds out.”

“Yup,” she sighed and dug into the delicious greens.

“You missed the pictures, and the first dances?” He asked like he couldn’t fathom why. “That’s not like you.”

“It’s not like I could abandon a bunch of little kids. I’m done. I just want this day to be over. I’m going to drink my wine, call a cab and go home. Daycare duty knocked all the life out of me.” Yeah, like a prize-winning boxer’s punch.

“You provided daycare?”

“I do have a daughter. I am capable,” she snapped. She’d never been angry with him before. Since she’d divorced Mike, she was hyper aware of Birch. If she didn’t focus on thinking of him as a sibling-like friend, her brain short-circuited and made her ramble or stammer for the right words. Today, she didn’t give a crap what he thought about her.

“I know that. You’re an excellent mother. I just don’t understand how you would get stuck babysitting. That’s all.” He genuinely sounded perplexed. The corners of his mouth turned down.

“You doubt me? Just look at my dress.” She waved expansively at the multi-colored glitter and fruit punch decorating her once beautiful gown. “It’s ruined. I spent a fortune on this dress. The one Tanya wanted me to have, and don’t even get me started on the freaking shoes. Not only are they grossly uncomfortable, but they also cost me a car payment. I can’t afford that shit. But I did it, because Tanya asked me to, to make her wedding perfect. I spent the money with no complaints. I was happy to. And then the plans were changed.” She sighed. “The dress is ruined, the shoes were on sale, so I can’t even return them...”

Tears threatened to fall again, so she redoubled her attack on the much-needed sustenance he’d brought her. Shoveling food in also stopped her from flinging herself into his arms for comfort.

♥ Chapter Eleven ♥

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