Sweat broke out on his brow, and he stepped outside of the preschool Sunday school room at Amazing Grace. The women were using the larger third- and fourth-grade classroom to get ready, as was fitting. What was Olivia doing right now? Probably organizing everything and everyone. Maybe if she’d overseen his calendar, they would have gone on their official date.
If he could physically kick himself, he would. Afterhe’d asked her out for coffee—and subsequently found his equilibrium after their incredibly impulsive and incredibly incredible make-out session—the natural next step had been to ask her out on an actual date. He’d hesitated for only a second, mostly because he knew the next few weeks would be chaotically busy for him, but he had asked her anyway. In that moment, he’d wanted to see her again more than anything. And he had fully intended to call her and set up a time to take her to a steakhouse in Hot Springs that had a filet so tender you could cut it with the side of a spoon.
But he didn’t call her, and they never went out. Instead, he did what he always did. Worked. And by the time two weeks flew by, he realized he’d forgotten his promise.
At that point he should have called her the moment he remembered. But it had been 10:04 p.m., and he knew she liked to keep a strict bedtime schedule. And in the morning when he’d gotten a call from his nurse about one of his patients who had been admitted at Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Olivia was far from his mind and his appointment calendar.
By the time he had a break in his work, almost a month had gone by, and yet he’d still considered calling her to explain himself. But he kept putting it off, and by June it was too late to apologize.
Before he knew it, Anita’s rehearsal dinner was upon him, and he’d fully intended to go and face the music with Olivia somehow. But he’d been called to the hospital at the last minute, earning a well-deserved haranguing session from his mother, who afterward had instructed him on what to do the day of the wedding. His father was a cardiologist,and his family usually wasn’t completely bent out of shape, having gotten used to short-notice cancellations over the years. But missing the rehearsal dinner? That had strained their goodwill.
“Mark my words, Kingston,” Mother had said in a stern, harsh voice he hadn’t heard her use on him since he’d gotten a B in art in sixth grade—his one and only B. “If you don’t show up tomorrow, you’re going to break Anita’s heart. You’ll break all our hearts.”
He kept to himself the fact that he’d been to three weddings already this summer. But those were for his clinic partners’ kids, who had all seemed to get engaged and plan their nuptials at the same time. He only made an appearance at those and left as soon as he could, his obligation finished. But he didn’t dare mention that to his mother. She’d have an epic conniption.
So here he was, ready for his sister’s big day and still unprepared to see Olivia again.
“It’s time.” Hayden clapped him on the shoulder. “The bridesmaids are already in front of the sanctuary. Except for Harper. She’s running late.”
Whew. That took a little pressure off since he wouldn’t be the only one in Olivia’s bad graces.
When he got to the foyer in front of the sanctuary, he tried to make eye contact with Olivia. She wouldn’t acknowledge him. Pressure back on.
Harper finally showed up and took her spot by his side. The two of them were paired up, and with her sky-high heels, she was only a few inches shorter than he was. After twenty minutes of being ignored by Olivia, then listening toher and Harper bicker for the last five while they waited for the cue to walk down the aisle, he turned to them. “Ladies, can this wait?”
“Sorry,” Olivia murmured, staring down at her pale-green low-heeled shoes. Then she looked straight aheadand straight through him.
He clenched his jaw and faced forward as the couples in front of him started to move. First Hayden and Riley, then Ryan and Paisley. Then it was his and Harper’s turn. As he took his place next to his brother-in-law, Ryan, he forced himself not to watch Olivia as she moved down the aisle with Lonzo. This was Anita’s day, and he had to set his personal issues—and failings, in this case—aside.
Less than forty minutes later, they were congratulating Mr. and Mrs.Tanner Castillo.
His stress eased a bit seeing his sister so happy. He’d long suspected she had a crush on Tanner, and that had ended up being the case. As for Tanner, he was a great guy. Anyone could see how much he loved Anita.
The bridal couple and attendants formed a reception line in the foyer and received congratulations from the guests. That all went smoothly until Erma McAllister and her crew, including Olivia’s aunt Bea, stopped in front of him and Harper.
“My stars, look at the two of you,” Erma said. She leaned over to Bea, along with Peg and Myrtle, the other two ladies with her. “They look straight out of a fashion magazine, don’t they?”
“They sure do,” Bea said before leaning forward and whispering, “Maybe you two will be the next ones to get married.”
He heard Harper laugh, but he didn’t find the comment amusing, especially coming from Bea and stated right in front of Olivia. He frowned and glanced at Olivia to gauge her reaction. There was none, as if she hadn’t heard what Bea had said. What a relief. Erma and her friends were dead wrong about him and Harper. He’d known her for a few years and liked her well enough. She was stunning, and Erma was right—she did look like she’d stepped out ofVogue. But she wasn’t his type, and he’d never gotten the indication that he was hers.
After the receiving line ended, everyone dispersed for the reception at the Maple Falls Community Center. He saw Olivia heading for the door, and he thought about catching up with her. But what could he say? Sorry for being a schmuck? He was sorry for so many things—for letting work get in the way, for shoving her off to the side, and for being a coward and not calling her the first moment he’d had free, which would have been the very next morning after their coffee date and before he took a shower. He could have called her while he wasinthe shower. His phone was waterproof. It would have survived.
But most of all, he was sorry he hadn’t followed through. Because even though he’d set her aside in his mind to attend to his patients and other work responsibilities, he still felt her. Felt her lips on his, felt the way she’d sighed when he swooped her up and set her on his Audi so they would be at eye—or rather, mouth—level. Felt the warmth of her smile when she said she’d go out with him. Felt so many other things, some confusing, some demanding.
He felt so ashamed for ignoring her.
As if sensing his gaze on her, she turned before stepping outside. She was so beautiful in her bridesmaid’s dress—a pale green that complemented her olive-toned skin, with a demure neckline and fabric that flared a little around her hips. Her hair was swept up in a simple updo straight out of a classic film, and her light makeup made her look like a glamorous librarian—and that was a compliment.
He made a move toward her, then stopped, seeing the shields go up in her eyes. She quickly went outside.
It’s what I deserve.
The emotional part of him wanted to chase after her, but the logical part of him refused. There were still people in the parking lot, and he didn’t want to air personal business in front of any of them and risk being the next topic on the Maple Falls grapevine.
He was heading for the door when Harper appeared beside him. “Can you give me a ride to the reception?”
“Sure.”
