When I stepped back out of the house, he was hanging up the phone. Shoving it back into his pocket, he lifted his head.
In just a couple long strides, he stepped in front of me, halting me in my path.
He scratched his brow beneath the brim of his cowboy hat, then adjusted it. He looked upset.
“Everything all right?” I asked, knowing it probably wasn’t.
“I’m going to have to go,” he said.
My brows raised at that. “Right now? We’re about to make a toast.”
His eyes wouldn’t connect with mine. “I need to take care of something really quick, and then I’ll be back.”
“Anything you need help with?” I wanted him to talk to me, to include me in whatever he was dealing with, but this was all so new. I didn’t know how much he wanted me to be involved when it came to Penn or his ex-wife.
“It’s all right.” He wrapped an arm around me, giving me a peck on the cheek. “Can you watch Penn for me?”
I didn’t know how I felt about being asked to watch his daughter when he was going off to deal with his ex, but it definitely did not feel good.
“Yeah, I’ll keep an eye on her,” I told him, breaking the hug.
“Thank you. Hopefully, I won’t be long.”
I nodded, watching him hustle off to his truck.
Sucking in a deep, calming breath through my nose, I adjusted the weight of the champagne bottles in my arms, steeling myself against the questions from my family and friends and whatever imminent talk was on the horizon for Reed and I.
One thing I did know for certain was that a big fucking glass of champagne was calling my name.
30
lina
The reception was already in full swing by the time I returned. Christian turned up the boombox, a slow country song playing. Jude and Romy, with Charli in their arms, were sharing their moment. Dad was dancing with Hazel, then spun her out, trading partners with Jude so he could dance with Romy and his namesake. Kale was a good sport, twirling Penn in her princess dress. Sage continued to snap photos, oblivious to the fact that Christian couldn’t take his eyes off her in her green sheath dress and wide-brimmed hat.
I took the champagne bottles to one of the tables that was set up with flutes and cupcakes Hazel had baked for the occasion. I popped a bottle, giving a celebratorywhooplike I usually did, but it was lackluster.
“Okay, what’s wrong?” Sage asked, setting the camera down so she could give me her full attention. “Where did Reed go?”
I poured myself a glass before setting down the bottle. “His ex called him needing help or some shit,” I grumbled, taking a sip of the champagne, letting the bubbles swirl in my mouth.
Her brows rose to her hat. “He left?”
I took another drink, hoping that it would cool my insides, but the fizz felt exactly how my blood felt, and I didn’t meaneffervescent—I meantboiling. Ready to bubble over. I was pissed because here I was, feeling fucking embarrassed, just like I had after that first time we’d met.
“It’s bullshit, really,” I told her. “Here I was, ready to have a relationship with the guy, have him at my side at a family wedding, and what does he do? He leaves to go to his fucking ex-wife.” Of course I leave out the part that I’m desperately in love with him.
I couldn’t bear to look Sage in the eye. “Did he say what’s going on?”
“Nope.” I popped the P. “Just said he needed to take care of something real quick and that he’d be right back. So … he asked me to watch Penn.” I was also worried. Whatever it was had to be bad enough to make him leave and ask me to watch his daughter. Was this about the stalker? Was this about Junior?
“That’s shitty. I’m sorry, Lina.” Sage poured herself some champagne. “We could happily drown our woes in the corner if you need a drinking buddy.”
“You don’t want to dance?” I asked her. The music changed, and Christian stood from his chair, about to head over to us.
“Not really.”
“Because it looks like someone wants to dance withyou.”
