“Oh, come on.” He tightens his grip on my back, pulling me closer to him. His lips hit my ear, and he sings a low, slow version of ‘Rollercoaster’s’ chorus.
My head tilts back, as a euphoric laugh passes over my lips. It draws the attention of one of my mom’s first cousins, Polly, I think. She turns, beaming at us. “Oh, looks like you two aren’t too far behind! Congratulations!” My mirth falls away, meeting her eyes and following their line of sight right to my stomach.
Fumbling, I hurry to correct her, but her husband twirls away, and I relent, chasing her around the dance floor just to yell, “Actually, I’m not expecting,” isn’t worth the energy today.
“I’m sorry.” A crease forms between Liam’s brows when he catches the look cut across my face. “What exactly did she just congratulate us on?”
“She thinks I’m pregnant,” I say with a sigh, glancing down at my stomach, which is protruding somewhat significantly right now. Thanks for nothing, chiffon. “I should probably give the endo belly a rest, or everything will spasm out of control soon.”
“I think they’re doing the speeches soon, too, so sitting sounds good.” He walks me back to my chair, and sure enough, the DJ calls for the maid of honor and best man to meet him at the front.
Liam is slated to give his speech first. He clears his throat with a nervous bob, pulling the sheet from his pocket with a trembling hand.
“As some of you know, my name is Liam Kelly. I technically lived in that house back there.” He hooks his thumb behind him. “But I’d say I grew up in the O’Shea’s. I don’t know if Caleb had much of a choice in being my friend. I think I followed him like a shadow the first year we met, but I wore him down eventually.”
“How could I say no to those dimples and that gorgeous face?” Caleb heckles. “Weak. I’m weak.”
“No offense, but I would have preferred them to wear a different O’Shea down first. But we got there.” He peeks at me, his lips tipping into a little smile.
A swooning “aww” undulates over the crowd. I reach for a piece of bread and my knife to butter the roll because attention like this makes me uncomfy, and when I’m uncomfy, I eat things.
“But in all seriousness, the O’Sheas have always been great about welcoming people into their family, and Holly, I’m sure you’re already feeling that too. Caleb, I can’t think of anything better than starting a family with the person you love. I know I can’t wait to do the same, and I’m so freakin’ happy for you, man.”
The knife slips out of my hand, clattering to my plate. It’s luckily quiet enough not to draw attention. My fingers tremble with Liam’s words.I can’t think of anything better than starting a family with someone you love.
Whatever Liam continues to say, my mind is a sieve, and I miss it.
My lungs tighten in my chest. My hands shake, and I’m worried another panic attack is imminent. They always happen more at this time of the month. I glance around. Everyone’s attention is on the podium. No one would care if I slipped out right now.
I slide out of the tent and tiptoe to the Kelly’s side of the yard, brushing past the lilac bushes separating the two properties. A chair creaks on the back deck, and I slow my steps. I thought the Kellys were in the tent with the rest of the crew.
A toast to the bride and groom. The applause drowns out the spring peepers singing in the wooded marsh at the edge of the Kelly property line. I lean against the side of their house, collecting my breaths.
“You know, I think this is the first time an O’Shea is sneaking over to this side. I feel like I was usually trying to find my son somewhere in your yard.” Mr. Kelly’s voice carries over the residual clamor in the tent.
“Just needed a second, sorry if I’m bothering you—”
“Never were.”
Before our dinner a few days ago, I could have counted the times on one hand that I had had a conversation with Mr. Kelly, a quick congratulations at our high school graduation, and that one time I was out shoveling our front path when Caleb was in college where he said “Leave that, Liam could use the workout.”
Of course, this inspired me to not leave it, pushing through on a day I probably shouldn’t have.
Our pathway was always shoveled first after that, Liam getting up at the ass crack of dawn to beat me to it.
“I have some leftovers from your baking spread here if you want some.”
I don’t really want to talk to anyone right now if I’m being honest, but it’d be rude to say no.
I turn the corner, climbing the stairs and plucking one of the mini pain au chocolats off the plate.
“You have quite the gift, you know.” He motions for me to sit on the glider across the way, and I settle, relishing the cushioned seat that relieves the pressure on my pelvic area those terrible chairs in the tent did not.
“Thank you.” I blush, apparently just as bad at receiving compliments as Liam.
“Liam sent me some of the paperwork for his project to look over, and I was just sitting here thinking how someone with your skillset would do very well with a shop on this side of the Atlantic. You’d be a rarity here.”
I pick at my lamination. It’s certainly a thought.
