Arden doesn’t look at me when she speaks. “Oh, look. It’s your date.”
“Plus one,” I correct, biting back a smirk. He issomy date.
The boys load up our luggage and our garment bags. Carter checks that he has the collars, the rings, and Declan’s shoes three times before he gets in the car. None of us mention the fiasco to Boston. It feels like something that should stay between the three of us and the groom.
“We’ll spend the night in the city,” Boston says, telling us the plans as we pull from the curb. “I think they want to hit their favourite bar tonight, and then we’re headed to the lake in the morning. We still have about an hour until they get here. Caulfield said Lowesy’s parents want us over for dinner.”
He’s relaying a lot of information, all of which technically doesn’t apply to me. I’m not in the wedding party. I wonder where that leaves me. What am I expected to do during this dinner?
“We’ll drop your stuff off at the hotel, get you checked in, and then head over there,” he continues. Maybe I’m supposed to wait at the hotel for them to get back, and then we’ll all go to the bar.Boston’s eyes flicker to mine in the rearview mirror. “I already told them you’re coming, too. They made it clear it was never a question.”
Oh, well, that answers that.
I smile gratefully, and he looks away before I can test out the little theory about him being afraid of me.
I feel Arden’s grin as she turns her head to look out the window, but I proudly wear mine, staring into that rearview mirror, daring my date to meet my eyes again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
boston
Of course myhotel room is right across from hers. This feels like a test.
She has stopped using my name and now calls me Wedding Date, as if that is my legal first and last name. It’s become so frequent that even Arden has started calling me that. Forker hates every second of it.
We stroll up the steps to the Lowes household and Carter knocks on the door. Declan and Penny came straight here after they dropped their dogs off at her parents’ house. You can’t put the whole crew in the same city and expect them to stay apart for long. We’re having dinner here and then we’re heading to some bar calledThe Swan Divefor drinks.
The door opens and an older, graying version of the groom greets us with a smile.
“Lowesy Senior,” Forker chides, adding about eighteen more y’s to the end of that name. He reaches forward and smacks his hand into Declan’s father’s awaiting palm, tugging him forward for a quick hug. “This is Arden and my sister Ariana, and you know Boston.”
Declan’s dad greets both girls, then turns to me. He opens his arms. “Boss Man!”
“Hey, Mr. Lowes.” I grin.
Declan’s parents? The best. Genuinely. Good, caring people. People who were supposed to have kids.
Mr. Lowes guides us inside his house, and it’s immediately evident that this is a home that is overflowing with love. Pictures of Declan from every stage of life litter the walls. Pictures of the crew, too, as if they were also raised by his parents. It’s all big rooms with big touches that scream ‘family.’ It might be smaller than the house I grew up in, but there is a clear difference in value.
Lowesy’s childhood home is priceless—his house had a family. The Blacks just had the remnants of one.
We walk into a large, open kitchen and receive a welcome that we surely don’t deserve. The loud chatter, which would typically put me on edge, isn’t so bad in this particular environment. I like every single person in this room. That’s a rarity.
Mrs. Lowes and Mrs. Sweeten rush forward to say hello. I let Fork take the lead, let him charm both mothers when we finally manage to walk through the threshold and into the room. He’s better at schmoozing.
The house is flooded with people.
Declan’s head shoots up from the crowd, his eyes peeking over the edge of the island separating the kitchen from the dining room. He doesn’t smile as the crowd calls us over, the drinks already flowing. No, he immediately darts up from the table and practically pushes his friends' chairs out of the way to get to us, his eyes locked on Forker.
I open my mouth to say hello, but I don’t get the chance. He smacks his hands onto Forker’s shoulders and hauls him out ofthe room as if he weighs nothing—both of them vanishing down the hall.
The three of us watch them go. I shoot Arden and Ari a look of concern, but they both just innocently smile up at me. I might have a lot of issues, but I’m not stupid. I’m missing something. I’m not sure what, but something.
I glance back toward the oversized dining table and the people crowded around it.
With one look at Penny, it’s evident that she’s stressed. The poor girl has dark circles under her eyes and blotchy patches on her neck. She looks so tired that she’s barely recognizable.
I smile at her as the three of us round the island, trying to reassure her with one look that everything is going to be just fine, but she’s hardly even realized we’re in the room. We’re the last to arrive, so she can relax knowing the whole wedding party, apart from her sister, is exactly where they should be.
