“Besides, don’t you have a wedding to be at?”
“I’m not going.”
“Why the hell not?”
I point to his heart. “Uh, hello?”
“Well, I’m not having a heart attackright now. And I don’t plan to have one tonight either, so go. Have fun for both of us. Maybe bring me home a slice of cake.”
I roll my eyes. “Just hush and turn the TV back on. I’m happy where I’m at.”
Truthfully, I am bummed to be missing the wedding. I was looking forward to it. I wanted to see Odette in her gown. I wanted to see Noah cry as he watched her walk down the aisle. Ezra and I even had a bet placed on it. I want to see Izzy, too, since it’s been so many years, and meet her French boyfriend.
But most of all ... most of all, I wanted to dance with Ezra.
I know he said he didn’t dance, but I have no doubt I could have convinced him to do it.
My heart tugs at the thought of him being there alone. Is he sitting there with that perpetual frown lining his face? Is he slinging back too many ciders? Or is he having a great time, a break from all my moping?
I don’t know, and I guess I won’t.
I wiggle down on the couch, pulling my blanket higher and getting comfy for a night in.
My eyes grow heavy, my breaths begin to slow, and I’m just about asleep when a loud noise wakes me up.
I look over at my father, who is wide awake.
He shrugs. “Don’t look at me. I wasn’t the one who rang the doorbell.”
With a groan, I throw the cover off and push my feet into my slippers before heading for the front door.
“This had better not be another well-wisher,” I mutter. “Can’t they read the sign?”
I yank open the door, ready to tell whoever it is to get lost, but all the words get stuck in my throat.
Because standing on my front porch is Ezra—and he’s wearing a tux.
He looks like a vision. An absolute dream come true, and maybe he is.
I love you.
The three words echo in my head, and I want to say them so badly, but I can’t. Not when my ailing father is right in the other room, proving to me that I don’t deserve this. Not when I failed him like I did.
“What are you ...” I clear my throat. “What are you doing here?”
“Not doing a promposal, whatever the fuck those are,” he says. His lips twitch just ever so slightly, and then he tucks his hands into his pockets. “I’m, uh, here to pick you up for the wedding.”
I narrow my eyes. “I’m not going to the wedding. I already talked to Odette about it.”
“Right.” He nods. “But see, Ialsotalked to Odette about it, and she wants you there.”
“Ezra, I—”
“And Noah and Izzy and the entire town. We all want you there.”
“You talked to the entire town?”
He scrapes his shoe against the top step. “Well, it wasn’t the entire town, but the point is the same—the people want to see you.”
