Page 64 of Heal Me, Love Me

“A few months ago. We’re planning on getting married soon.”

It wasn’t surprising that I was only learning this now, despite how long she’d been engaged. She’d always waited until the last minute to tell me anything important, if she even told me at all.

“Congratulations,” I forced out.

“Thank you.” She reached across the bar and squeezed my hand. “I knew you’d be happy for me.”

Happy wasn’t the word I’d have used, but being honest wasn’t worth the argument it’d likely cause.

All three of them ordered a drink. Carla continued looking at her phone, while Dave enjoyed his beer, and my mother launched into details about venues and outdoor ceremonies as if she hadn’t just dropped the wedding news on me out of the blue.

“We found a beautiful place outside of Napa. It’s expensive, but Dave here”—she placed her hand on his chest—“agreed the location was perfect.”

He gave me a rueful smile. “Weddings are apparently a great way to go broke.”

“Which actually reminds me.” Mom brightened as she looked at me again. “I wanted to ask if you would be willing to bartend the reception for us? Now that we’re spending more money on the venue, hiring a professional bartender is a bit outside our budget, and you know what you’re doing.”

I searched her face for any sign she was joking. “You want me toworkyour wedding?”

“Just for a couple of hours,” she replied like she didn’t understand why that was a shitty thing to ask.

Rowan’s eyes met mine as if he were checking whether I was still holding it together, but I was fine. For now.

“Send me the info, and I’ll see what I can do,” I said, knowing nothing good could come from calling her out at my workplace. I’d just make sure I had “plans” when she sent me the date.

Eventually, after enough hints from Aunt Carla about how late it was getting, they left.

“You okay?” Rowan asked as soon as the door shut behind them.

I snorted. “She came here because she needed something. That’s it. She barely reacted when I told her about us. She brushed off my career, introduced me to her fiancé like I’m some random bartender, then asked me to work her wedding.” I rubbed a hand across my jaw. “I don’t know why I expect things to be different any time I talk to her.”

He reached across the bar, gently catching my wrist. “Because she’s your mom. No matter how many times she lets you down, some part of you is always going to hope this time will be different.”

I looked down at his hand wrapped around mine. “I guess hoping she’s going to change is a hard habit to break.”

12

Rowan

When we steppedout of the airport, the late-afternoon heat hit us immediately. I’d dealt with high temperatures when I was stationed in San Antonio, but Florida in October came with humidity that made the air heavy and my shirt stick to my skin. By the time we reached the curb to wait for our driver, I was already sweating.

Keaton stood beside me, sunglasses shielding his eyes, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder. “What the fuck?”

“What?” I asked.

He brushed a strand of hair from his face. “My hair knows we’re in Florida.”

I arched a brow. “Your hair?”

“It has volume now, and not sexy volume, either.Frizzyvolume.”

“I don’t know.” I smirked. “I’m into it.”

“You’re biased.”

“And?”

He chuckled. “At least you admit it.”