Page 147 of Peaks and Promises

“Really? You’ve never been to a wedding?”

“No. I don’t have any family except my mom, and she’s never been married. And I sort of skipped over the ‘bonding with female friends’ phase in my twenties, if that’s even a real thing.”

“It is for some people, I suppose. But I think most of us follow our own path, and it doesn’t always look like a sitcom.”

“Isn’t that the truth?”

Reese stood on the other side of the reception area, chatting with Luke and Zachary. Luke laughed at something Zachary said, but Reese didn’t. He seemed lost in thought until Luke elbowed him. He chuckled, but even from a distance, I could tell he was distracted.

“Are you all right?” Melanie asked.

I didn’t want to tell her that being at such a beautiful wedding was making my heart long for things it couldn’t have, and I wanted to melt into a puddle of tears. Because if I said it, I might do it.

“Yes, fine.” I took another sip of wine.

“Let me know if you need more wine or a pickle or something.”

“A pickle?”

“They’re my comfort food. It’s weird. I’m okay with it.”

I smiled at her. “I’m all right, but thank you.”

Somehow, I got through the rest of the reception. I chatted with Marlene and Reese’s sisters-in-law, held his nieces as they were passed around, and enjoyed a piece of delicious wedding cake.

Reese’s family didn’t ask whether we were still keeping up the married couple charade. Based on the way many of them glanced between us, I got the feeling they wondered. Were we still pretending, or were we on the verge of announcing a fake divorce from our fake marriage?

I was glad they didn’t ask.

Eventually, Reese asked if I was ready to go. Nate was going home with Annika’s family for another cartoon marathon, and some of the other guests had already started to leave. It had been a beautiful experience, but I was emotionally spent. Gratefully, I told him I was ready.

We drove back to Tilikum in silence. Part of me wanted to bring up the issue of when he was leaving, just to get it over with. Knowing what he had planned would make things easier. At least I could snuff out the last embers of hope that stubbornly refused to grow cold.

But I didn’t. I couldn’t seem to bring myself to ask.

When we got home, I headed straight for the bedroom. The dress was lovely, but it had been a long day in shapewear and heels. I changed into a tank top and lightweight pajama pants, and came out to let Reese know he could have the bedroom if he wanted to get out of his suit.

He’d already taken off his jacket and tie and was busy unbuttoning his shirt. Memories flashed through my mind—everything from the sight of him holding his niece, to the way he looked when he was braced on top of me in bed—and my traitorous hormones revved like an engine.

Longing mixed with desire, making my cheeks flush and my heart flutter. I didn’t know whether I wanted to curl into a ball and cry, or climb him like a tree. And in the midst of that confusing whirlwind, he slipped his shirt off and draped it over the back of a chair.

Spinning on my heel, I rushed back to the bedroom. Curling in a ball to cry it was.

I was about to throw myself onto the bed and let the overwhelming tide of emotion sweep me away, when he appeared in the doorway.

“Summer.” His voice was soft, but insistent.

Turning, I dared to meet his eyes while mine filled with tears.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I keep trying to figure out how to say this.”

The fact that we were about to have this conversation with him shirtless in all his tattooed glory added a hell of a lot of insult to injury.

“It’s okay. You can just say it. I know what’s coming.”

His brow furrowed. “You do?”

“You’re going back to Arizona. You said you’d help me get away from Axel, and you did. Nate and I will be fine. You don’t have to stay.”