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“Well, you ruin nights, so I guess we’re even,” I said.
“You mean rescued. Thank me later,” he called over his shoulder as they walked away.
My thoughts turned inward, my brain firing electricity to nowhere and everywhere. I fought the urge to drive over there right fucking now, drag her out of bed, and tell her everything. How I felt, what I wanted.
But I could do one better.
So I hopped off the tailgate and headed for the Blum sisters.
Because I was going to need their help.
29
A Little Less Conversation
PRESLEY
I stood beneath a gigantic banner that read Bon Voyage with a drink in my hand, my waitress smile on my face, and a busted heart in my chest.
The yacht party theme had gone over well—I was surprised at how many people in Lindenbach owned yacht captain hats. There was a ton of white, a ton of boating attire, and enough themed decor to make Party City jealous.
Priscilla was dressed in a little sailor dress that had apparently been worn by all three of my cousins, once upon a time. They’d done her hair up in a low side bun to match mine, and had used enough hairspray that it’d take me a month to wash it out of the wiggle butt’s hair. But so far, she’d been running laps through the guests, and not a single hair was out of place.
My gold bracelets—which matched my sparkly gold halter beneath the white captain’s coat hanging on my shoulders—jingled when I sipped a flute of champagne and shifted my weight, wishing I hadn’t worn heels. But my white, pipe-legged pants were far too long for anything less than three-inch heels, and to be honest, my legs were a mile long in the getup.
Sadly, the one man I cared to see me in them wasn’t here.
I’d invited him, in part as a courtesy to our daughter, but primarily because I wanted to see him. Too much had been left unsaid. Too much hurt lived between us. I wanted another chance to apologize, to leave on a better note. But he hadn’t responded. And as the party wore on, my hope that he’d show up had withered away to nothing.
So I smiled. Made my way around the guests and made small talk and jokes and promised everyone I’d see them again soon. Priscilla was oblivious—she knew we were leaving, but it hadn’t really dawned on her. I hoped at least that Sebastian would come say goodbye and knew he would. Though I doubted it’d happen here, so publicly. He’d come when he could see her alone.
My heart sank a little deeper when I checked my phone to find it empty of new messages.
When will I see him again? Will we ever be okay?
I wanted to believe the answers would be what I wanted to hear, but I couldn’t seem to muster up the energy to hope.
Bettie strode up to me, red lips smiling. She wore white, high-waisted bellbottoms and a boatneck shirt striped in black and navy that made her boobs look incredible. Her big glasses were as red as her lips.
“Cheers, cookie,” she said, raising her glass to clink against mine.
We took a sip as she moved to my side, the two of us watching the crowd.
“Hate to see you go,” Bettie started.
“Hate to be leaving.”
“Sure there’s nothing we could do to get you to stay? You never had your eye on restaurant management, did you?”
A chuckle. “Sadly, no.”
“Good. That job sucks.”
I snorted a laugh.
“I’m happy for you, I am. But I wish things were different.”
“That makes two of us.”
She glanced at me briefly. “He still hasn’t called?”
I shook my head and took a drink.
“Hmm. Well, there’s still time.”
“I never took you for an optimist, Bettie.”
“Only when it comes to love. I’m hopeless that way.” When I didn’t speak, she continued. “You’d never guess, but I’ve been around a long time.”
When I laughed, she smiled.
“I’ve seen love come and go. Sometimes easy, sometimes not. I’ve watched you and Sebastian love each other for ten years—oh, don’t look at me like that. Of course I know you love him. Everybody knows you two are meant for each other.”
Silently, I swallowed my surprise on the heels of champagne.
“I’ve seen him and Marnie too. In fact, I’ve watched this whole town grow up, fall in love, have babies, and witnessed their babies grow up and fall in love. I’d wished for a long time that you’d end up here, that one day, the timing would work out for you two. And now here you are.”
“Except the timing didn’t work out. We’re doomed, Bettie.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
My brows clicked together, but before I could respond, the guests murmured, shifting toward the front door. I craned my neck but couldn’t see what had caught their attention.
My cousins wound their way to me, smiling like they knew something. One grabbed each arm, and a third moved behind me to push.
