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“Holy hell!” she gasped. East was standing right outside. “You gave me a heart attack!” she whispered harshly.
But he stood still, a look of raw hurt and rage on his face. “Are you okay?” he asked.
She frowned. “Yeah. Why?”
“Because of what your mom said. It wasn’t right, darlin’.”
“Oh, that’s normal. Come on, you know that.”
He nodded. “I do. I’ve heard her say shit like that for a long time, but tonight…” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Natalie. I should have said something sooner.”
“What are you talking about? I’m fine. This is just my mom being herself, and we all know I’m not a Southern belle, and that’s okay.”
“It is okay. The way you are is better than okay.”
She looked at him for a long moment. “Thank you.”
He nodded, cupped her hips, and gently pulled her close. It was a move she was getting used to—comforting. And just when she thought he’d kiss her, he bypassed her mouth and drew her in for a hug. He wrapped his big, strong arms around her and held her, tight and perfect. Something in the way he clung to her made her want to…
Cry.
She was losing it. He made her feel safe. Seen. And here he was, offering solace after a shitty moment, just like—
Like he loved her.
But he didn’t. She knew he couldn’t.
And she couldn’t do this anymore.
She pulled away. East’s face looked hurt, as though she might as well have slapped him.
“I’m really fine,” she said. “We’d better get back.”
“Natalie, wait.”
But she didn’t. She took the stairs as fast as she could. The dinner table might be a death trap with her mother waiting, but East was a soul trap, and her heart was on the line.
Losing her pride was one thing. Losing her heart to East was another.
Chapter Thirteen
Natalie came to sit next to Matt at the bar at Honey’s.
“Hey, sis,” he said, and gave her a hug as she sat down. Chloe was behind the bar and came over to serve them.
“Glad you’re back,” Chloe said, and poured Matt a drink.
“Thanks. Yep, I hope you don’t mind, the whole Connecticut crew is in town and I’ve talked up Honey’s.”
Chloe smiled and then poured Natalie a drink, too. “Well, I think the wedding this weekend is the talk of the town. You two holler if you need anything else.”
“Thanks, Chloe,” Natalie said to her friend as she waddled her adorable pregnant behind away.
“Mom has been grilling me about all the details.” Natalie gave her brother a playful nudge. “Your friends and I have money going on when she’s going to bring up grandkids. My bet is on the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night.”
“Don’t think she’ll even wait for after the wedding, huh?” Matt asked.
“Nope. Come on, you know Mom.”
