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“What did she say?” I ask, stepping back.
He scrubs a hand down his face and folds his arms over his chest. “It doesn’t matter.”
I laugh, a humorless thing. “Right. Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” I turn away from him, leaning back into the counter, letting the marble ledge dig into my ass.
“The fact that she could joke about sleeping with your boyfriend speaks volumes about her character,” he says, his voice hardening.
“I know she’s a shitty person. Doesn’t seem to matter to you, though.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say, not wanting to fight with the only person I have in my corner this weekend.
“No, tell me what you meant.”
I take a deep breath and turn to face him square on.
“I had a shitty day, okay? All I wanted was for it to be over so I could come back here and hang out with you. But you weren’t here.”
“I told you, I didn’t get your texts. I’m sorry.”
“I know you are,” I say, taking a deep breath and exhaling through my nose. “But it doesn’t change the fact that when I did find you, you were with her.”
He’s quiet for a long moment, and then scrapes his hand down his face.
“You’re upset that I was in the bar with Liza?”
I don’t say anything, because we both know it’s stupid and ridiculous.
“I was also with your sister and the other two bridesmaids and the groomsmen—”
“But they weren’t hanging all over you. They don’t have some kind of weird vendetta against me, proving to me that I’m not…” I stop talking, unable to make my mouth actually say whatever was going to come next.
“That you’re not what?” Zeke whispers. He steps closer, his arms at his sides. “Faye? That you’re not what?”
I swallow hard. Suddenly this feels real. If I want anything from this man standing in front of me, I have to put on my big girl panties and just say the scary things.
“That I’m not good enough for you,” I whisper.
He’s quiet. Time passes—it could be minutes, it could be hours—and he says nothing. He lets out a sharp sigh, and then slowly, carefully, slides his hand up my arm and presses his forehead to mine. I feel a traitorous tear slip down my cheek and he catches it with his thumb.
“That’s ridiculous, Faye,” he says.
“I know,” I say, unable to look at him. “I know, I just—”
“It’s ridiculous because I’ve spent every moment since I met your parents trying to prove to everyone that I’m good enough for you.”
What?I look up at him, and it’s clear I’ve voiced the thought from my head. He looks vulnerable as he cups my cheeks.
“I know I’m not, Faye. But I’m trying my best.”
“Zeke,” I say, shaking my head. “Don’t be ridiculous. They love you. They love you more than they like me.”
“That’s insane,” he says, shaking his head. “You’re so freaking smart. And beautiful. You’re worldly and capable, and I’m just a hard-headed hockey goon who quit college and lives over my brother’s garage.”
“Zeke, that’s not it at all.” I wrap my fingers around his wrists and squeeze. “When I saw her next to you, I could see it. You know? Like, it made sense.”
He stiffens, his jaw tightening and his fingers pressing into my face.
