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That discussion with Gretchen had been grueling, but I thought I’d held my own until she asked me what I was willing to sacrifice to be a top attorney. “Anything,” I’d said. I’d watched her unmoving expression and rushed to explain. “I know you don’t like the wedding gig, but I’ll be done by the end of summer, and I bill more hours than anyone at my level. I am one hundred percent committed.”
“She agreed,” I said to Kat, glancing at the unfamiliar streets and letting my voice trail off. I’d be spending a late night back at the office after this was over, and driving all the way across town on a Tuesday was not helping the mood I’d been in since that morning when Penny called me.
“Why do you say it like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re not sure what the word ‘agreed’ means.”
I’d been distracted thinking about tonight and having to work with the dude-bro after all since Penny was in Texas. “I had a run-in with this jackass I have to work with, and it turns out he’s buddy-buddy with Gretchen.”
“Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” Ethan’s little voice interrupting made me smile despite the notes of exasperation in Kat’s exhale. “I need juice!”
I bit my tongue when he said his dad told him she was better at pouring it. Kat had married an asshole, and I’d stopped bringing it up a long time ago. She was one of many examples I had of amazing women settling for guys who didn’t deserve them. Our friend Britta was the exception, but the world wasn’t filled with guys like Wes just waiting to be wonderful. My GPS led me to the library, and ahead I saw an SUV with California plates that I assumed belonged to Lear.The world is filled with guys like that guy.
“Sorry,” she said, returning to the conversation as Ethan’s voice faded away. “You’re working with another lawyer who is friends with her?”
“Not a lawyer. It’s for wedding stuff.” I had surprised my friends when I started officiating ceremonies, especially Kat, who reminded me that I’d shared my views on how detrimental marriage could be. “A wedding planner.”
“Do you have to work with them closely?”
I parked a few spots down from the SUV, popping a Life Saver from the open pack on the dashboard. “I hope not. I better go, though.”
“Sure. Oh! While you’re on the phone, can you still fly up for Britta’s bridal shower?”
I scrolled through my phone, trying to remember if I’d booked a flight, because I was a horrible friend who had forgotten about her best friend’s bridal shower. “Yes, I’ll forward you my flight plans.”
After we hung up, I gripped the steering wheel and took a few deep breaths. My search had turned up little—Lear Campbell had been an event planner for a football team and lived on the West Coast since graduating high school. I didn’t see any red flags, so allI had to go on was the pull I’d felt to shoulder-check him the first two times we’d met and the oddly sexy curve of his cocky grin, which kept my thoughts wandering.
•••
INSIDE, THE COUPLEand their guests mingled. The library was old, with personality and history covering every surface like a fine dust. I breathed in the scent, so familiar from childhood. I didn’t have time to read much anymore, but I’d spent every Saturday morning in the library near our house as a kid, finding new books and sneaking into the adult section when I thought I could get away with it. Some of my tension from the car faded with the smell of books. I saw the bride and groom, an older couple who were both marrying for the second time. This was one Penny had talked me into.
Fishing the ceremony binder from my bag, I walked toward them. I’d done my research, and officiants didn’t usually spend much time, if any, at the rehearsals, but I didn’t like the idea of leaving anything to chance. Penny and I had figured it out quickly, the good balance of me having control over things while she still kept things moving. I liked the time to get my couple on the same page. Veronica and Trevor were like sitcom parents—both librarians, and they’d been easy to work with. I was looking forward to their wedding, which definitely wasn’t true for every one I had agreed to do.
“Hey, it’s the lawyer I like the most!” Trevor reached out for my hand and smiled widely.
“I’m the only lawyer you like,” I joked, volleying back. “Are you two ready?”
Veronica wrapped an arm around her fiancé’s waist and rolled her eyes. “We could have been done with this months ago with a quick ceremony at the courthouse.”
“I wasn’t going to face the wrath of my daughters,” Trevor said, motioning across the room to his three daughters, all in their early twenties, who huddled together around...him.
One woman touched his arm, giggling, and the other two stood close, which he didn’t seem to mind.Typical.
Lear said something to the three women and they all laughed, then he stepped between them, striding toward us.
“And we heard Penny’s good news,” Veronica continued. I realized I hadn’t been listening, focused instead on Lear’s shameless flirting.
“Oh,” I said, shifting my gaze back. “Yes! Wonderful news.”
“Hi, RJ.” Lear gave me the same smile he’d been giving the daughters, and I returned it with a tight grin. “Okay, you two,” he said, turning to the couple. “You ready?”
I prickled. This was a rehearsal for the ceremony, and usually I led things.
“Obviously I’m stepping in late with Penny’s absence, but she tells me RJ is an absolute pro.” He flashed another smile my way, and my annoyance faded.
It was possible I was being too hard on him. We hadn’t worked together before and he didn’t know how this went, but his compliment was kind and maybe he’d back up and just let me take over.
