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“Do you want to say something?”
In front of us, someone’s grandma was elbowing a middle-aged man out of the way. “They’re already in the sand, and it makes for a memorable day, right?” His gaze trailed to Rowan, whose expression was similarly amused. “Plus, I told my mom Charlie was a little overenergetic for this and she insisted I was wrong, so I’ll be happy to bank the ‘I told you so.’ ”
At that moment, the only one out-searching Grandma was Jordan’s mom.
Lear met my eyes over the writhing and searching crowd and gave me an incredulous smile, the kind he might have given me before, like nothing had happened. I flashed the same smile back, covering my mouth to hold in the laugh, like the couple was doing. Lear’s eyes were bright and locked on mine. It wasn’t the kind of moment I considered romantic. We were trying not to laugh about subterfuge that ended with a woman in her sixties digging like she was building a sandcastle. People were panicked. Lear pressed his lips together, his full, kissable lips, and I did the same. Like the couple, we weren’t panicked. With striking clarity, I realized Lear was my match. He was infuriating and obnoxious, and every time I was near him, I felt moremethan I ever knew possible. We were laughing at this, almost uncontrollably, and he was my person. I was sure I’d never feel truly panicked if he was nearby.
His head tilted to the side, a small gesture, but I mirrored it.I think he feels it, too.
“I found them! I found them!” Jordan’s mom held the rings over her head. Her hair was mussed and her dress askew on one side of her chest, but she beamed, and everyone cheered.
Lear’s lips turned up in a half smile, and that same odd feeling from before, that we’d had an entire conversation without saying a word, struck me. Jordan’s mom handed him the rings, and everyone slid back into their seats, but Lear kept his eyes on me, his halfsmile in place, and my chest continued fluttering. I thought about doing something completely out of character—running up the sandy aisle to kiss him, yelling “I love you!” across the open space—but I subtly held my finger to my cheek and mouthed, “Smile more.”
He did, a wide grin that softened his features and had me reconsidering the run up the aisle to kiss him. Instead, he winked before turning to Rowan to send them down the aisle toward their future and two sandy fake gold rings.
Chapter 48
Lear
I WIPED MYpalms over my thighs and watched the ceremony from behind the last row of seats. Penny didn’t really need me, since it was a small wedding, but I checked in with her anyway. It was nice having her and Kelly back in town. I’d been so wrapped up with my stuff and with everything with RJ, I’d forgotten how good it felt to spend time with them.
Penny nodded along with the ceremony, subtly checking her watch. She didn’t need to. RJ was on time. I had worried my cousin would be weird around me, knowing what happened with the baby in California, but I underestimated her. She’d thrust baby Connor into my arms and told me she and Kelly were going out. He was a cool little guy, and we were already tight. I never opened the envelope from RJ. After a while of looking at it on my counter, of questioning all my decisions, I realized it didn’t matter. The child had Sarah and his father, he had people who loved him, and I’d left, but I hadn’t abandoned him. After hanging out with Connor for the first time, I tossed the envelope with the kid’s name in the trash. I had people here, and I could leave him and Sarah in California. I’d also finally taken everyone’s advice and called a therapist.
“The couple asked me to say a few words of my own,” RJ said, hervoice catching in the breeze and the ocean crashing behind her. She wore a simple black dress like she always did. I was sure I’d gotten her out of that one before—the zipper ran down the side, and I’d been fumbling for it on her back until she batted my hands away. She grinned at the couple before continuing, and I felt my own smile stretch for no other reason than that she was here, and it felt good to be near her. Even to myself, I sounded like something clichéd from a wedding ceremony, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.
“That was a bold move. Jordan and Rowan are so in love, they forgot you should never give a lawyer a microphone and free rein.” The crowd chuckled, and they got her professional, kind smile, but her eyes flicked up and met mine. “Love isn’t always easy. It’s not always what you necessarily expected.” Her gaze lingered on mine before she looked at the couple. “Sometimes it knocks you down and makes you mad, but sometimes it helps you up, too. And sometimes, if you’re lucky, it gives you a new home in another person’s heart. I think it’s safe to say here that home is what we’re seeing between these two.”
Jordan and Rowan exchanged a look and laughed, some inside joke tickling them both, but I thought about RJ on the ground in that parking lot, her butter rum Life Savers and the bottle of syrup on the grass, the scowl on her face and how I’d been so dedicated to her thinking I was an asshole, so allergic to being the nice guy again.
“Rowan told me the first time they talked to Jordan was while waiting for police to arrive after Jordan ran a red light and they were in an accident. Rowan said their first instinct was to sue the irresponsible driver, but something changed between the crash and the arrival of the police. Something sparked, and luckily it had nothing to do with the vehicles. So, we’re gathered today to celebrate sparks, and the years of sparks to come.”
I was nodding when RJ looked up and caught my eye. I didn’t realize it until her eyebrow quirked up this tiny, barely recognizable amount.
Penny’s hushed voice pulled me away. “Why do you have that look on your face?”
RJ continued speaking as the sun lowered, the sky shifting to darker shades of orange and purple clouds. “Though, Rowan, speaking as an attorney, are you sure you don’t want to take legal action against him?”
Everyone laughed, and Rowan shook their head emphatically, kissing Jordan’s fingers clasped in their own before the couple began their vows.
I leaned into Penny and whispered, “I think I’m in love with RJ.”
“I thought you two couldn’t stand each other.”
“We can’t... most days.” I flicked my gaze back to the altar. Her curls were pulled to the top of her head and blew in the breeze. I hadn’t figured out what I was going to say or how any of this was going to work, but I didn’t want to leave this wedding without a plan to see her again, to keep her in my life.
Penny gave me a sardonic smile, but it fell when she met my eyes. “Wait, are you serious?”
“For the first time as a married couple, Rowan and Jordan Marshall-Caine!” The couple kissed and raised their clasped hands, and everyone was on their feet, cheering and clapping.
“Serious,” I said, dragging my eyes from the couple to meet Penny’s. “She makes it hard to get to know her, but I think whatever it takes for her to let me in, it might be worth it.”
“Well,” she said, blowing out a slow breath, “I owe Tina twenty bucks. She called that the very first wedding she saw you two together.”
Penny checked her clipboard before giving me another smile,this one softer. “If this is your last chance, you better figure out what you’re going to say.”
I watched RJ step back, giving the couple room to embrace friends and family, and her eyes found mine again, but I didn’t look away this time. “I know.”
Chapter 49
