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Rachel stood when I came out. She rushed around the couch and reached for my hands. “Hey. We realized we ambushed you, and after yesterday, that really wasn’t cool.”
Some of the tension slid out of my shoulders. She really was a lovely woman regardless of the circumstances of how we started. “Don’t worry about me. It was your wedding day. I don’t even know why you’re here right now.”
“Ransom is flying us into JFK for our flight late tonight.”
“Still. What happened wasn’t your fault. You should be spending the day with your new husband at the very least.”
A lump formed in my throat at the word. Twenty-four hours ago, I’d been lamenting the fact that I’d almost been Mrs. Winslow. Now, the idea of anyone other than he and Rachel being together was ridiculous. If I hadn’t been standing right beside her in that chapel and seen the love shining like a sunbeam between them, I couldn’t miss it today.
Her huge blue eyes were so full of happiness and…was that pain? Surely not for me.
I squeezed her hands. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
Rachel sniffled and her eyes went glassy with unshed tears. “I know. You’re a grown ass woman. But what Reid did was… I just have no words. After you left, Ransom almost broke his face.”
“Can’t say I’m sorry about that one.”
Rachel laughed. “I wasn’t looking for bloodshed at my wedding. But I also don’t envy my sister dealing with Ransom right now. Another reason we’re not heading to the airport yet.”
“I hope you know I never would have brought Reid as my date if I knew about…the rest.” I couldn’t even begin to piece together the drama of Reid being in a relationship with not one, but two of Ransom’s sisters.
I’d been on the outskirts of the friend circle when Reid, Clay, and Ransom’s friendship had fractured due to romantic drama. I should have known better to even look at Reid. But after Clay had set me aside, Reid had jumped at the chance to wine and dine me.
Until he got me, then he seemed to lose all interest.
Maybe it had been his game all along. From the insane conversation I’d overheard at the wedding, it sure seemed like games were his favorite thing.
Reid Pierce was not the same young man I’d known in college. The day Marigold Douglas disappeared had changed all of them. Ransom had joined the army, Reid had become a tech giant who valued work more than relationships, and Clay had lived in quiet misery and guilt.
And I’d been so damn selfish.
Even without Reid and the sister number two mess, it had been selfish for me to bring him to the wedding. I wasn’t cut out to be the bad girl.
“There’s a lot going on in there, huh?” Rachel released one of my hands to tap my temple lightly.
“I’m sorry that I brought any drama to your wedding, Rachel. Truly.”
“Stop. If anyone was wronged, it was you. And I’m sorry for it. I just hope you find someone who is perfect for you.”
Now it was my turn to tear up. It wasn’t Beckett, but part of me wished it was. No one had ever made me feel so seen and valued in one day. A perfect day that showed me what I’d been missing all this time.
Rachel suddenly dragged me in for a hug. I patted her back awkwardly. While we’d grown closer over the last few months, I wasn’t really the hugging type. But her sweet jasmine scent was comforting, and I found myself leaning into the hug.
“I’m going to be fine. I promise.”
She stepped back and we both dabbed at our eyes. “Well, after that sweeping romantic horse ride, I’d have to agree. I didn’t know Beckett had it in him.”
I looked down. “I’m just glad he helped out.”
“Is that all he did?”
“Did you say you had coffee?”
Rachel gave me a long stare then nodded. “And apple fritters.”
My stomach chose then to speak for me. I flushed. “Obviously, that sounds good to me.”
“I heard that from over here, dear,” Laverne chimed in. “C’mon over and eat.”
