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“I really am sorry,” I told him. “I never meant to hurt anyone. Not you, and not Sam. I was an idiot back then.”
Jason shrugged. “You’re still an idiot, that’s been established.” Sighing, he continued, “I know you’re sorry, though. I know you wouldn’t intentionally do anything to harm me or my family. I’m still angry with you, I want you to know that, but I want you in the wedding still.”
“Really?” I tried not to let my emotions take me over, but I was overwhelmed with relief and gratitude. “I promise, Jason, I will never do anything to put our friendship at risk again.”
“I believe you. You’ve got a lot to make up for, but I know you’ll do it. Come on. Let’s go try on these tuxes and get this whole thing over with.”
He turned to open the shop door, and I couldn’t believe my luck.
He’d forgiven me, kind of.
He was still upset, which was fair, but he was willing to give me the chance to build back up to where we were before.
No, actually better than before, because I wouldn’t have this terrible secret weighing me down.
For some inexplicable reason, however, before I followed Jason into the tux shop, I paused and looked across the street to the bookstore.
I couldn’t help but wonder if she was over there, and if she knew I was standing there, thinking of her.
It was a weird, kind of sappy thought that I quickly shook away.
Tearing my gaze from her store, I followed Jason into the tux shop, feeling calm and hopeful for the first time in days.
Chapter ten
Samantha
Thestorewasbusierthan usual, but I wasn’t complaining as I hurried around restocking shelves. It kept me busy and distracted, which was all too welcome at that point in time.
I was rearranging one of the middle table displays when I heard the store bell ring for about the fifth time in less than an hour.
Smiling, I turned to greet the new customer, but I tensed and frowned when I realized it was Ryan.
He looked at me with a determined expression as he practically marched toward me.
“Sam, I need to speak with you,” he said in a low tone.
I glanced around the store, taking note of my other customers before telling him, “I’m sorry, sir. As you can see, it’s a rather hectic day today. Do you need help finding a book?”
“You know that’s not why I’m here.”
I shrugged. “Showing up at my place of work to demand a conversation on my employer’s time? Sorry, no can do. I’ve got a little mouth to feed, remember?”
He clenched his jaw and appeared to want to argue the point, but to my surprise, he sighed and nodded.
“All right, fair point,” he murmured. “I’ll just wait until it’s less busy in here.”
I frowned, baffled. I didn’t know the man was capable of patience if I was being totally honest.
I wasn’t all that interested in talking to him, but if he was willing to wait around for me, I could give him a little bit of time.
As I continued working, Ryan wandered around the store, looking through the books.
I kept an eye on him, glancing his way now and again to make sure he wasn’t getting into trouble or bothering my actual customers. I was pleasantly surprised to find that he was keeping to himself and staying out of my way.
After about twenty minutes, the store slowly began to empty. Soon, it was just the two of us. When I realized that, I knew he was going to make his way over to me.
I walked to the front counter, hoping that if I ignored him then he’d get the hint and just leave. Wishful thinking, clearly. It wasn’t two minutes later that he walked up to me, his expression serious.
