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Every time she saw Rafferty, she knew she had to forgive him. He had a good reason for ghosting her so many years ago: his sister needed him. But as much as she wanted to believe he had planned to call her, to see her, all it would’ve taken was a single phone call. Such a simple thing for him to do, and yet it never happened.
“I was beginning to wonder if you went out the window as well,” he said in reference to the bride’s departure.
“Nope, just waiting for the groom to finally make his move on his sister and leave.” She lifted her glass to toast the people still in the basement.
“She’s probably not his sister. I think the other two are,” Rafferty said.
Natalie’s bridesmaids were the groom’s two sisters and a friend.
“You believe what you want, Rafferty Brooks. I’ll believe what I want.” She stayed on the table.
He easily walked over and jumped on the table beside her, picked up the bottle of whiskey, looked at it, and set it down again. “Can anyone join this party?”
“As long as you’re not in the wedding party, except Natalie.” She flattened her pink dress against her legs as she spoke.
“How did you get her out that window?” He pointed to the small window behind them.
“Everybody fits out that window. I have been in and out of it more than the regular door.” Mia laughed at herself. This had been the church she had attended her entire life. And since her mother was a devout woman, her six girls spent most Sunday mornings here. So, this was like a second home to her. There was no place in the church she hadn’t been.
“I bet you have. Are you going to get married here one day?” Taking the glass from her, he took a drink, then handed it back to her.
“Of course. And I won’t go out the window, either. I won’t say yes unless I’m truly in love. And the guy has to look at me like Anderson looks at Angel,” she said wistfully.
“I haven’t noticed. How does Anderson look at Angel?” He bumped her shoulder with his.
“Like he would die if she left him again. Like she’s the reason he’s alive.” She took a sip of the whiskey.
“Oh, that look. He pulls it off.”
“That’s what I want,” she whispered, more to herself than to him.
“I hope you get it one day.” Rafferty took her glass and finished the last bit of alcohol left.
Grabbing it back, she filled it with more from the bottle beside her. “Do you think Anderson will marry her?”
“Oh yeah, I can’t believe he hasn’t yet. I think it’s her mom. She wants big and catholic, and that’s not Angel. I see them having a small, private ceremony.” Rafferty tried to take the glass again, but Mia held it up far enough away from him that he couldn’t reach it.
“Me too.” Grinning, she continued to hold up the glass.
“I like them.” He pulled her arm until she let him take the glass from her.
“Do you think the groom is going to have sex with his sister today?” She looked at the door beyond them.
“Probably. I would if my bride left me.” Rafferty bumped her shoulder.
“I know your sister,” she whispered in surprise at his answer.
“It was a joke. Nice hair.” This week she had chosen a subtle auburn, more like a natural color than a flamboyant one, but she was in a wedding this week.
“Thanks. Natalie didn’t want crazy today. And she gets her way for one day. Tomorrow will be a different story.” She giggled and covered her mouth—she might be getting drunk.
“Maybe you should just keep it like this for a while. It’s gorgeous.” He reached out and touched the shoulder-length, slightly curly bob.
Trying not to react to him touching her hair, she took another drink. It had taken her two months to get over him kissing her after the trail ride, and it had only been a month and a half since it happened. But she didn’t need Rafferty Brooks in her life now; she was almost over the last time.
“We’ll see.” Half of her was planning her next color change for later today and the other half suddenly wanted to stay this color forever. Rafferty liked it.
They sat in silence, watching the door in front of them, and silently drank. Every once in a while, he would bump her shoulder with his. Or bump her knee with his.
