Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
The rehearsal was pretty straightforward, although we had to run through it indoors instead of out because of the rain. I stood where they said to stand, moved where they told me to move, and stayed out of the way as much as I could. Mostly I watched April, impressed by the way she handled everything and everyone so smoothly. My sister’s constant questions and requests would have driven me fucking bananas, but April’s patience seemed endless.
By six o’clock, it was over. Sadie seemed happy with everything but the weather, which wasn’t even that awful now that the storms had quieted to a drizzle.
“My weather app says no more rain tonight,” assured April. “And everything should be nice and dry by tomorrow.”
Sadie still looked nervous. “I hope so.”
The dinner was being hosted by Josh’s parents at a restaurant downtown, and on our way out, Sadie invited April to join us.
“Thanks, but I can’t,” she said. “I’ve got a lot of things to get done here.”
“Can’t you get away for a little bit? You still need to eat,” I told her, disappointed she wasn’t coming along.
She shook her head, smiling wistfully. “I wish I could. I’ll grab something to eat later. Go have fun.”
“Okay.” I glanced out the glass door and watched Josh and Sadie walking arm in arm next to his parents. “Hey, what about the dance stuff? My sister was bugging me about it at lunch today, and I told her you were going to help me.”
“Oh, right.” Her forehead wrinkled for a moment.
“Can I come back here later? How long will you be here?”
“A few hours, for sure. That could work.” She looked up at me. “You don’t want to go out with the wedding party?”
I gave her a look. “Are you serious? They’re like twelve. They’ll probably want to go drive go-karts or play paintball or something.”
April laughed. “Okay. Meet me back here after dinner. In the meantime, I’ll think of a song.”
“Something short, please. And not too fast. But not too slow either.”
She pushed me toward the exit. “Trust me. Sheesh.”
“I do trust you.” I stopped in front of the door and looked at her. “Thank you for this.”
“For what?”
“For everything you’re doing for my sister. And for me.”
She shrugged. “It’s my job. And you guys are like family to me.”
I couldn’t resist pressing my lips to her soft pink cheek once more. Her skin was warm, and I left my mouth there for a little longer this time. When I picked up my head, I saw that her face had gone full-on flushed. “I’ll see you soon,” I said, pushing open the door.
She raised one hand, looking a little dazed. “Okay. Bye.”
The cool air felt good on my skin as I walked toward my car. That girl made me hot all over, and I was growing concerned about my ability to stay in control when we were alone later tonight, especially if I had to put my arms around her.
But I couldn’t fucking wait.
Ten
April
I watched Tyler walk across the parking lot with his long, easy strides until I couldn’t see him anymore. Then I bolted for my office, snatched my phone off my desk, and called Chloe.
“Hello?”
“Are you still at work?”
“Yeah, but I’m about to leave.”
“Can you come over to the wedding barn first?”
“Why?”
“Because I’m afraid I’m going to make a really big mistake and I need you to talk me out of it—or into it. I can’t decide.”
“Okay, okay. Give me ten minutes.”
While I waited for her, I paced back and forth in front of my desk, even though there were a million things I should have been doing. But I couldn’t concentrate—all I could think of was that Tyler had kissed my cheek twice! And he was so handsome! And it had been so sweet watching him walk his sister down the aisle! And he was coming back later tonight and we were going to be alone and I’d promised to show him how to dance, which meant he’d have to touch me, and I wasn’t sure I could take it.
Which reminded me—I’d better start looking at songs. I had a few ideas, but I wanted to listen to them.
I had just perched on the edge of my desk, phone in hand, when Chloe knocked on my open office door. “Hey.”
“Oh, thank God.” I set my phone aside. “I need a voice of reason.”
“So you called me?” She cocked her head. “I feel like another sister might have been a better choice.”
“Well, they’re not here, so you’ll have to do. Come sit.”
She sat in one of the chairs in front of my desk while I resumed pacing. “So what’s up?” she asked. “Is it Tyler?”
“Yes.”
“How did it go last night?”
“Great.”
“Did he want to bang you after all?”
“Yes. But we didn’t.”
She made a face. “Why not?”