“Are you nervous?” Melissa asks.
I adjust my AirPods to hear her better. “It’s fire season. I’m not going to run into him.” The rideshare pulls into the parking lot in downtown Missoula. “Thank you,” I say while climbing out and fixing my dress.
“You’re braver than I am.”
“I never thought I’d see Betty O’Neil get married. I’m not missing this for anything.”
Melissa laughs. “You’re a good friend, Jaymes Andrews.”
I grin. “Thank you.” I stop before the entrance to the church. “I’m here. I’ll call you later.”
“Have fun.”
I slip my earbuds into my clutch and silence my phone. It’s a beautiful church, with lovely frescos and stained glass windows. There’s an organ on the balcony and a much larger gathering than I anticipated.
Her groom is much older, a kind and patient soul to welcome Betty and her three dozen kids into his life. When he wipes away tears as she walks down the aisle, I leak some of my emotion. It’s a beautiful ceremony.
As I exit the church, a calloused hand slides around my arm, and I turn. “Oh my god.” I hug Will.
“I wondered if you’d be here.” He releases me and grins.
“There was no way I was going to miss this wedding.” I nod toward him. “You look so dapper in a suit.”
He tugs at his tie. “It’s too damn hot for this.”
“I know, right?” I use the program to fan myself.
He eyes my airy, light-blue strapless dress and scoffs at my comparison. “Not even close.”
“Are you going to the reception?” I ask.
“Her parents own a vineyard. I’m not a wine guy, but an open bar is an open bar.”
I giggle, and we turn as the happy couple emerges from the church. When they’re tucked into the old Rolls-Royce, I smile at Will. “I’ll see you there, then.”
“Where are you parked?” he asks.
“I’m not.” I hold up my phone with my rideshare app.
“No. You’re not riding with a stranger when I’m headed to the same place.”
With a sheepish smile, I shrug. “Are you sure?”
“I’m offended you even have to ask.” He offers his arm, and I take it. “Where are you staying?”
“A hotel.”
“Dammit, woman. No. That’s not okay.” He opens the passenger door and helps me up into his Bronco.
“It’s a nice hotel.”
“No.” He shakes his head, shuts my door, and removes his tie on his way to the driver’s side door. “Fitz is on a fire. I don’t know when we’ll see him. Maren’s gone too. We can have that torrid affair we always planned on having.”
I snort. “So it wasn’t just me?”
He smirks, backing out of the parking spot. “I’ve missed you. And I’m a shitty friend for not staying in touch after what went down. But Fitz is—”
“He’s your friend too. Please don’t feel the need to explain. I think I would have been disappointed had you and Maren not stood by your guy. Fitz needed you, but he never would have admitted it.”
