“You’re certain he didn’t mean for a weekend pass thing?” He leaned against the counter.
“He said he wants to start a journey with me.” My heart was flying. “A real thing.”
“What was your response?”
“He didn’t want me to respond last night. He told me to think it through, and if I want to be with him, I talk to him at the reception. If I don’t, he’ll take that as a no, and he won’t reach out to me again.”
“Wow. I am impressed by that.” He shrugged. “We both know if he hadn’t requested you use your brain, you could’ve been whipping off your shirt right there in the lobby.”
“I know, right? But he was a responsible grown-up by asking me to use my noggin, huh?”
“Do I even have to ask your answer?”
“I want to tell him I’m in for the journey. I believe every word he said to me.”
“I hear you, and your happiness is all I hope for.” He nudged me with his shoulder. “I just don’t want to see you hurt. You haven’t known this man long, and he’s already done that more than once.”
“Yes, you’re right. But I either run for the hills in fear, or I jump in the deep end and hope he’ll be there to catch me. I don’t know how I can not try.”
“Well, I’m proud of you for not trying to track him down today. Waiting until tonight is good.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Well, I’ve actually been combing a one-mile radius around the hotel since the sun popped up. I’ve even been tackled by a security guard so a real productive day thus far but no talking to him yet.”
“You focus on your wedding responsibilities and have a discussion with him tonight. If everything is looking good at the reception, I’ll disappear.”
I loved my best friend so much. Maybe it was because my love life was falling into place, but I suddenly felt matchmaking skills. “Or I could find you Ms. Right. That might be fun?”
“Yeah, about as much fun as a colonoscopy rod up my ass.” He kissed my forehead. “No thank you.”
I was walking back to my room when I ran smack into my mom and Auntie Ellen. “Well, there you are. Where’s Tawnee?”
My stomach squished tight. “Tawnee’s gone?” How could I have made such a rookie mistake? My cousin ran away less than twelve hours ago, and I left her alone?
Auntie Ellen pointed at the door next to us. “We’ve been knocking and yelling for ten minutes, and no answer.”
“Well, first of all, that’s not our room.” Relief slid through me. “Follow me, ladies.” We reached the door, and I literally whipped a cartwheel when I saw Tawnee standing in front of us. A shitty cartwheel, but nonetheless, it was celebration time.
Tawnee clapped her hands. “Look at you! Are we celebrating my wedding day?” She grabbed my mom and aunt and hugged them. “I’m getting married today!”
When the group hug finally ended, the three women in front of me ended up staring at me. Nobody was smiling but instead examining me. Could they read my mind?
My mom cleared her throat. “Fern Ethel, please tell me you’re not wearing that to the bridesmaid lunch.”
As I looked at my mother and aunt in skirts, I remembered it was a three-outfit kind of day. Morning casual, which I nailed BTW, the luncheon dressy outfit, and of course, the bridesmaid dress.
Tawnee wore a gray dress with black boots.
“Give me ten minutes to change.”
My mother nodded. “Take your time, sweetie. The car won’t arrive for a bit.”
Tawnee waved her hands. “Don’t worry too much about hair and stuff. After lunch, we’re all coming back to my room, and the hair and make-up crew will be here to gussy us up.”
We exited the elevator when Katie and Pam joined us and headed toward the front door. I held my breath when I saw the groomsmen climbing into a limo. I stretched my neck and got a glimpse of Gabe wearing dark jeans and a navy blazer. I longed for his eyes to meet mine, to give him my answer in one look, but no such luck.
Instead, they disappeared into the city while I joined the conversation about Pam and her cramps. By the time we reached the restaurant, she’d popped Midol and something my mother slid over to her with a wink. As a member of the medical community, I didn’t even want to know. Likely one of her questionable home remedies.
She took Pam’s hands in hers and dramatically spoke. “Honey, any discomfort will disappear in twenty-three minutes.”
