Not wanting her to see his loss of control,his voice barely above a whisper, he pleaded, “Let me be,okay?”
Hand on the door handle to leave, she nodded.“Okay. I’m here if you need anything.”
He knew she got it; he just couldn’t even sayit to himself yet.
“Let me know if you want me to call anyone,you know, a mechanic or a tow or anything, okay?” Her voice was sogentle, so caring, with an understanding of loss and pain betterthan anyone.
“I don’t need a fucking tow truck. It’s goingto be fine. I just need to see what’s wrong.” The snap came out ofnowhere. What sort of monster yelled at someone like that? Someonehe cared about? That was just trying to help?
Her face darkened with something he couldn’tread. Now he felt like an asshole. Voice soft, kinder than hedeserved, she said, “Okay. I’ll be inside if you needanything.”
***
Sunset came later than usual. Not actually,but it sure seemed to. Dinner had been long and painful, awkward.Most wouldn’t have noticed the black pall that clogged the air, butthe silence between Sophie and Asher was palpably thick.
After a tasteless dinner filled with Pippa’sfrantic worries about centerpieces and playlists, Sophie’s brainwas numb. She’d gone out to the garage to apologize for her closingoff before. Yvette tended to have that effect on her; worryingabout her sent her into the shell she’d adopted early on. Insteadof finding him pleasantly tinkering as usual, he’d been sobroken.
Stupid; she can’t believe she’d mentioned atow or a mechanic when he was so freshly grieving. She’d expectedhim to be angry with her when she finally saw him at dinner, buthe’d looked as miserable as she felt. His eyes were bloodshot, butthe sweet smiles he’d snuck her way had melted her.
Finally, the house was settling in for thenight. Sneaking through the bathroom, as she had grown accustomedto, she didn’t even reach the door when he was on his way to her.Those whisky eyes overflowing with regret, his smile still wasstruggling, but adorable.
Neither spoke, neither hesitated. He pulledher into his arms so quickly, so completely, filling her witheverything she’d ever needed or wanted. “I’m sorry,” he whisperedagainst the top of her head, his voice hoarse, his stubbled beardbrushing against her hair.
Leaning into his neck, she inhaled his muskyscent. “I’m sorry, too.”
Standing together until her blinks lastedlonger and longer, her eyelids heavy, they moved into bed. Snuggledclose, lulled to sleep by the steady rise and fall of his chest,Sophie drifted off into deep, soothing sleep.
16
T-Minus 2 Days
Sophie would have said she could handle just aboutanything, but she would have been wrong. Had suffered more than herfair share of bad parties that her aunt had dragged her to when heragent had decided Sophie could be a star. Her stardom would haveelevated Yvette right along with her, or so Yvette had thought.
What a nightmare that was. Yvette had talkedup their wonderful relationship in the hopes that Sophie could landher a part in the midst of a long dry spell. When Sophie didn’tplay ball, Yvette proceeded to rake her over the coals to everyoneshe met. Including Sophie’s teachers, friends, coaches, whoeverwould listen.
A rehearsal dinner should be a relaxingevening. One in which everyone is so excited for the upcomingwedding. All about the bride and groom and the fun day planned,with their closest friends and family together to make the big dayhappen.
“Did you hear about Pippa’s friend from LosAngeles? I hear her aunt is a sweet, delicate thing that Sophieturned her back on when her aunt got a part in a movie that Sophiehad her eyes on.” The chipper voice sounded a little too thrilledto be raking the maid of honor over the coals. Yvette must still bein town somewhere. As promised, the campaign had begun, and wouldget much worse before she was done.
And what sort of minister spoke such nastygossip to the mother of the groom anyway? Sophie was heading out ofthe bathroom when she stumbled upon the nasty bit of conversation.Groaning, she ducked out of the way to avoid having to face ithead-on. Her ears burned, her breath forced in and out as she triedto ignore the tripe.
Thankfully, Lincoln’s mother sounded to be asconsiderate as he was. “Lincoln has known Sophie for a number ofyears now and is quite fond of her.”
Having heard the sort of bullshit Yvetteenjoyed spreading more times than she cared to recall, she closedher eyes to steady her rapid pulse and let the nonsense roll offher like the graywater it was. Shoulders back, chin up. Sadly, justlike her aunt had taught her when she thought she might be moldedinto her image. Regardless of the source, it was a goodstrategy.
The wedding venue was amazing. A gardensprawling out from a renovated barn overlooking the mountains,aptly known as The Barn, it was an incredibly serene locale for ajoining of two people in love. Looking across the valley, Sophietook the fragrant, afternoon mountain air into her lungs.
She knew it was him before he even reachedher. Didn’t have to look back; echoing in her chest was a pair oftimpani drums with Animal from The Muppets hammering away withunrestrained enthusiasm. “Incredible view,” his deep voice rumbled,stirring a yearning deep in her chest.
“Isn’t it?” she agreed with the newcomer,wishing he’d wrap his arms around her, savoring the momenttogether. The last few days had been like a dream. Hours of not-sexlovemaking every night with Asher. Waking before dawn for asatisfying run and enjoying their ritualistic morning routine.Sneaking out for quiet picnics when the rest of the house was toobusy to notice.
Only a few more days of the secrecy that wastearing her apart inside. Turning, she saw Asher standing a fewfeet away, his eyes on her rather than the evening sun glowing onthe rugged Cascades in the distance.
“How’s Pippa holding up? I needed some airand didn’t see her arrive.” Needing air was an understatement.Yvette was devious and cunning when it came to getting what shewanted. Unfortunately for all, Sophie in particular, she didn’tchoose to use her powers for good.
Standing a few feet away still, Ashermaintained his distance. It felt like miles. “She’s hanging on by athread. Lincoln’s calming her down now. Mom already tried. I don’tthink I’ve ever seen her this wired before.”
Sophie knew Pippa tended to take stress toepic levels of anxiety and overzealous control freakishness, butPippa’s behavior the last few weeks had set records. She’d heard ofweddings turning perfectly normal people into monsters, but she’dnever imagined it of her friend. Today’s behavior especially, andshe’d spent the last four years living with Pippa. No one wouldever describe Pippa as laid back, but neither was she quite sointense or emotional. “I’d better go check on her.”
