Wait, no. She nibbled her bottom lip and looked over at him again.
Busted. This time, Ryder quickly looked away.
Risking it, he looked up to see if she was still looking his direction.
Fuck, she was, and she wasn’t looking away this time. That dress was something else. A delicate breeze teased at the hem of it. Not a hint of pretension, she wore minimal makeup, and let her dark features and toned shoulders do all the talking.
And he was gawking.
And she was still looking.
He laughed and subtly shook his head, but didn’t look away, knowing by the steady, playful look, that she’d be disappointed if he did.
Nope, not shy even a little bit. The corners of her mouth lifted in a wickedly cute smile aimed right at him.
He shifted in his seat, drew his arms tighter around his chest, and fuck, he smiled back.
Completely toying with him, sending his pulse firing and his imagination wild, she winked. Fiery and funny, and, fuck, she was hot and adorable all at once.
The popsicle on his right turned in her seat and whispered, “I’m so glad the weather cooperated.”
“Uh-huh,” he said vaguely, shaking away the long-distance flirtation before glancing over at his mother. “Lucky.”
2
Connect
Disorganizedbutterfliesflappedwildly,running into each other and panicking over the diminishing space as they multiplied in Zoe’s belly. Her chest rose to make room for them all, but it wasn’t enough, and they forced the corners of her mouth into a daringly flirty grin. With difficulty, she held back a throaty laugh before she embarrassed herself in front of the entire wedding.
Ryder Mallory. So damn pretty. Many years ago… she a French-braid everyday middle school jock, he, a cool soccer playing valedictorian senior with a dreamy shaggy haircut… Zoe had discovered the true meaning of the wordcrush.
That person you can’t help but sneak peeks at and daydream about, and the imaginary relationship grew to majestic levels of impossibility. Since that long-ago day, Zoe had developed many crushes, but that first was always the best. There was something about the newness of the feeling, especially the naïveté in thinking it might actually pan out, despite the fact that said crush never actually spoken to her.
Of course, he was six years older, so retrospectively, it would have been creepy if he was into her back then. Now, however…
Probably stupid of her, indulging in such a wild flirtation with someone who not only lived several states away, but was too pretentious for the town that was her heart. But what the hell. He’d be gone within a day or two, so what was wrong with a little fun? She didn’t have to like the guy to appreciate his sparkly blue eyes and sexy dimple.
His stuck-up mother said something, and broke the connection. Zoe savored his regretful wince, as he broke away from their flirty moment.
Damn, these vows were long. Sweet, yes, but Finn and Haley had a lot to say to each other that could have been summed up in three easy words.
Zoe glanced over at her dad. Scott Halseth was surrounded by friends, but the red glassiness of his eyes was more than just happiness over his oldest tying the knot. Her mom had been gone a year. Brenda would have counted this as one of the best days in her life, decked out in a flowery mother-of-the-groom dress and holding Scott’s hand with their arms tucked tight together and leaned into him while she bawled her eyes out with a wedding themed printed tissue.
Pops caught her eye, and Zoe’s lips suddenly felt puffy, and she realized she was as watery eyed as he was. She bit her lips together and smiled at her dad.
Evan must have noticed Pops’ reaction and turned subtly to look at Zoe. When she looked up at her brother, he had the same, happy-sad expression.
Wow. Shit. Big days without her sucked.
“You may kiss the bride,” the officiant finally said grandly.
Cute idea, but weddings themselves needed a massive overhaul. Zoe hoped to hell when she walked the plank—aisle—she’d be marrying a guy who cringed at that phrase as much as she did. Why not just say “if you’re all hot and bothered for each other, go ahead and kiss each other.” At least he didn’t say “man and wife,” or Zoe might have screamed.
Wowzah. That was a kiss. Cheers and woo-hoos erupted in the crowd, and Zoe grinned so wide she had to bite her bottom lip to avoid pulling a cheek muscle.
Totally by accident, her gaze drifted toward Ryder, again. He was, after all, in the front row, and the only sibling of the bride and groom not included in the wedding party. Throughout the planning and festivities, Zoe had learned his being left out wasn’t a snub, nor were any hard feelings associated with the slight. He lived out of town and was going to miss all the lead-up to the big day anyway, and the numbers would have been weird, or Finn would have to choose another groomsman from his friends, which would have been awkward to choose who to elevate to the bestie position. He’d tried to make Pops get up here, but the man refused and said dads had earned the privilege of watching the ceremony, rather than standing on display.
So, all had agreed it was easier for Ryder to be a guest. Wedding politics and social graces were far too complicated.
