“You’re glowing,” I say, smiling back at her. “Is this the dress?”
She nods quickly. “This is it!”
Kayla seems lighteras we drive to meet the guys for lunch. She’s smiling and joking, and any traces of the fear she presented at the dress shop have disappeared. I guess wedding jitters are normal, even when you’re five years deep in a relationship.
“I’ve been meaning to ask, how’s the grad school application coming along?”
“Oh, it’s not.” I tap my thumbs on the steering wheel casually.
“What do you mean ‘it’s not’?”
“I mean, I haven’t started the application and won’t be going to grad school.”
“Girl! Do your parents know?”
“Nope. I’ll tell them when I have to, and not a second before.” With a nervous grin, I slide my eyes over to see her reaction. After the conversation with Hunter, a few more panic attacks, and a pep talk from Willa, I decided it’s not worth it. My parents’ approval isn’t worth my mental health. I just need to work up the courage to tell them.
“They’re so intense; I don’t blame you. But what made you change your mind?”
“Hunter. He told me to stop living for everyone else and do what makes me happy.” Pulling in at Lunch-a-Bunch, I manage to find a spot next to the door.
“Huh…” Kayla makes a face. “I actually agree with my brother about something. Never thoughtthatwould happen. Where are the pigs?” She looks up into the sky through her window, making me laugh. “And if you tell him I agreed with something he said, I’ll disown you.”
We walk into the bustling restaurant and, suddenly, I’m nervous. I was sick on Wednesday, which eliminated our regular lunch outing. This will be my first time seeing Hunter since he opened up about his family a week ago.Since we kissed. Seven confusing days where my mind has replayed the soft pressure of his lips on mine. I liked it more than I care to admit.
One drunken kiss can be chalked up to an accidental misstep. I take full responsibility for my loss of inhibition after the club. Kissing him twice, just weeks apart? That’s a choice. And having that brief moment when we locked eyes, and I felt like he wanted it as much as I did—that was the pin being pulled from the grenade. I haven’t stopped thinking about him, despite all my warning sirens blaring.
The guys don’t notice us until we’re right next to the table, the restaurant patio empty enough that their conversation carries in the wind. “So, it’ll just be you as the best man and Trevor as the lone groomsman. Kayla will have Ash and Artie,” Chase explains.
“Trevor is your groomsman?” The pitch of my voice floats higher than normal. Chase nods as he pulls out Kayla’s chair, then pecks a kiss on her cheek. When they embrace, they fall into a torrent of sweet nothings. It’s so cute, I can’t help but wonder when I’ll find that for myself.
Hunter lifts a finger in greeting and reaches over to pull out my chair. When I sit, he leans in and whispers, “I’m sorry about last week. I shouldn’t hav?—”
“Don’t even worry about it,” I whisper back with a smile, relief hitting me in the chest that he wants to sweep this under the rug too.We’re good at pretending.
On his part, I don’t chalk up the misstep to anything other than him being upset and me being present during a moment of weakness. I have no doubt in my mind that whatever spark I felt when he pressed his lips to mine is one-sided. Hunter doesn’t catch feelings, and I very easily do. This is why, no matter how much I liked it, I can’t go there with him. I’d be willingly throwing myself into the center of a bubbling volcano.
“What are you two whispering about over there?” Kayla cocks her head at us.
“Oh, just about how disgustingly cute you two are together.” Hunter makes a playful retching sound while I pretend to dry heave at their PDA. Chase laughs, and Kayla rolls her eyes. “What about Avery and Hadley?” Hunter asks about Chase’s sisters.
“Av is still studying abroad and can’t make it back. Hadley will be the MC slash DJ.”
“She’s actually pretty good.” Kayla nods before taking a sip of water. “She’s excited to be doing something other than standing up on display.”
“Ooh, hear me out! You two could elope, and then none of us have to stand up there on display. Win-win,” Hunter says.
“Nuh-uh, nope. Not after all the time we spent finding that dress. She’s gonna stand up there and be seen byeveryone,” I say.
“You found it, baby?” Chase’s eyes spark as he whips his head over to Kayla. She bites her smile, nodding quickly, and they’re back at it with the kissing and whispering.
“Great. Look what you started.” Hunter groans. He silently mimics the wordbabywith a grimaced glare.
“You just said it was cute,” I reply.
“I also said it was disgusting. That preceded the cuteness.”
“You don’t have to watch, ya know,” Chase says without looking at either of us. He’s busy staring at his bride-to-be, who’s studying the menu, shaking her head at the nonsense around her.
