“Right now?” I clarified.
“Right.Now.”
In a flash I had her by the hand, pulling her behind me.
“Wait.” She laughed as she stumbled to keep up. “We need to say goodbye to everyone.”
“You saidnow.” My voice cracked. “Now means now.” The yearning in my tone was embarrassing.
“You’re right.” She laughed. “But we’re going to need an invisibility cloak to sneak past Silas or your mom.”
We ducked down, weaving in and out of the crowd. Past Christy and Holden and their kids, Jenny and Bo, and a bunch of our high school friends. We were almost to the edge of the tent when Silas stepped in our way.
I groaned.
“Told you.” Anna laughed.
His brow was raised, his voice stern. “Where do you two think you’re going?”
“Nope. Not this time, Pops.” I smirked at my duncle-in-law and flicked my brows up in a dare. I might wrestle him on this. “Mr. and Mrs. Bishop havethingsto do. Post haste.”
“Okay, Randy.” Silas put his hands on his hips like I should be afraid of him. The hormones surging through me were making me brave I guess because I puffed my chest and put my hands on my own hips, facing off.
“Stand down, both of you.” Anna smiled but then she gave me a pleading look. “Just…one second.”
Silas tried to be tough but his eyes gave everything away. He was forlorn, almost lost, struggling to let his girl go.
I sighed. “All right. Go on.”
She stepped away from me and pushed up on her tiptoes, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you. For everything.” She squeezed him in a hug. He said nothing, just leaned his head against the top of hers, closing his eyes for a moment. “I’ll see you after the honeymoon,” she said as she stepped away. “Where’s Lemon? I want to tell her goodbye.” She glanced at me. “And your mom.”
I held in another groan.
“She had to run back to Granny and Gramps’s house for a minute,” he said but there was a hitch in his voice like he was telling a fib. “I’ll tell her goodbye for you.” Then he looked past her to me. “You take care of her, Blue.”
“Of course. Always.”
He cuffed me on the shoulder. “You take care of each other.”
“We will,” we said together.
He stepped out of our way, letting us go. But Brooklyn took his place, swishing her pale pink bridesmaid dress. She looked at us both, wearing her typical emotionless expression. “How has today been? Are you two doing okay?” The girl was completely oblivious to our escape attempt. It was so Brooklyn.
“We’re great,” I said. “Heading out.”
I heard someone snicker off to my left. Colt.
“You look a little wild-eyed,” he chuckled. The kid was finally as tall as me. Okay, taller. But I wouldn’t admit it. “Everything okay?”
I glared at him, which made him laugh more.
“Are you guys leaving already?” Tally slid in behind Colt, hands in the air, still jamming out to Ford’s song. “I need goodbye hugs.”
Brion stepped up next to her. “Did someone say free hugs?” Tyson and DeShawn were next.
I threw my head back and groaned. Which made Anna belly-laugh. I glared at her playfully. “Did you do this? You planned this ahead of time?” I pulled her against me, my nose pressed into her cheek. “You dangled the carrot and told everyone to line up and bat it away.” I hissed.
She turned her face so that her nose was in my dimple. “Trust me, I want the carrot too. I had nothing to do with this.”
