But that wasn’t a promise he was sure he could keep, so he just kept walking.
Chapter Eleven
She’d kissed Brian Kowalski.
It was the first thought to pop into Siobhan’s head when she opened her eyes, which was extra annoying because it was the thought running on a constant loop when she’d finally fallen asleep.
Rather than sliding out of bed and enjoying a quiet cup of coffee before Oliver stirred, she pulled the blanket over her face in an effort to hide from the world. She knew it would fail. Oliver certainly wasn’t going to spend an entire day hiding under the covers with her. And as the actual wedding part of the wedding trip crept ever closer, she’d promised Steph they’d focus on preparations today.
There was only so much they could do since Brian’s brother wasn’t arriving with the bigger stuff from the rental company until later in the afternoon. And it was going to be a simple ceremony, so there wasn’t a lot of fussy stuff to do. Steaming the outfits. Preparing the vines they were going to wrap around the arbor.
The memory of Brian stringing the fairy lights flashed through her mind, followed swiftly by the remembrance of his lips on hers as his hand cupped the back of her neck.
Nope.
Suddenly too warm, Siobhan pulled the blanket off herface. That wasn’t enough, so she pushed it off entirely, careful not to nudge Oliver in the process. He was getting restless and she knew he’d be awake soon, butshe’d take every minute she could get.
Unfortunately, there was no way for her to think about the wedding preparations without thinking about Brian and those lights, so her mind kept returning to the kiss over and over.
The fact that her first instinct to call Robin and tell her everything was immediately followed by a resolve to tell Robin nothing was like a flashing neon sign telling her she’d definitely done the wrong thing.
They commiserated regularly about the sad state of their sex lives—Siobhan too tired to care and Robin too picky. If Brian was a man she was supposed to be kissing, her best friend would have been her first call.
Instead, she was desperately hoping nobody would ever find out. Not Robin and especially nobody with the last name of Kowalski.
When Oliver finally opened his eyes, Siobhan was almost relieved he was awake because she needed the distraction. Rather than popping out of bed and hitting the ground running, her son snuggled against her and she recited one of his favorite board books from memory. In a few places, she deliberately substituted a different animal or color, and Oliver would giggle and correct her, calling her silly.
When she suggested some oatmeal, she half expected him to remember the Kowalski family would be gathering for the big breakfast buffet and jump out of bed, but he didn’t seem to have a lot of interest in them today. She got him dressed and then started the oatmeal while the Keurig brewed.
She’d just sat down when her phone buzzed with a message from Steph.Breakfast is ready!
Siobhan didn’t even have to look at Oliver to know it was going to be a while before they emerged from the camper. He was content to be leisurely this morning, and anytime he was content, she was.
We just woke up. Oliver’s feeling lazy, so we’re going to have a quiet breakfast inside today.
Lazy mornings are best! See you in a while, then!
A few minutes later, her phone buzzed again, this time with a text message from a number that wasn’t in her contacts.
You’re not leaving, are you? I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, and I’ll work in the store today if it makes you more comfortable.
Adding to the “that’s so wrong” list, the assurance there would be no more kissing triggered a deep sense of regret—maybe even loss. She’d liked that kiss a lot.
This is Brian, by the way.
Siobhan laughed at the second message, and then she laughed again at Oliver’s look of sleepy confusion. His mom laughing at seemingly nothing over her first coffee of the day was a new experience for him.
After taking a long swig of the coffee and thinking for a moment, she typed in her response.I’m not leaving and you don’t have to hide.We’re adults, it won’t happenagain, and we’re not at breakfast because Oliver slept in and he’s having a quiet morning. We’ll be out in a bit.
Even though he sent back a smiley-face emoji, Siobhan suspected Brian might make himself scarce today. They might be adults who knew kissing couldn’t happen again, but they were also adults tangled in a family drama who didn’t even like each other a few days ago, but kissed last night.
There was no way aroundthatbeing awkward.
Several hours later, with the clouds gathering to deliver the brief showers in the forecast, Siobhan left Oliver in the care of Mary, Ellie and some of the other women, who were going to put on a movie for the little ones and do some of the wedding baking.
Alone with Steph in the bride and groom’s cabin, Siobhan sat on the edge of the bed, trying to get as much of the downdraft from the ceiling fan as possible. “I can’t believe they’re going to bake in a camper.”
“I know, right? But they always have. I told them baking stuff ahead of time and freezing it was fine, but it’s my wedding. And the guys offered them the kitchen in the house, but Gram’s used to her oven, whatever that means.”
