“Can we come?” Sophia asks.
I frown at her. “Soph. It’s for his friends.”
“Which you are,” Brayden says firmly, his eyes on me. “You’re all welcome.”
That’s two weeks before my wedding.
And Sophia knows it. “That timing sounds perfect, Brayden.” She elbows me. “Lei and I would love to come.”
“No, we wouldn’t,” I say firmly. “I don’t go to parties. Or football games.”
“I promise I’ll keep you safe,” he says.
His tone is casual, but his eyes lock onto mine. He’s saying that because he knows. He knows I’m scared shitless from twelve years ago. And he wants me to heal.
Part of the wall around my heart cracks open at the pureness of his offer. Part of me lets him in even more.
Sophia reaches over and squeezes my hand underneath the table. “Thank you, Brayden. It sounds like a lot of fun.”
“We can sit on the back of my truck together,” he says. “I won’t let anyone bother you.”
Oh, God. This sounds like the kind of thing where rational thinking goes straight out the window. “I thought it was a bonfire party,” I say.
“Tailgating, bonfire, dancing—all of that. It’s just the kind of party I grew up with.”
I don’t want to know what kind of growing up he’s referring to, so I don’t say anything.
I’m getting a sugar high. I start giggling. “My kind of parties were AP all-nighters.”
“So you always liked to study?” he asks me as Sophia and Slammer start kissing again.
“Yeah.” I flick my hand in frustration. “I don’t know if I liked it, to be honest. Academics were what was expected, and getting good grades was supposed to set me up for the future. Doesn’t seem to be getting me very far right now. But I’m meeting with my advisor this week, so hopefully he’ll have good news.”
Chapter Seventeen
I don’t get a chance to talk to Phillip until the next night when I stay up and wait for him to get home. I’m determined to reconnect with him and hopefully break through the distance that’s between us.
But he’s bleary-eyed from his work, and he’s in a dark mood.
“Honey?” I say from where I’m sitting on the couch. “I have an idea that may cheer you up.”
He looks at me expectantly.
“Wedding cupcakes.” I smile. “Instead of a cake, we order custom cupcakes. Just enough for each guest to have one. Or maybe two. We won’t have any waste. CeeGee Cakes uses recyclable wrappers, and their frosting is natural with no artificial dyes. They also have gluten-free and sugar-free alternatives for you.”
“I don’t think so, Lei.”
“I set up a tasting for us night after next,” I say, putting my arms around his waist. “Your colleagues come over tomorrow evening, but early next week, you have nothing on your calendar, not until you leave for the conference. What do you say? It’s free; no strings attached. If we don’t like the cupcakes, we don’t use the company.”
He rubs his eyes wearily. “Sounds fine. If it means that much to you, sure. Just text me the time, okay?”
If it’s not within his subject area, Phillip doesn’t usually have much to say. Versatility is not his strength. He’s a good man, and I know he’d sooner die than hurt me on purpose.
He just doesn’t consider being married to his work as a sting.
He says he’s going upstairs, and I don’t know why, but I go for the one thing I know will get his attention.
“Do you, um…ever wish you’d ended up with a science professor?” I say abruptly. “You know, a colleague. Because even if I pass my dissertation, I’ll never be a professor like Mindy Cox.”
