I curse under my breath as more of the pieces fall into place.
“That’s actually how I ended up here, in Camellia,” Daisy continues when she sees the confusion etched on my face. “Rowan’s an MFM specialist, and he looked after Lo when she was pregnant with the twins. She mentioned needing a substitute teacher while she was on maternity leave, and he introduced us. Then I moved into her old house, and so did Landry, and the rest is history.”
She grins at me, but I’m too busy panicking to return the favor. Having to live with Rowan’s rejection is enough, especially after I wasstupid enough to let down my walls for him. The last thing I need is Daisy and Loren finding out about the whole ordeal.
“Didn’t … didn’t you go out with him before, Loren?” I venture, setting the picture down on the table and praying the others haven’t noticed my reaction.
“Yeah, once, right before Blake and I got together,” Loren replies, shrugging. “But we’ll be fine to pose for a few pictures together at the wedding.”
I accidentally let out a squeak. Scratch that earlier thought, because actually having to confront Rowan in front of everyone is the worst form of humiliation I can imagine.
“I’ll just have to remember to avoid the peanut butter that day,” Loren adds to herself, and my stomach practically hits the floor. Then her brows lift, as if she’s just had an amazing idea. “Isn’t Dr. Athanasius still available? Claire, you’ll be back on the market soon, won’t you?”
This time I stifle a whimper, and Daisy looks distressed.
“Oh, no,” she says on a gasp, taking a step toward me. “It was today, wasn’t it? Oh, Claire, I’m such a terrible friend. I didn’t even ask you how your hearing went!”
“Nah, it was fine,” I say too quickly, bumping into the table and tipping over the photo. I catch another glimpse of Rowan and Daisy together when it takes a couple of tries to get the frame to stay propped up, and my stomach turns.
“Yeah, just glad it’s over. And thanks for letting me borrow your husband, Loren. I told him I might as well keep him on retainer for my next divorce.”
“Sure,” Loren says, narrowing her eyes at me, and my face heats.
“You know, if you want to talk about it, Lo and I both?—”
“I’m good, Daze. Seriously,” I reassure her. “In fact, I’ve gotta run. I, um, I forgot to let my dogs out before I came over.”
“Oh, okay then.” The disappointment in her big, green eyes immediately triggers my guilty conscience,but I just can’t … not today.
I know I owe Rowan an apology, but I’ll never work up thecourage to face him again while I’m busy struggling to put on a good front for Daisy.
“I’ll see you later. Or text me if you end up needing help with the wedding plans after all,” I say as I back out of the door without waiting for a goodbye from either of them.
And I break the seal on that box as soon as I’m back inside my Bronco, letting out an exhale that sounds more like the beginnings of a sob.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
rowan
My eyes begin wateringagainst my will as I watch my baby sister trek down the aisle in a white linen dress, a crown of flowers adorning the veil on her head. But I’m not surprised. I always knew I’d cry the day I watched my favorite sibling get married.
What I didn’t expect, however, was a view from this side of the altar. If anyone had told me six months ago that I’d be serving as the best man at her wedding to Landry Reed, I’d have laughed and asked for a sobriety check. Never would I have imagined the grumpy pessimist falling so hard that he’d marry a cheerful ray of sunshine like Daisy not once buttwicewithin the same year. And even more unlikely than the two of them ending up together is the sound of Landry’s quiet sniffles beside me.
I turn to glare at him incredulously while he swipes at his cheeks and flashes Daisy a sheepish smile. “You all right, Lan?” I whisper.
He clears his throat but keeps his eyes glued on Daisy as she beams back at him. “Never been better.”
As if this whole scene isn’t already weird enough, I glance over to find Loren watching her brother’s open adoration of the bride with equal parts pride and amusement, and I realize I probably shouldn’t look so surprised by Landry’s affection, as uncharacteristic as it seems. I am supposed to know him better than his own family, after all.
I force a smile for Daisy as she reaches the end of the aisle, and she pauses to direct her seizure response dog to join the matron of honor. Our dad turns to embrace Daisy before pulling Landry in for a hug, one that lasts much, much longer than I would have guessed my friend would ever allow. Dad shoots me a wink when he backs away from Landry and places Daisy’s hand within his, and I stifle a huff when Landry brings her knuckles up to his lips.
“Why are you crying, you big baby?” I hear Daisy whisper, reaching out blindly to hand her bouquet off to Loren before tossing her long hair over her shoulder.
“Because my heart has never felt so full, Blondie,” he replies matter-of-factly.
I guess I’ve always assumed Landry was capable of this depth of unconditional love, but it’s still surreal to hear him express it so freely. He surprises me again by leaning in to add something that leaves Daisy blushing and simpering back at him while he attempts to flatten his silly grin into a hard line. Even Juniper snorts at their over-the-top display this time, and I realize a second too late that I’m still wearing my uncertainty on my face. As happy as I am for both of them—and I honestly couldn’t be more thrilled—I’m not sure I’m cool with watching my best friend whisper a non-church-appropriate proposition into my baby sister’s ear, at least not yet.
If I’m being honest, though, most of my objections are just a reflection of my jealousy. Because I want this so badly—love and marriage and romantic companionship. Yet, here I am, the last of the LaFleurs … always a groomsman, never a groom.
