“Yeah.” She pursed her lips.
“We include them in the change of plans,” he said. “So they are part of this. They’re kids, but they’re smart and we’ll all figure things out together.”
“If there’s an ending in the future, we have to protect them from that,” she said.
“I agree. Without question. We’ll protect them together. Even if we aren’t together.”
She scowled. “You’re so not normal. But you are Ethan from up the street, and I’m kind of glad you aren’t a plumber.”
“I doubt the food would be as good.” He touched her jaw with his forefinger before tilting her chin up and letting that pull between them do its thing.
Then he kissed her, light on the mouth. Nothing too much, but enough to make his point that they were together, and tonight was a beginning. Not an ending.
Besides, they were headed to a wedding.
Time for a celebration of what could be.
Chapter Twenty-Five
EMMALINE
Emmaline stilledat the arch of flowers leading to the massive room with chairs lined on both sides of an aisle. The venue had been turned into a showstopper. The florist decorated with subtle grays and white, accented by cream gardenias, lemon leaves, and purple flowers of some kind.
The long hall with the rugged wood floor contrasted the elegant flower arrangements. The ceiling seemed to reach up, with magnificent beams holding the whole structure together.
“This is gorgeous,” Em whispered, taking it all in as they moved near a table of appetizers. Little finger food bites in an array of colors and, probably, flavors.
Ethan seemed distracted. Seemed to be searching forsomeone. That someone not being her.
Her breath caught, and she went a little numb, as a memory of another time, with another man, in another life came to mind. A life where she came to events just like this and stood alone in the corner clutching a plate of food she probably wouldn’t eat. No one to talk to.
She reached for Ethan’s hand as a touchstone, tracing her thumb where the sleeve tattoo smooched the cotton fabric.
“How do you know them?” Em asked, as they walked under the arch. No one was sitting yet; everyone was up talking and passing around champagne.
“Who?” he asked.
“The bride and the groom?”
“Actually, I don’t.” He lifted a shoulder.
“You don’t know either of them?” That was super odd. Why the heck were they there, then?
Ethan had a particular look she’d seen before.
That was the look of a man with an ulterior motive.
Her mom radar pinged, and it was a good thing she wasn’t on his jury because she’d definitely have predisposed ideas.
“I got invited here to do some networking,” he admitted.
“That is my least favorite thing about events like this.” Em grimaced. She hated the small talk part—probably why she had that tendency to fade into the background.
A man across the room waved to Ethan. Ethan waved back.
“I’m going to stay here if you want to schmooze,” Em said, giving him a little nudge.
Ethan studied her for a moment. “Back in a sec then, yeah?”
