Except it felt like a big deal. My heart was pounding. And it wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. Although this time had definitely been different from when he’d shielded me from the dogs.
Frasier grunted but said nothing.
I didn’t know what to say. What he wanted me to say. I just knew that I didn’t want this to be awkward anymore.
Things were already tense with my sister after our last phone call. I’d replied to messages in the “Bride Tribe” group chat since then, but Allie and I hadn’t communicated outside of that. And tomorrow, I’d have to face my sister and the rest of my family. I needed to know that Frasier and I were okay.
“Bear,” I sighed. “I’m sorry.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, nostrils flared. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
“I do, actually. Because I’m pretty sure I’m the reason we’re in this mess.”
He furrowed his brow. It felt weird to have this conversation while I was in bed and he was sitting across the room. So I grabbed a robe from the closet and wrapped it around myself before I went over to sit beside him.
I rolled my lips between my teeth. “I think Allie upgraded us to this room because of something I told her.”
The divot between his eyebrows deepened. “Why? What did you tell Allie?”
My heart was pounding, my stomach hollowed out. “Don’t get mad, but…” I twisted the edge of the robe’s tie between my fingers. “I might have told her we’re dating.”
I cringed, bracing myself for his reaction. My cheeks already felt like they were on fire.
“I’m sorry,” I rambled. “I know it was stupid and immature. But she just…” I sighed. “She kept pushing, so I pushed back.”
“By telling her we were dating.” I couldn’t get a read on his expression. Was he mad? Annoyed? Amused?
I nodded. “But I swore her to secrecy. No one else knows.”
He sank down on the couch. “Back it up. Tell me what happened.”
So I did. And he listened patiently while I told him about my conversations with Allie and how she’d made me feel. Finally, he asked, “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“At first, I was going to confess to Allie. But then, after I didn’t…couldn’t, I kept thinking that maybe my little lie wouldn’t be a big deal. I didn’t think it would affect anything. But clearly—” I gestured to the room “—I was wrong, and I’m sorry.”
“I’m not mad at you, Bryn.” He placed his hand on my back, his words and touch filling me with relief.
“You’re not?” I glanced at him.
He shook his head. “I’m proud of you for clearly setting some boundaries and expressing your needs.”He was?“And I can understand why you said what you did.”
My shoulders relaxed. I should’ve known he’d have my back. He always did. “Thank you.”
Even so, telling him was a relief. Frasier was known for keeping his cool on the ice, and he rarely got ruffled off it. But everyone had their limits.
“So, what now?” he asked.
“What now?” I shrugged. “I confess to her in the morning, and we ask the hotel to find us alternate accommodations. Maybe I can room with one of the bridesmaids or my parents if I have to.” Though neither prospect was very appealing.
“Mm.” Was all he said in response.
Sometimes I felt like I knew Frasier well enough that I could decipher his cryptic remarks. This wasn’t one of those times. I didn’t have a clue what he was thinking, and it made me nervous.
“Or…” He rubbed the back of his neck. And then he said the last words I’d expected to hear from his mouth. “We could roll with it.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
My phone buzzed, and I blinked my eyes open. I rolled over and stretched, my hand landing on…a piece of paper? Thick, crisp, and with a subtle texture.
