I turn to face him. “Of course.” I smile softly. “Paige filled me in on your class-clown persona.”
“That’s me. Always the comedian.” Marc’s lips lift into a wide grin, but it holds a hint of something else, something darker, suggesting he doesn’t love that little descriptor.
“Are you?—”
“I guess I’ll leave you to it. Enjoy your work talk.” He walks away without waiting for a response, and when he’s out of earshot, I turn to Sal, my chest tight with concern.
“I think you should go after him.”
“What?”
“You’re his dad, and something was clearly bothering him just now.”
“I know my son, and trust me when I say he does not want me chasing after him.”
“I just think?—”
“I said he doesn’t want me. But I noticed it too. I’ll ask Camilla to go. They’ve always been closer than we have. If anyone’s going to get him to talk, it’s her.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you evernotworry?
“Do you?”
“Sometimes. But you don’t even know Marc.”
“He’s your son and Paige’s brother. He’s hardly a stranger.”
“You’re right. He’s family now.” Sal forces a smile and I laugh out loud, drawing the attention of the guests close by.
“That didn’t seem to bother him. Maybe we should take a page out of Marc’s book.”
“Mmm. Maybe.”
Sal glances away a little distractedly, but when he looks back, he’s the picture of calm once more. “I better get back to it.”
“I thought you needed me.”
“Oh, right. I just wanted to say you look stunning and that I hope you have a good night.”
“Thank you.” My pulse spikes as he flashes me a hint of the emotion he revealed earlier today. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
“Thanks, Keels. I wish I could say more.” He scratches the back of his neck, the emotion in his eyes morphing into regret.And he doesn’t need to say anything else; I can read it on his face.
“I know. Me too.”
I squeeze his arm and walk away in the opposite direction of Marc, glancing back over my shoulder before I catch up to the girls, finding Sal already looking away.
This isn’t going to be easy, but it’s the right thing to do.
Since we had a sit-down dinner for the rehearsal, Paige and Easton decided on a cocktail party for their reception, and when we’re led into the ballroom, I finally spot Callum across the room.
“Why are you hiding away in the corner?” I ask as I reach him, giving him a tight hug which he doesn’t reciprocate.
“I’m not hiding. I’m just easing into it. This is the most people I’ve seen in months. Maybe even years.”
“Sounds like you need to get out more.”
