I cross the room as she breaks apart from her family.She’s in my arms, and I’m kissing her temple immediately.
“You came?”she says, and I hold her tighter.“I heard something about a rain delay.”
“Yeah, someone’s looking out for us today.”
She holds me like she does when I return from an away series, as though she thought I’d never get back.
“How bad is it?”
She laughs in my neck.“So far, you and I need to have a celebration at the country club, and we should be looking into me adopting Tanner because why wouldn’t I want it all to be legal.”She draws back.“I’m already mentally exhausted.”
I push a strand of her hair behind her ear.I’ve never loved Mother Nature more than right now.“Do you think they’ll stay the entire time?”
“Thank goodness, they’re leaving soon.Just showing their faces.”
“Then it’s almost over.”I slip my hand in hers.
“Yes.”She looks around the room.“Here, let me introduce you to Honor.”
I try to follow her line of vision, but there are a lot of people here.Sure, most are gray-haired, so it’s not exactly a Where’s Waldo for the under-sixty crowd.
“Oh, she’s talking to someone.We’ll give it a minute or two.”She points out a woman with sandy-blonde hair talking to an older man.He has her hand in his, and he’s talking intently.
I remember my grandma’s funeral and how much I hated the way everyone thought they had to tell me something insightful.It sucked.We lost her, and no poem or advice would bring her back.
“Oh, here, let’s go now.”
The man kisses the woman’s cheek and walks away.
Hadley practically drags me across the room, clearly trying to get us in before someone else gets to Honor first.I remember that too.No break, just a constant stream of people.Lance, Brinley, and I hid out in the family room until one of our parents told us we had to go join everyone.
“Honor,” she whispers as we get closer, raising her hand, then pointing toward me.
Honor’s eyes widen.I’m sure Hadley’s told her about me on their coffee visits, so whether or not she was a fan before, who knows, but she clearly knows who I am now.
I’d kind of prefer if she weren’t a fan.It was one worry about coming here—I never want my presence to be a disturbance and take away from the reason everyone is here.
“This is Easton.”Hadley winds her arm through mine.
Honor scoffs.“I know.”
We all laugh, but sober quickly.
Hadley’s head tilts side to side.“Of course.”
I kind of like the way she seems proud to introduce me to her friend.As though she’s proud to call me her husband.
I hold my hand out, and Honor’s falls into mine.
“You’ve been the main topic of conversation for years.”She gives me a tight smile.
I shake her hand and catch a tattoo on the inside of her wrist.A bird of some kind.
I smile at her, then glance at Honor.“Sorry, she’s a bragger.”
“That she is,” Honor agrees, and a sour feeling rests in my stomach.
“Hey,” Hadley says with mock offense.
