Page 76 of Only Be Mine

“What?” I stared at him. “Why would we need another?”

He wiped his forehead, suddenly restless. “Lindsay wants to be in the wedding.”

The words landed wrong. Sharp.

I shook my head. “You’re kidding.”

“She asked if you’d make her a bridesmaid.”

“No.” The answer came out fast and loud. “Absolutely not.”

He winced. “Cate…”

“No,” I said again, pushing my chair back. “Just no.”

“You won’t even ask?”

I stood. Heat rushed up my neck. “Why are you pushing this? Why her?”

He rose too, knocking his chair back. “Are you accusing me of something?”

The question startled us both.

I crossed my arms, my chest tight. “You’ve been gone a lot lately. How am I supposed to know?”

His expression hardened. Not angry, but wounded.

“This is for Seth,” he said. “He begged me. Lindsay can’t stand not being in the spotlight, and you know that. He just wants to keep the peace.”

The truth settled, heavy and uncomfortable.

I sagged. “I overreacted.”

“Yes,” he said gently. “You did.”

Shame burned my throat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

He sighed, rubbing his temples. “It’s fine. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“I just… I don’t want her to take this from us,” I said quietly. “This is ours.”

He studied me, then nodded. “I know.”

He kissed my forehead. “I need to take a walk. Clear my head.”

“Be safe,” I said. “We’ll talk when I get home.”

He smiled faintly. “I love you. Go have fun tonight.”

I watched him disappear into the rain, the garage door rattling shut behind him.

I told myself it was over. Resolved. One of those normal fights couples have before a wedding.

The rain didn’t stop.

It tapped against the windows in a steady, needling rhythm, like it was counting something I didn’t want to acknowledge. I cleaned the kitchen out of habit, rinsing plates that didn’t need rinsing, stacking them carefully in the drying rack. The food went into the fridge untouched.

I told myself John would walk back in any minute - wet, apologetic, shaking rain from his hair like earlier. I pictured the way he’d smile when he saw me pacing, the way he’d open his arms and say, Hey. I’m here.