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Chapter 19

Brooks

The rest of the day, I’m on my own. I use the time to conference call Hope back at the office and make sure everything is running smoothly, and to do some more research on my knee replacement design. With Molly also being out this week, we’d already given our staff the week off. Hope agreed to go in a few times and check the messages.

Around six in the evening, Molly finally arrives back at the room. Her shoulders are slumped, her pretty mouth is set in a frown. She looks completely and utterly exhausted. I want to pull her into my arms. For her to allow me to carry the weight of whatever is bothering her on my shoulders.

I close my laptop and set it on the nightstand before standing from the bed. “You okay?”

She straightens her posture and smiles at me. The smile doesn’t reach her eyes … I’m not sure it even reaches her mouth. It’s so fake.

I glare at her. “Don’t hide from me, Molly. What’s wrong?”

Her chin trembles slightly and that’s when my resolve melts. I take a few steps toward her, wanting so badly to hold her.

Contemplating for a moment, I give in partially, and place my hands on each side of her arms. She doesn’t pull away from me, so I relax and allow my thumbs to rub back and forth, which I hope is a comforting caress.

She takes a slow, steadying breath. “Today was just a lot. Between Todd and his family arriving, and then my mother being, well, my mother …” She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “All I want to do is take a hot shower and listen to some music that my mother would hate. But we have to go down to dinner. Everyone will be there.”

My hands are still on her arms. I’m internally elated. She's allowing me to touch her and doesn’t seem bothered by it, so I don’t remove my hands. “We don’t have to do anything. Let’s skip dinner. Tell them we’re sick.”

She gives me an endearing look. “Oh, Brooks. I wish we could. But if I hide in my room all night, they win.”

“What did they say to you?” I ask, wondering what I missed while I was upstairs.

Molly releases a heavy sigh. “Todd’s parents pulled me aside and told me their son uprooted his entire life to follow me to Kansas, and that I can’t just throw it all away on a pretty face.”

I snort. “Am I the pretty face?”

Molly rolls her eyes but laughs. “Obviously. And it’s so ridiculous that they think I made him follow me. I was fully prepared to either try long distance … or to end things. And that was almost three years ago! Why bring it up now?”

“Yeah, that’s ridiculous they’re blaming you when he literally has his own date with him. Not to mention someone he was with before you guys even broke up. He disgusts me,” I grit out that last part.

Every time I think about Todd cheating on Molly, I have to work hard not to let my temper get the best of me. Besides, getting into a fight with Turd Da Punk wouldn’t even be challenging enough to make it worthwhile. It would be like Godzilla battling it out with a sea otter.

She takes a small step back, and I release my hands from her arms. “Don’t let it get to you, okay? Let me change and we can just get this over with and then relax in the hot tub.”

I relax my shoulders, trying to show her I’m calm, but my jaw is still clenched. Molly walks into the closet to change, and I take the opportunity to calm down. After a few deep breaths, I’ll hopefully be back to my charming self for dinner.

Molly steps out of the closet in tights, heeled black boots, and a grey tweed shift dress. She looks like the prettier and more modern version of Audrey Hepburn. I’m beginning to wonder if that closet is some kind of magical, sexy, outfit generator.

“You look great.” I smile and her demeanor seems a little more positive now. She smiles back at me, her eyes dropping to my tie.

“Another bow tie, huh?”

“I can change,” I say quickly, moving toward the dresser.

She moves in front of me. “No, don’t. If they don’t like your adorable bow ties, that’s their problem.”

Adorable. You wouldn’t think the word adorable would make a man’s heart race… but that’s what it’s doing to me. I grin in spite of my desire to play it cool. Molly chuckles and loops an arm through mine, dragging me toward the door.

We arrive in front of the doorway that leads into the dining room, and I remove Molly’s hand from my arm so I can hold her hand. I interlace our fingers the way I’ve always wanted to, and our hands fit so perfectly together it’s like magic. She glances up at me briefly, a look of surprise on her face. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m holding her hand, or if she’s also noticed how well we fit.

Everyone else is already seated at the table. Preston and Mildred are on one side with Preston’s family. On the opposite side sits Todd and Trudy, along with another couple who I can only assume are Todd’s parents. Todd and Preston’s fathers look alike, so much so that they could pass as twins.

Molly’s father is at the head of the table with Mrs. Vanderbilt seated next to him. Two blonde girls are next to her. I’m assuming they’re the other two bridesmaids?

Molly and I make our way to the only two seats left, which are right next to one of the blonde girls. She takes a moment to introduce me to the other bridesmaid. Their names are generic ones that sound the same and I instantly forget what they are. They blush and look me up and down, giggling and whispering to each other as if I’m not standing right here with my supposed girlfriend.