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I smile bashfully. “She’s right. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”

Mr. And Mrs. Vanderbilt both stare at me like I’m a disgusting, sweaty pig. Maybe if they ate real food instead of just protein shakes, they wouldn’t be so cold all the time.

“I’ll have the maids double-check, but I believe we’ve used all the satin sheets for the other guest rooms. We have extra sheets, of course, but since we’re always at the cabin in the winter … they’re all flannel.”

Mr. Vanderbilt jumps in, trying to help out. “You might check the shops in town.”

Molly gives me an apologetic smile and I give one right back … because she’s about to see my entire quirky underwear collection. Why can’t I buy normal underwear? Just plain, black Calvin Kleins or something?

Molly must notice my embarrassed expression. She leans in close and whispers, “All of your underwear are weird, aren’t they?”

“Yep,” I say quickly, avoiding eye contact.

Todd and Trudy walk in and join Todd’s family on the opposite side of the table.

“Ready for your bachelor party tonight?” Todd asks Preston, holding his hand out for a fist bump.

Preston reluctantly bumps it with his own fist and forces a smile. “Can’t wait.”

Preston’s dad leans over and gives them both a pointed look. “You’re keeping the bachelor party classy, right, young man?”

“Of course,” Todd insists. Todd’s father shares a skeptical look with Preston’s.

“Brooks,” Preston says. “You should join us! Molly will be busy tonight with the bachelorette party, anyway.”

Todd makes a strangled sound and glares at Preston.

“Uh, I shouldn’t,” I say. “I have a lot of work to catch up on.”

“Yeah,” Todd waves a hand. “He has work to catch up on.”

Trudy squeals and claps her hands together. “Oh! Does this mean I can go to the bachelorette party?”

Everyone stops and stares at her. Mildred’s eyebrows are nearly to her hairline and her eyes are opened so wide it looks like they might fall out of her head. After last night, torturing Mildred a little doesn’t sound so bad, so I decide to go with it.

“You know what? That’s a brilliant idea, Trudy. I think I’ll join the bachelor party, after all.”

I drape an arm casually around Molly’s shoulders, and she looks up at me with a knowing grin.

Chapter 23

Molly

After spending the rest of the day at the spa with my mother and the bridal party, I stop by the room to check on Brooks and change for the bachelorette party. I know he had plenty of stuff to catch up on, especially since he was planning on working tonight and now he’s going to Preston’s bachelor party.

I walk in and he’s on the bed, propped up against the headboard with his laptop on his lap. He’s wearing a baseball cap, backwards of course, and his earbuds are in his ears.

He smiles when he sees me, closes his laptop, and removes the earbuds. “Hey, how was the spa?”

I sit down on the bed with a sigh. “A little weird after last night. I’m just trying to move past it and not let my feelings ruin Mildred’s wedding. It’s not her fault after all—it’s Todd’s.” I lay back on the bed and stare up at the ceiling. “And honestly, partially my fault too. I saw all the signs and ignored them.”

“You always see the good in people, there’s nothing wrong with that,” he says. I feel the bed move and look over to see Brooks laying down next to me. He finds my hand and interlaces it with his. His hand is large and calloused, but so warm. I’m surprised by how comforting it is to hold his hand. I’m finding that all of Brooks’s little touches are comforting.

He doesn’t speak, but just stares at the ceiling with me. He always seems to know exactly what I need, whether it’s silence, a dumb joke to make me laugh, or standing up for me when no one else will.

After a few minutes, he looks over at me. “I should probably get changed for the party.” He stretches his long limbs before sliding off the bed, removing his cap, then tossing it onto the dresser.

I raise myself up on my elbows. “Why’d you do that?”