"Yeah, we've been catching up." Tanner leaned back into the couch, trying to be casual. "It's been a while."
Katelyn gulped her wine.
"Katelyn's been so much help already with the wedding," Lovey said. "I don't know how you managed to find a dress for me so fast."
"It was Malvina." Katelyn smiled. "She's talented that way."
"But you must have told her what I wanted. I didn't even know that."
"You showed me enough pictures to give me clues about what you like and don't like."
"And you've got so many details nailed down already-the musicians, the photographer, videographer. Where to register for gifts. She gave me homework," Lovey told Tanner. "So she can book rooms for the out-of-town guests. What's next?" She turned back to Katelyn.
"Flowers."
"That'll be fun!" Then Lovey wrinkled her nose at Tanner. "You probably don't want to hear about all this. Every time I talk to Marc about it, his eyes glaze over."
Much as Tanner hated weddings, he found himself weirdly fascinated by Katelyn's chosen profession.
"So where were you guys last night?" Lovey asked him. "Where you had a few too many."
"Indigo."
"Probably picking up girls, like your usual man ho selves."
He gave her a strained smile, avoiding Katelyn's eyes. "Possibly."
"Did your friend have his baby?" Katelyn asked. "That night we were here he left because his girlfriend was in labor."
"Yeah. They had a girl." Tanner paused. "What's her name again, Lovey?"
She elbowed him. "Aubree. Isn't that nice?"
"Very nice." Katelyn smiled. "I'm happy for them."
"We need to have a baby shower for Sidney!" Lovey's eyes widened. "I can't believe I didn't think of that. Do you plan showers, Katelyn?"
"Um, sure. I have."
"Perfect! We need to get on that."
Tanner took in Katelyn's slightly dazed expression.
"Let me touch base with the other Aces Ladies next week," Lovey continued. "I'll call you. Well, we'll be talking anyway. Oh, this is awesome!" She jumped up and called, "Amber! Jenna! I just had the best idea!"
Tanner looked back at Katelyn.
"Wow, she's a ball of fire," Katelyn said.
He laughed. "Yeah, that she is. She has a good heart."
"Oh, I can see that. I kind of love her." She met his eyes. "Sorry."
He squinted. "For what?"
"For taking another job that means I'll be hanging around with your friends."
"Oh."
"I know you weren't happy to see me. I know this is awkward. Do you want me to tell her I can't do it?"
Yeah, it was awkward. Yeah, seeing her again had stirred up a lot of memories, all that old hurt he'd tried to leave behind in East Lansing. His chest tightened. Should he ask her to do that?
Hold the fuck up. How could he? This was how she earned her living.
"Nah," he said carelessly. "Not necessary. It's really not that big a deal." With a shrug, he stood and walked away.
Chapter 6
"We need to postpone the wedding. Again."
Katelyn shook her head, her cellphone to her ear, sitting across the table from her friend Rachel. They were in a restaurant just off Michigan, waiting to order lunch, when she'd gotten the call.
"I'm sorry," Caroline Corrigan said. "My future daughter-in-law's mother isn't well. She wants to hold off on things until we know more about her prognosis."
Well, that didn't sound good. "I understand."
This was the third time they'd pushed the wedding date back, which made Katelyn wonder if this wedding was ever going to happen. Caroline Corrigan had been planning the celebration for her son and his fiancée for months, but it seemed one thing after another caused them to delay it.
"I'll let the vendors know," she said. "I'll take care of everything."
"Thank you so much, Katelyn. I'll be in touch."
She ended the call and looked across the table at Rachel. "Sorry about that."
"Problems?"
"Oh yeah." She related what had happened, then grimaced and sipped some ice water. "Hopefully this wedding happens eventually. I can't afford to lose a big job like that one."