Fallen Crest Home(75)

“If he didn’t have Taylor, he’d be begging to be your maid of honor.”

Heather barked out a laugh. “He would. He’d be stabbing you in the back, trying to get that position from you.”

“He could have it. I hate weddings.”

I cringed, realizing what I’d just said. The words slipped out before I knew I was even going to say them.

Heather paused mid-fold. “Are you serious?”

I looked around, making sure no one else had heard my flub. Then I shrugged, leaning forward. “Maybe.”

“This is the wrong summer for you to be saying that. You know that, right?”

I nodded. “I’m not proclaiming it or anything.”

“Becky got engaged. Channing’s been bringing it up more and more with me, and your mom is actually getting married very soon.”

“I’m aware. It’s all around me.”

She lowered her voice. “Has Mason mentioned the M-word to you?”

I shook my head, feeling some relief. “No. I think it’s just overkill. That’s all.”

“Bullshit.” Heather continued to watch me steadily. She wasn’t giving me any room to breathe. “The whole wedding thing is usually contagious for girls. If you’re around it, you suddenly want to do it, too.” She studied me. “You look ready to bolt just having this conversation. You really hate weddings, or you hate your own wedding?”

I hated this conversation. “I’m not engaged, so this is a conversation I don’t need to bother with.”

“But he will ask you.”

My heart jumped to my throat. “You know something I should know?”

She shook her head. “No, but it’s Mason. He loves you—like, really loves you. He’s going to want a ring on your finger.”

I knew that, but the thought of marriage sent ice through my veins.

“I’ll deal with it,” I told her.

The look in her eye said bullshit.

“It’s not a big deal.”

She snorted. Again. “You need to talk to Mason about that. For real, Sam. It’s a big deal. It’s on the same level as when a partner doesn’t want to have kids and the other does. It’s a deal breaker.”

She wasn’t helping. I felt a headache forming. “I know. I’ll talk to him.”

“Promise?”

I nodded.

“No, you have to say the word. I know you, and you’ll try to get out of it somehow. Promise me, Sam.”

I didn’t understand the problem. Mason never brought up marriage or weddings. We hadn’t talked about it, and he came from the same background as me. He’d understand. Right? But I remembered the fear I felt when I first realized how much I didn’t want marriage.

I didn’t want to promise, but Heather was waiting, watching me like a hawk. “I’ll talk to him,” I heard myself say.

She let out a sigh of relief. “Good.” She squeezed my hand. “It’ll be fine. I know it. That guy worships the ground you walk on. There’s nothing he wouldn’t deal with for you.”

Yeah…I hoped so.

Heather went back to reading the questions and groaned. “Honestly? ‘What’s your idea of a perfect weekend?’ Please. Hers is probably when there’s a slight breeze in the air, walks on the beach, and cuddling in front of the fireplace. His is probably a blow job to wake up, a blow job at lunch, a backdoor rally in the afternoon, and a good scotch after dinner.” She rolled her eyes. “I can’t stand when couples like them get married.”

I laughed, wondering just how far off her answers were from Becky and Adam’s truth.

Then Becky walked in with Adam right behind her. They were holding hands and smiling, but the terror in her eyes and forced lines around his mouth were what caught my attention.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Heather said. “Since when does the groom come to these things? This completely blows all of my white trash stereotypes about what rich folks do.”

Malinda went over to greet them. As Adam hugged her, Becky glanced at me, and I stood.

“Something’s not right,” I told Heather.

“What?”

I was across the room before Malinda had finished gushing over the couple. She had an arm around Becky’s waist and beamed at me.

“One of these days, this will be you and Mason, Sam. I can’t wait.”

“Yeah.” My cheeks were hurting, my smile was so forced. I reached for Becky’s hand. “Can I have a minute?”

An emotion flickered in Malinda’s eyes, and she glanced down. I know she saw how tightly Becky held onto my hand, but she continued to exude warmth. She turned, pulling Adam over to where Cass and some other girls were helping put up the decorations. “Come on, Adam. I need your opinion about where we should put the cake.”