Once Upon A Half-Time 2(86)

“I can’t feel my good side,” he grumbled.

“Just guess.”

I reached for his cheek, touching the tender injury. “I’m sorry.”

Lindsey snapped at me. “Mandy! Hands down!”

“Sorry,” I said as he flinched and my sister shrieked. “Are you hurt?”

Rick shrugged, offering a pained smile, but nothing that couldn’t be Photoshopped to Lindsey’s specifications. “I’ll be okay. Probably deserved it.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“I should have talked to Nate first.” Rick wound his arm in mine. “He’s crazy about you.”

I didn’t answer. The flashes momentarily blinded me, and I used it as an excuse to avoid the conversation. Rick lowered his voice.

“I know it’s scary,” he said. “And I know he hasn’t been the greatest man in the world. But you’re a girl worth changing for.”

“You’re very sweet.”

“You should go find him.”

I squeezed his arm. “What if…what if that’s a mistake?”

Rick grimaced for the camera one last time before the rest of the bridesmaids crashed our picture. “And what if it’s the greatest thing you ever did?”

Lindsey berated the photographer into a hundred different shots of her “second kiss” with Bryce, and Rick casually passed his brother a tube of Chap Stick for the next twenty she demanded.

I snuck away once Lindsey began her one-on-one pictures with the bridesmaids, peeking through the church to find Nate. Of course, I wasn’t permitted to cross the threshold into the yard where the reception was held, not until the bridal party was formally introduced. I nearly broke out anyway.

Bryce caught me before I took a step.

“Nate’s gone,” he said. “Didn’t he tell you?”

My heart stopped—the only defense it had against breaking. I collapsed against the wall, my eyes welling with tears.

“Whoa! No!” Bryce pulled me into a hug. “The caterers didn’t have a bartender like we thought. There’s no alcohol.”

“Nate’s gone…and now there’s nothing to drink?” I covered my face. “This is a disaster.”

“Mandy, listen to me. Nate went to help. He’s grabbing a couple kegs from Arrogance.” Bryce sucked in a breath. “Ohh, you thought I meant…that he left you.”

No wonder Lindsey was always pissed at him. I slapped his arm.

“When’s he coming back?”

“Hopefully soon. We have to serve dinner.”

I groaned. Suddenly when I had to talk to him, Nate wasn’t around. This wasn’t fair, especially since I couldn’t drink whatever he’d bring to the party.

We lined up in the church, arranged by couple. Originally, Lindsey demanded each of us make up our own dance when we were announced. However, I was a klutz, and Rick was a cardiologist who lost the ability to dance in lieu of conducting surgeries. He twirled me instead. Safe and easy.

We sat as the DJ announced the newlyweds, but I stared only at Nate’s vacant seat. My heart pounded. I had no idea what I’d say to him when I finally had the chance to face him, but I couldn’t hide how I felt anymore. I spent nearly three months denying my feelings to everyone, including myself. It did nothing but cause problems.

If I wanted a relationship with Nate…that meant confronting every mistake, every insecurity, and every fear head on.

It took a pregnancy for me to learn that lesson, but it was going to stick.

I wanted Nate, and nothing was going to stop me from getting him.

Except a lack of booze.

The DJ promised that the alcohol was on its way, and the caterers did their best with lemonade and water. I sucked on my ginger ale and chewed the straw as I waited for him to return.

At least the reception looked amazing. A field of tables with white tablecloths lined the party, and we had enough room for a big dancing area. As an additional perk, the church had a small playground to entertain the kids running amuck.

Everyone sat to watch Lindsey and Bryce’s first dance—not the crazy Dirty Dancing routine she planned, but, to my surprise, Bryce’s favorite song. The held each other close and swayed to the music.

I had no doubt that it would be my sister’s favorite part of her special day.

It was the first time I was envious of Lindsey.

Dinner was served before Nate returned. I picked over the vegetarian meal, actually enjoying the polenta and mushrooms. I wasn’t hungry though. I bit my lip until it was raw and shredded my napkin under the table.

I popped out of my seat the instant I saw the glint of sunlight strike the metal kegs. Nate carried in more alcohol than we could possibly serve, and he earned a rancorous applause. He took a bow and laughed, but he searched only for me.