“In case you haven’t noticed, April is part of the plot to fix us up. Do you really think she needed a lipstick that much?”
“You think it was all a ruse?”
“I’m betting it was. Someone’s coming to do her hair and make-up before the wedding, right? I heard her and Renee talking about it. Wouldn’t the make-up person bring their own supplies?”
“Well crap, I think you’re right.”
I opened the passenger door and waited for her to get inside before I went around to the driver’s side.
“Do you still think April will be upset if we’re together?” I asked.
Erika looked over at me, her expression troubled.
“Look Reed, even if April is okay with it, I don’t want to be distracted from the wedding. I’ve let my daughter down her whole life, I’m not going to risk not being available when she needs me.”
“What about when we get back to New York?”
She shook her head before I even finished my sentence.
“I don’t have time to date, sorry. Besides, with our family connections, it could get messy.”
I decided to put all my cards on the table.
“Something big is happening here,” I told her, my voice husky. “I’ve never felt like this before Erika.”
“Neither have I,” she admitted. “But we’ll get over it.”
“I don’t think we will,” I answered. “But I won’t push you. Yet. I can see you’re scared.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, telling me that my guess was right.
“But I won’t quit trying,” I warned her. “Especially now that I know I’m not the only one feeling this way.”
“Let’s just get back to the resort,” she whispered. “April might need me.”
Erika
By the time we gotback to Mountain Ridge Resort, it was almost time for the rehearsal. I changed into a colorful peasant skirt and a white off the shoulder top, pairing it with the same sandals I’d worn last night. That was the beauty of black shoes, you could match them to almost anything.
I heard a knock on the door and wasn’t surprised to find Reed on the other side. He was nothing if not persistent.
“Did you come to knock me down again?”
I couldn’t resist teasing him. I was usually pretty serious, but something about Reed seemed to bring out my whimsical side.