But Freestown was a different place. Definitely not as safe for a woman alone.
Was it weird that this girl was in a similar situation to Clem? Having to go to a family wedding and wanting a date.
If Clem had asked him to go would he have?
Likely. But he knew Clem. He didn’t know this girl.
Was the universe sending him some sign? Was he meant to go to this wedding with Lara?
Nah. That was just stupid.
Right?
Ah, fuck. He climbed off his stool. He’d go to the toilet and maybe just check on her. Ignoring the fact that he’d only just been to the bathroom, he moved through the crowds of people watching the dance floor. A couple of the women from Devotion were practically humping each other. He wondered how they’d feel tomorrow when their drunk buzz wore off.
He followed two women into the hallway that led out to the toilets, suddenly aware that one of them was the bride-to-be. Lara’s sister.
They didn’t notice him behind them as they stumbled down the hall. Ronny needed to cut them off. They were wasted. Or it could be the ridiculous shoes they were wearing. They all looked expensive. Like the pair that Lara had given away.
“Oh my God,” the bride-to-be said. “Can you believe that my mom is making me have Lara as a bridesmaid?”
“Just tell your daddy you don’t want her in the bridal party,” the other one said, trying to steady her friend. “He gives you whatever you want.”
“Normally, he does. He says it won’t look right if Lara isn’t part of the wedding. But I’d let her serve the champagne afterward.”
“Wow, that was so kind of you.”
“I know, right? I’m so nice to her. And really, I’m doing her a favor. How could she possibly want to be in the photos with how fat she is? She’s going to ruin the whole look I was going for. For some reason, Daddy just doesn’t see that.”
“I’m sure he’s got some reason to invite her. It’s not like he likes her.”
They both laughed.
“Of course he doesn’t. You should hear how he talks about her when Mom isn’t around. You’re right, there’s some reason he brought her here. I just wish he wasn’t being so inflexible about her being a bridesmaid.” She stomped her foot. “It’s just not fair.” They went into the ladies’ bathroom. Fuck. He hoped that they didn’t continue that awful conversation in front of poor Lara.
No wonder she didn’t want to go to the wedding by herself if that’s how her own sister talked about her.
Fuck.
He hated the idea of her being alone with people like that. She deserved far better. He didn’t know what it was but something about her that stirred his protective instincts.
Lara stepped out of the bathroom, her gaze on her bare feet, shoulders slumped.
Fuck. How had he forgotten she was barefoot? And why did she look like someone just kicked her puppy? Had she heard some of what those bitches were saying?
Stomping forward, he grabbed her. She screeched, and he felt a pang of guilt before he remembered her bare feet. Then he swung her up into his arms.
“Wh-what are you doing? You scared me! And why are you carrying me around like this?” she asked even as she wrapped her arms around his neck to hold on.
“You don’t have any shoes on. You’ve got no business walking around in bare feet. What were you thinking?”
3
Lara stared up at the big cowboy in surprise. Not only had he picked her up because she didn’t have shoes on, but he seemed really upset about it too.
Whoa, if this wasn’t a Cinderella moment, she didn’t know what was. She’d had shoe issues too. Okay, slightly different, but she bet old Prince Charming would have swept her up like this.
She sighed happily. “That’s so sweet, but you should put me down before you hurt yourself.”
He made a low grumbling noise.
“Have you got indigestion? I get that when I have to deal with my stepfather or my sister. I think I have some Tums in my handbag.”
“I don’t have indigestion. Well, not yet. And I’m not going to hurt myself carrying you.”
“You must be stronger than a wrestler. Do you enjoy watching wrestling? I like the old-style stuff. You can set me down, though.”
“You have no shoes on.”
“I know. I took them off. What’s that got to do with you picking me up?” When she’d walked out of the bathroom, she’d felt really down. She’d still been in the stall as Emily and Bianca walked into the bathroom, complaining loudly about how Chandler had made Emily accept her as a bridesmaid.
For fucks sake. Did they think she’d wanted to say yes? She would rather stick a fork in her eye.
Okay, she probably had to stop fantasizing about sticking things in her eyes. She didn’t actually want to go blind.