I smiled and took Dad’s empty bottle from him.
“I’m going to go try to talk with the happy couple again.”
“You mean that happy couple?” He pointed at Bane and Nola where they were dashing out the front door.
“Wait, they’re leaving? Already? They didn’t even stay for their own reception.”
“They’ve been living together for a couple months. I’d say they’re ready to get away on their honeymoon,” he chuckled.
Chapter EighteenRiley
“Why are you covered in chip crumbs?” Wren asked as she dropped her purse on the counter and shut the front door. She just got back from going to dinner with Frank at the fast-food restaurant around the corner. He’d probably had a coupon. After a long day of going around the trailer park, trying to get recruits for his latest money-making scheme, he decided he was hungry and wanted to treat his daughter to dinner.
“No reason,” I mumbled as I shoved another handful of barbecue chips in my mouth.
“You’re moping,” Wren stated.
“I’m not moping!” I cried. I was moping. I was a wreck of a person who was too scared to love someone—someone amazing and perfect in every way. I was going to light my five-year plan on fire. It didn’t matter anymore.
Wren stomped over and wrenched the bag of chips from my hand. “I’m cutting you off. You’re going to go get dressed and go to the wedding with Nate.”
“It’s already over!” I sobbed like a disgusting little wretch, spewing snot and chip crumbs everywhere. “It was a morning wedding.”
Wren sighed and sat down next to me. “I’m not sure when I became the responsible one out of the two of us, but it’s obvious you need someone to set you straight.”
“Set me straight?”
“Yes. First of all, you’re going to stop moping. Second...” She paused and took a sniff. “You’re going to shower.”
She reached over and picked a chip out of my hair.
“Third...“
“How many things do I have to do?”
She glared at me. “Third, you are going to announce to the world that you are dating Nate Mercier. You’re going to call Nola. You’re going to tell her everything. We are going to go and do anything we want. I’m so tired of thinking about what Frank will think or do. You know what? Forget him.”
“But he’ll be asking the Merciers for money. He’ll be asking us for money if he knows we’re around them.” I was secretly worried he’d use Wren as leverage.
“How many times do we make our decisions based on what he could do?”
She wasn’t wrong. And that was what hurt. When did our lives turn into walking on eggshells? When did we stop living because we were worried he might use Wren as a bargaining tool to get favors and money from people?
“Riley. He doesn’t want to raise me. Sure, he likes to swing by and say hi, steal our lemonade and cookies, but he doesn’t want a kid. That would cost too much money. Heck, even if he did decide he wanted me, the courts would probably see him as neglectful.”
“But you never even lived with him...”
Wren grinned. “Exactly. All manner of neglect there. Besides, he doesn’t need me for anything. Stop worrying about me for one minute and think about what you would do if it were only you.”
If it were only me, I’d stand on the rooftops and tell the world that Nate was mine.
“Exactly.”
I moaned. “Did I say that out loud?”
Wren spun around and rested her head on the pillow and laid her legs across my lap. “You’re going to have a boyfriend. And that boyfriend is going to be Nate. I can’t handle having a grumpy old single lady as my guardian. You need him. I need him. He gives great advice on boys, you know.”
“I know,” I cried, thinking of all those times growing up when he’d advised me on which boys weren’t worth my time. He’d been right every single time. Now that I knew he liked me, I realized he might have been overzealous in steering me away from them. But that only made it that much sweeter.
“He likes me. No—he loves me.”
Wren let out a long breath as she leaned her head back against the couch. “Oh boy, this is going to be a long night.”
She wasn’t wrong. I fell asleep in a pile of chip crumbs and lemonade stains.
The next morning, I felt so much better. Taking a shower didn’t hurt either. Wren wasn’t going to hate me if I got into a relationship. In fact, her ultimatum was more along the lines of, “Date him, or else.”
My hair still wrapped in a towel, I pulled out my day planner and flipped to the correct date.
I grabbed one of my color-coded markers and wrote Date Nate Mercier in the top priority box.
Capping the pen, I set it down and studied the words on the page. I picked up a second colored marker and wrote Stop living in fear of what could be.
With a final pep talk to myself, I closed the notebook and headed out the door. It had been three days since I’d spoken to Nate. Nola was married now. And I’d missed her wedding. But I wouldn’t miss out on the life in front of me.
Nate would not be my dirty little secret. And I was going to tell him. Right after I bribed my way into his house.
Chapter NineteenNate
Knock, knock, knock.
I stopped unpacking my bag and walked into the living room to open my front door.
Riley stood on my porch, a paper bag in one hand and a drink tray in the other.
“I come bearing a peace offering.”
I nodded slowly and opened the door wide, letting her in. She made her way to the beanbag couch and sat down. “When are you going to let me decorate this place?”
I didn’t say anything, just sat down next to her. I didn’t know what to say. I’d made things clear. I knew what
