2. Connect
Connect
D isorganized butterflies flapped wildly, running into each other and panicking over the diminishing space as they multiplied in Zoe’s belly.
Her chest rose to make room for them all, but it wasn’t enough, and they forced the corners of her mouth into a daringly flirty grin.
With difficulty, she held back a throaty laugh before she embarrassed herself in front of the entire wedding.
Ryder Mallory. So damn pretty. Many years ago… she a French-braid everyday middle school jock, he, a cool soccer playing valedictorian senior with a dreamy shaggy haircut… Zoe had discovered the true meaning of the word crush .
That person you can’t help but sneak peeks at and daydream about, and the imaginary relationship grew to majestic levels of impossibility.
Since that long-ago day, Zoe had developed many crushes, but that first was always the best. There was something about the newness of the feeling, especially the na?veté in thinking it might actually pan out, despite the fact that said crush never actually spoken to her.
Of course, he was six years older, so retrospectively, it would have been creepy if he was into her back then. Now, however…
Probably stupid of her, indulging in such a wild flirtation with someone who not only lived several states away, but was too pretentious for the town that was her heart.
But what the hell. He’d be gone within a day or two, so what was wrong with a little fun?
She didn’t have to like the guy to appreciate his sparkly blue eyes and sexy dimple.
His stuck-up mother said something, and broke the connection. Zoe savored his regretful wince, as he broke away from their flirty moment.
Damn, these vows were long. Sweet, yes, but Finn and Haley had a lot to say to each other that could have been summed up in three easy words.
Zoe glanced over at her dad. Scott Halseth was surrounded by friends, but the red glassiness of his eyes was more than just happiness over his oldest tying the knot.
Her mom had been gone a year. Brenda would have counted this as one of the best days in her life, decked out in a flowery mother-of-the-groom dress and holding Scott’s hand with their arms tucked tight together and leaned into him while she bawled her eyes out with a wedding themed printed tissue.
Pops caught her eye, and Zoe’s lips suddenly felt puffy, and she realized she was as watery eyed as he was. She bit her lips together and smiled at her dad.
Evan must have noticed Pops’ reaction and turned subtly to look at Zoe. When she looked up at her brother, he had the same, happy-sad expression.
Wow. Shit. Big days without her sucked.
“You may kiss the bride,” the officiant finally said grandly.
Cute idea, but weddings themselves needed a massive overhaul.
Zoe hoped to hell when she walked the plank—aisle—she’d be marrying a guy who cringed at that phrase as much as she did.
Why not just say “if you’re all hot and bothered for each other, go ahead and kiss each other.
” At least he didn’t say “man and wife,” or Zoe might have screamed.
Wowzah. That was a kiss. Cheers and woo-hoos erupted in the crowd, and Zoe grinned so wide she had to bite her bottom lip to avoid pulling a cheek muscle.
Totally by accident, her gaze drifted toward Ryder, again.
He was, after all, in the front row, and the only sibling of the bride and groom not included in the wedding party.
Throughout the planning and festivities, Zoe had learned his being left out wasn’t a snub, nor were any hard feelings associated with the slight.
He lived out of town and was going to miss all the lead-up to the big day anyway, and the numbers would have been weird, or Finn would have to choose another groomsman from his friends, which would have been awkward to choose who to elevate to the bestie position.
He’d tried to make Pops get up here, but the man refused and said dads had earned the privilege of watching the ceremony, rather than standing on display.
So, all had agreed it was easier for Ryder to be a guest. Wedding politics and social graces were far too complicated.
Damn, that man had a great smile. And he knew it. A dimple in his left cheek, some fantastic pearly whites he wasn’t shy about flashing, and his whole face lit up with his smile.
As if he sensed her looking, he snuck another look in her direction.
Busted, again. She scrunched her nose and tipped her head as she kept grinning, shifting from smiling over the woo-hoo-worthy kiss to sharing a bit of that enthusiasm with the hot guy flirting across the wedding.
Still smiling, he shook his head subtly, as if to say he knew he should stop.
Finn and Haley finally disengaged, but kept gazing at each other the entire march down the aisle.
Instead of moving forward to take Evan’s arm for a formal walk back, Trace was totally distracted talking to Grady, and absorbed into the crowd to join their friends.
Happy to shirk tradition as much as she was, Evan turned and wrapped his arm around her shoulder and smacked a kiss on the top of her head.
As they started down the aisle, she reached out and grabbed Scott’s hand and tugged her dad up.
He rolled his eyes, but he didn’t argue.
With her brother on one arm and her dad on the other, she felt like a shrimp, thanks to inheriting her mother’s height.
The Y-chromosomes got to be towering football players, and although she was used to being the short one, the high heels were a perk.
“One down,” Pops said as they made it out of the chattering crowd.
“Don’t say two to go,” Zoe said, leaning into her dad to punctuate the point with a teasing squeeze. “Finn has always been the overachiever.”
Evan was quiet, and Zoe glanced up at him. Huh. He quickly shook it off and nudged her, and she had somehow turned into a ping-pong ball as they riled each other. “Foothills is a very small pond, and it seems to drain faster than it refills. Finn got lucky.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting lucky. Tonight ,” Zoe snorted as she mumbled to her brother.
On her other side, Scott lovingly rolled his eyes. “Sometimes, I think we share too much in this family.”
“Nah,” Evan said, winking over at him. “Your youngest two aren’t exactly social enough to amass a group of friends like Finn, so who else would we over-share with?”
“I guess that’s true,” Scott said. As they neared the door to the ballroom, he glanced back and nodded appreciatively. “Maybe a small pond locally, but there’s half a damn football team added to the pond today. So, there are options.”
“And other out-of-town guests.” Evan snorted and hooked one side of his mouth up in a devilish grin at Zoe. Shit. He’d totally witnessed the little whatever-it-was with Ryder.
She pinched his arm.
He just laughed at her, then cleared his throat and said, “So my pond has increased by one, and I am not remotely interested in an anything with a professional football player, and absolutely not a quarterback.”
“Yeah, quarterbacks are all egomaniacs.” Arms linked with two such arrogant beasts, Zoe knew she was playing with fire.
Evan ignored the dig, used to the teasing from his favorite tackle. “I don’t think Zoe’s interested in the football player type anyway.”
“Been there, done that a few times over, and even bought several t-shirts. Too many resent that I’d rather be on the field than on the sidelines waving pompoms and shaking my booty.” Zoe glanced back and saw Ryder had stood, but was waiting for the crowd to clear out first.
A little hop, skip, and a jump of flutters dinged in her chest.
“Tell you what,” Scott said as he exhaled and paused before heading inside to join the bride and groom. “You both at least dance once dance with someone who interests you… and I’ll do the same.”
A jolt shot up Zoe’s spine. Jaw dropping and eyebrows drawing together, Zoe glared over at her dad. Way too soon. It had been a year. Just a year. How could he even think about it? She quickly schooled her expression to a smile, but it was too late.
Evan said louder, “That is a great idea. I’ll ask my one option in the crowd to dance, and Zoe will find someone worth more than a few passing glances.
” He winked at her, and she rolled her eyes.
“And Pops, whenever you feel ready to dance with someone new, tonight or whenever, we will be so proud. Won’t we, Zoe? ”
“Of course,” Zoe said with bright eyes and an overeager nod in a poor attempt to bolster the lie.
“The pond isn’t much bigger for a forty-nine-year-old widower.”
“Come on Pops, isn’t that like, a classic age to start picking up divorcées?” Evan teased with his notorious lopsided grin lifted high.
Scott shrugged and rolled his eyes, not bothering to match either of their smiles on either level of authenticity. “I hope so.”
Just inside the ballroom doors, Haley leaned back against Finn, his hands splayed over her belly as he nuzzled into her hair and whispered undoubtedly sweet things.
That, right there, the thrill on both of their faces, set a clutch in Zoe’s chest. A good one.
Familiar, the look was like so many her parents had shared, naturally affectionate, but a sweet intensity that said any hurdles in their way would be faced head on and together.
Chatter loudened behind them as the guests began their descent toward hugs and food. Zoe glanced back and saw the impending rush, and tugged Evan and Pops ahead.
As they neared, Finn released Haley and roped Pops in for a gushy hug.
Zoe squealed as she squeezed a hug with her sister-in-law, the baby bump digging into her middle, and she poured congratulations over their little family.
They didn’t have much time for conversation before the crowd rushed them.
Adept at entertaining, Haley led Finn into the crowd, and neither’s smiles faded over the many dozens of hugging and vibrant congratulations.