Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Bray
“Ten more minutes,” Ava whines as I explain we need to get ready for the evening, as do the other kids.
“Fine,” I reply. “But only ten minutes.”
“Yes! Thank you!” she yells as she sprints back over to the other kids.
I pull out my phone and scroll through some apps, and then pull up the dating app. If Carly’s dating, then why shouldn’t I?
I set my app to my location and go to my matches. The first two don’t look interesting. I swipe again and freeze.
What. The. Hell?
It’s Carly. How is this even possible?
I hover over her profile, not knowing what to do. She’s on a dating app? That must be how she met this guy. I’m a little shocked that I didn’t assume this when she said she was talking to someone. Damn, am I that oblivious? I sit back on a bench and run my hand over my face.
“Wow, social media getting you down?” Kasen asks as he walks toward me. He looks like he just went for a run. He plops down on the bench next to me and stares at the phone in my hand.
“Well, shit. That’s serendipitous, isn’t it?”
“Shut up,” I mutter.
He throws his head back and laughs. “You know that you could ask anyone here and they’d all say the same thing. You two are meant for each other. Literally, you are two halves of a whole. I’ve never seen two people more in tune, other than Edith and Al.”
We’re both silent for a beat as we remember Edith. I let my head hang as I stare down at the profile pic of Carly. It’s a selfie. She looks great, but she always looks great. Her profile says, single and ready to mingle.
“I sure as fuck hope you’re going to swipe in the right direction,” Kasen says, breaking the silence.
I glance over at him. “I…do you think I should? I mean, what if it fucks everything up? What if I lose her?”
Kasen thumps me on the back. “Mate, you’re gonna lose her to another guy if you don’t.
Might as well put your heart on the line.
It could be the best thing that ever happened to you.
I mean, shit, before Piper, I thought I’d never love anyone.
I was so afraid of something bad happening.
I thought I was too fucked up, and she deserved better.
But I had it all wrong. Maybe you do too. ”
I contemplate his words. Maybe I do, but it’s still scary as fuck.
His hand comes down on my phone screen, and he swipes right.
“Kasen! What the fuck?” I yelp.
He grins. “Just giving you the push you needed. Now, don’t fuck it up.” He stands and walks away, but turns when he’s only a few steps from me. “You’re welcome, by the way. You can thank me later.”
I glare at him, and the fucker starts laughing again as he begins jogging. Sometimes, I really want to beat the crap out of my friends.
I slide my phone back in my pocket. Ava runs over to me. “Can we hunt for the key for a few minutes?” she pleads.
Sighing, I look at my watch. “Fine, but only five minutes.”
“OK,” she says cheerily and skips down the path. “Come on. Miss Cam told me there’s like a secret library in there,” she says as she points to the main house.
Great. This will definitely be longer than five minutes.
We make our way up to the main house. I find Fletcher’s mom in a formal dining room, talking to staff. She smiles when she sees us.
“Well, hello there, Ava. Did you have fun today?”
Ava nods. “We played soccer.”
“I heard. Hi, Bray,” she says as she gives me a hug and cheek kiss.
“Hi,” I reply and then whisper, “We’re looking for the library.”
“Oh, yes, it’s so cute. Down the hall to the left. Pull the brass candle holder to open the secret door,” she says.
Ava’s eyes widen, and she grabs my hand. “Thank you, Fletcher’s mom,” she says as she drags me to the hall.
Fletcher’s mother laughs, and I give her a sheepish grin as I’m yanked into a back hallway that’s encased in dark wood. There are paintings on the walls and an occasional side table. Eventually, I see two brass wall sconces.
“Which one?” I ask Ava.
She purses her lips and puts her hand on her chin. Finally, she points to the one on the right. I reach out and try to turn it. It doesn’t budge.
“This one,” she says excitedly, pointing to the other one. “Look!” she points at the wood trim, and I do notice it’s not as flush.
I turn the sconce and the door pops open. I push it all the way open and find a light switch. Flipping it on, we step inside. It’s a two-story library that looks straight out of a movie.
“Wow!” Ava says.
“Yes, this is definitely a wow, Peanut,” I agree. I make a mental note to tell Roxy and Jocelyn about this later. Those two booklovers need to see this.
“Come on, let’s key hunt,” she insists as she begins picking things up and looking under them. I have to say, the ambiance of the room sort of lends itself to solving a mystery. I find myself looking too, nearly as excited as Ava. Until I look at my watch. Shit.
“Kiddo, we gotta go. We need to change, so we aren’t late,” I state. “We can come back another day.”
“One more minute,” Ava says.
“Nope. We spent twenty here already. Let’s go,” I insist.
“Fine. But you promise we can come back in here. I want to show Mommy,” Ava says.
“I promise,” I say as she takes my hand, and we head back to get ready for dinner.
As we approach the villa, all I can think about is Carly and how we just matched on a dating app.
And now that Kasen swiped on her, she’s going to know that too.
This should be an interesting night. I just hope it doesn’t end in disaster.
Dessert is being served, and Carly hasn’t said a thing yet about the dating app. I wonder if she’s even checked her phone. Slowly, couples start dancing in the middle of the room. Ava is dancing with Al. He swings her around, and she giggles.
“I should go rescue Al. I need to get Ava to bed soon,” Carly says. She walks over to them. Al whispers something to Ava, and she grins in my direction. A second later, Carly cuts in and waves Ava in my direction. Al and Carly twirl around the dance floor.
Ava runs over to me and hops into my lap. She leans up and cups her little hand around my ear. “Mr. Al says you need to cut up,” she whispers.
I laugh and lean back. “I need to what?” I ask.
“Cut…up?” she says as she cocks her head to one side as if trying to remember his exact words.
“Cut in?” I ask.
She nods enthusiastically.
Chuckling, I set her on a seat next to me and stand. “OK, but just for a minute. It’s almost bedtime.”
She groans. “But it’s a special night, so I get to stay up later.”
“And you have, but tomorrow is the wedding, so we all need a good night of sleep. You can stay up later tomorrow, OK?” I say as I walk toward Carly.
“Fine,” she grumbles and drinks her third Shirley Temple of the night.
My gaze locks on to Carly as I step up beside her.
“May I cut in?” I ask.
Al winks at me and steps back. “Perfect timing. My old knee is about to give out,” he says as he looks toward Ava, who’s placed her head on the table. “Why don’t I tuck in our princess and you two enjoy the evening?”
“You sure?” Carly asks.
He waves a hand at her. “It’s not a problem. I can finish telling her the story from the other night,” he insists.
Carly leans up and kisses his cheek. “Thank you, Al. You’re the best,” Carly says.
Al leaves us and picks up a tired Ava as he walks out toward the villa. Ava gives us a sleepy wave from over his shoulder.
Carly looks at a table past ours, and I follow her gaze. Margie and Cornelia are sitting with their dates. And they all look very close, with the men practically fawning over the two of them.
“I can’t believe they pulled it off,” Carly murmurs as I take her in my arms and spin us around.
“Me either. The real test will be if they can make it through the wedding tomorrow,” I state.
“No doubt,” she replies, her arms coming around my neck. The song changes to something slower. We both pause. An awkward silence falls between us.
“Should we, uh,” Carly starts.
“How about we grab one of those bottles and watch the sun set?” I suggest as I point to the rows of wine bottles at the bar.
Carly grins up at me. “I like that idea,” she says.
I twirl her around and off the dance floor.
She laughs as I spin her one last time with a flourish and dip her.
It takes every ounce of my resolve not to kiss her as she looks up at me.
Slowly, I raise her back up and, placing my hand on the small of her back, I escort her to the bar and out the side door to a patio overlooking the back hills of the vineyard.
It’s quiet here away from the music. The sounds of nature can be heard around us.
“So, are we going to talk about that app matching us or what?” Carly asks as we settle onto an outdoor sofa. Shit.