10. Chapter 10 #2
The waitstaff Theo hired for the occasion sets our dinner plates in front of us as Jamie whispers to me behind Parker’s back that it’s time for me to make a toast.
I stand, clinking my fork against my fluted glass of sparkling cider, giving the emcee time to hand me the mic.
“I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate my brother on one of the most important nights of his life.” The interpreter moves toward our table, easing herself into Parker’s line of sight.
Still, I make sure to turn my body toward Parker so he can at least attempt to read my lips for this.
“Parker, you did it. You found the one who loves you just as you are, for all that you are. You not only found a friend, but a lover and a lifelong partner. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least a little jealous.”
A low hum of laughter moves through the guests as I continue.
“But there’s no one who deserves a lifetime of love more than you.
When we were kids, I thought you were annoying.
You always used to tag around with me and Logan, ruining our games or tattling on us when we didn’t want to include you.
And I couldn’t say I really considered you a friend then. ”
My throat tightens as I think over what I want—no, need—to say next.
“But over the years, I started to see you as less of a nuisance and more as my friend. Yes, you had to wade through a lot with your deafness, but you also saw things in a way I couldn’t.
You’ve always felt things deeply, heard unspoken meanings.
Saw the best in situations that should’ve made you bitter. And for that, I’ve admired you.”
I turn to address the crowd. “I’ve learned a lot from my little brother.
Learned how to have fun even when you’re stuck doing chores, learned that there’s more to life than being popular or loved by all…
but most importantly, I’ve learned how to love selflessly.
How to give and give without expecting anything in return. ”
Angling back to Parker, I place a hand on his shoulder.
“You’ve taught me it’s okay to go all-in.
Even if we fail, even if we mess up along the way, there is a reward at the end of all the risk.
” Parker’s eyes shimmer as he smiles wide.
“And as your older brother, I feel it’s my duty to remind you to keep doing that in your marriage.
Jamie deserves the relentless fighter that you are.
She deserves to have you go all-in for her, every day, forever. And I know that you will.”
Sniffing away my swelling emotions, I finish with, “I love you, man. You’re my best friend. And I’m so happy for you and Jamie.”
He hops to his feet and squeezes me in a lung-crushing hug. I pat his back, easing away from him, and hand the emcee the mic.
Thought you were going to try and embarrass me , Parker signs with a laugh. Too late now. Lost your one and only chance.
I slap him on the shoulder. “There are always chances to embarrass you. But not today.”
He sends me a grateful, lopsided smile before going back to his wife. I slip into my seat, clearing my throat to rid it of any residual emotion when Daria speaks into the mic.
“Wow. That was quite a speech.” It takes all my effort to meet her eyes, knowing I’ll likely see judgment in her gaze.
But I’m surprised to find it absent. “Honestly, it sort of feels unfair to be giving my maid-of-honor speech after that epic display.” The crowd all laughs, and she faces them, giving me the perfect view of her profile.
She goes on to tell the story of how she met Jamie, saying they became fast friends in college.
She’s sad to lose her roommate—anyone can see that by the way her voice changes when she speaks of her—but she masks it well with her funny jokes and stories about what it’s really like to live with Jamie.
“And don’t get me started on her plant-buying addiction,” Daria says, making everyone, including Jamie, chuckle.
“But I’ll wrap this up simply by telling Parker to be good to my Jamie.
She’s one of the best people I know, and she deserves the world.
I couldn’t have given her up to a lesser man. Love you both.”
With tears in her eyes, Jamie blows her friend a kiss as she passes the mic back to the emcee, who garners a round of applause for the both of us. Again, I pull her chair out for her, and she sits.
“That was a nice heartfelt speech,” I say.
“Not half as nice as yours,” she responds dryly.
“Guess I’m just still a little bitter about losing my friend to your brother.
” That scoff of hers rings in my ears, and I have the sudden urge to place my hand on her thigh for reassurance.
I don’t, of course, since I don’t want to get slapped, but I do hate that she’s hurting.
Instead of acting on my body’s impulse, I try to reassure her. “You’re not losing her to Parker. She’ll still be around.”
“Yeah?” She eyes me with mild disdain. “It won’t be the same.”
She’s right—it won’t. I feel a measure of that myself with Parker leaving the apartment. Have felt it all week, really. The silence stings. Does it for her too?
“How’s apartment hunting going?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Uh. Fine.” She lifts her fork and slices through a soft potato.
“So you’ve got a place, then?”
She’s quiet a moment while she rolls the piece of potato around on her plate. I can’t help but watch in dread as the vegetable slogs through the pot roast gravy. I want nothing more than to rescue it. Different food groups should never touch. “Technically, yes.”
“What does that mean?” I ask, shoving my intrusive thoughts about food down deep where no one can ever find them.
She huffs, then spears me with an annoyed look. “It means that yes, I found a place. But I can’t move into said place until six weeks from now.” Her lips pout into a frown. “Now you know I’m basically homeless. Happy?”
I blink, stunned by this development. “Have you told Jamie this? Explained that you need more time—”
“No.” She cuts her fork through the air, flinging that poor gravy-soaked piece of potato into the air. It hits the edge of the dance floor with splat. Both of us wince. “Whoops,” she mutters.
“Why haven’t you told her?” I try to focus on our conversation, but that potato has to go. Someone could step on it and slip. Or worse, it could get ground into the bottom of someone’s shoe. My breathing quickens just before a waiter sees it and cleans it up with a napkin.
I heave a sigh of relief.
“I haven’t told her because I’m not going to ruin her newly wedded bliss with my issues,” Daria says.
I start cutting into my own pot roast, carefully keeping everything separated on my plate. Well, as best I can with the oozing gravy. “I doubt she’d let you leave if she knew you didn’t have anywhere to go. You could stay with them for a few—”
“Don’t even say it.” Her statement is a clear threat. “I will not live with those two love-sick newlyweds. I’d rather bunk in my car and shower in the rain.”
I sputter a laugh even as my wandering mind conjures a mental image of Daria lathering up with rain pouring down her body…I quickly take a sip of my drink and nearly choke with how fast I swallow. Her wide-eyed gaze darts to me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Sorry,” I gasp, then clear my throat. “Went down the wrong pipe.” I shake my head and force myself to focus on our original conversation. “Okay, so you don’t want to live with them, I get that. It’s not ideal, but what’s the alternative?”
She gazes down at her plate and continues to push the food around with her fork. This time, I refuse to look down. A man can only take so much vegetable abuse before he needs to cut himself off.
“I don’t know,” she says quietly. “I guess there really is no alternative. I actually was considering my car…” She trails off, looking more pitiful than I’ve ever seen her. This woman can’t seriously think she’s going to successfully live out of her car for the next few weeks.
Not only is it dangerous and probably illegal, but it’s not feasible. She needs a room, a warm bed, a place to live where she’s safe and well and…
An idea pops into my head.
“I have an alternative.” My chest seizes with fear as soon as I give my crazy idea life. Not fear that she’ll say yes. But fear that she’ll laugh in my face and tell me I’m a creep for even suggesting it.
Her brows furrow as she turns toward me. “What? Do you know of something?”
“Yeah.” I let out a full breath. “My place.”
Her mouth nearly drops open. “You’re not serious.”
“I’m dead serious.”
“And now for the couple’s dance,” the emcee announces, saving me from another one of her signature scoffs—or worse. Jamie and Parker rise and start toward the dance floor, hand in hand. Once she’s tucked against his chest and they’re moving to the music, I turn back to Daria.
“What’s so wrong about me offering you a place to stay?” I ask. “You’re practically homeless. You said so yourself.”
“Am not.”
“Daria,” I say, a little more gently this time. “You’ve done nothing wrong to be in this position. It’s not your fault your friend got married and asked you to move out. But don’t make the situation worse for yourself by refusing help.”
With a fire in her eyes that I wasn’t at all expecting, she leans closer and whispers, “I do not need your help.”
A tap to my shoulder cuts our conversation short.
“It’s our turn to join them,” Briar says sweetly, looking between both me and Daria.
“Remember, we’re supposed to at least dance one with each other?
” Her sidelong gaze darts to my brother, who’s an oblivious idiot.
He appears unreasonably bored for having such a beautiful woman hanging on his arm.
“Right,” I say. “We’re coming.”
She and Logan head toward the dance floor, prompting me to stand and reach for my unwilling date. “Ready?”
“Fine.” Daria places her hand in mine and reluctantly joins me. I gently guide her next to where Briar and Logan sway back and forth, easing her closer with my hand on her hip.
“That seems to be your favorite word tonight,” I say when she places her hands on my shoulders. “ Fine .”
She rolls her eyes. “Whatever. I’m just not cut out for big family gatherings, all right?”
“No? Then you wouldn’t want to join the Kent family because that seems to be what we’re known for.”
She smiles a little but doesn’t meet my eyes.
Neither of us speaks as we move in time to the music as if that’ll somehow make things less awkward between us.
I wish she wasn’t so stubborn. Wish she’d see that despite everything between us, living with me is a way better option than her car.
I can’t help but want to make her see that.
“You know,” I say carefully, “I do realize that you don’t need my help.
You’re strong. Capable. Resourceful. But I still think you should consider my idea.
If I was Jamie and found out that you were living out of your car because of my getting married…
Well, I’d feel horrible. And I know you don’t want her to feel that way. ”
Daria’s jaw tightens and she swallows, still refusing to meet my eyes.
“I’m just saying,” I reiterate. “This is a small town, and it doesn’t seem likely that you’d be able to successfully live out of your car without the whole town hearing about it.”
Despite her silence, I can tell she’s thinking it over. She probably knows I’m right but doesn’t want to admit it. After a minute or two more of us dancing in silence, she ventures, “If I were to accept your offer…I’d want to pay rent. This wouldn’t be a charity case situation.”
My breathing slows. Is she seriously considering it?
“Okay,” I say slowly. “That’s fair.”
Looking anywhere but at me, she continues. “And I’d expect you to respect my privacy. No coming into my room while I live there. No touching my food or my things or saying I can’t bring a guy home.”
I meet her eyes and stop abruptly. “Excuse me? You won’t be bringing another man into my apartment.”
She shivers under my hold even as her eyes light up with defiance. “If I’m paying rent, it’ll be our apartment.” She smiles wickedly as if thinking she’s got me.
“Fine then. Let me rephrase.” I pull her closer and lean in to speak low into her ear. “You won’t be bringing another man into our apartment.” I don’t miss the way goosebumps break out across her bare shoulders.
“Fine,” she says just like she has all night. “I won’t bring any dates home. But this is a strictly platonic arrangement. I’m not living with a guy who thinks he can take advantage of this situation.”
“I would never take advantage of you.” I shake my head and blow out a frustrated breath. “You really have no idea who I am, do you, Daria? I’m not a creep and I’m not a player. The sooner you realize that, the better off we’ll be. Your preconceived ideas are getting old.”
She blinks and looks away, just long enough for me to realize I need to add a term of my own. “If you’re thinking of moving in with me, I’d like to make a request as well.”
She meets my gaze, wary. “What?”
“You’re not allowed to insinuate that I’m a horrible person anymore.
I shouldn’t have to live with that kind of negativity on a daily basis.
” Her expression remains blank, but I know she’s considering it.
“From now on,” I say with conviction, “we give each other the benefit of the doubt. We act like helpful roommates. A team , if you will.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Meaning?”
I take her hand and give her a twirl, hoping to dispel a bit of the tension between us. “Meaning, we accept help from the other person when we need it and say things like please and thank you . We act like civilized individuals.”
She purses her lips and stares down at my chest, setting her hands back on my shoulders. “I guess I could manage that.”
“Perfect.” I smile, giving my body permission to relax. “So…when’s move-in day?”