Erik
I lied to them.
All this time he’d been trying to tell himself that he was just soldiering on for them, just putting on a show. But now that he had to see things in the harsh light of day… well, it was clear that he’d only been lying.
The door burst open before he could bring himself to open it himself.
“Setting up wireless speakers is hard,” Fallon offered weakly.
“No,” Erik said, sighing and shaking his head. “I mean me. I’m sorry I lied to you, to everyone.”
“Why did you do it?” Fallon asked, lifting his eyes to meet Erik’s.
By now, a couple more volunteers were standing in the doorway, observing Erik with serious eyes.
“Let me come out there and face the music,” he said.
They made room for him to pass into the big space, where everyone was waiting silently—everyone but Jenny and Gael. He needed to find them, but first he needed to make things right with all of the people he was supposed to be helping.
It was time to tell the truth. He owed them that much.
“I lied to you,” Erik said simply. “I’m very sorry.”
“Why did you do it?” Tom echoed Fallon’s question.
“The holidays are hard,” Erik said. “And you were all so excited about this. I didn’t want to let everyone down. I was doing it for all of you. At least I thought I was…”
“We’ve all been through plenty more than a canceled wedding,” Angie said. “You really didn’t think we could handle hearing that you got dumped?”
“We were excited,” Ransom added. “But we were excited for you. You’ve done so much for us, Cap. You deserve happiness too, all the happiness in the world.”
“I told myself that I was doing it for all of you,” Erik said. “So you could enjoy the party and the celebration during a time that can be hard for all of us. But I realize now that I wasn’t. I was doing it for me.”
“What do you mean?” Fallon asked.
“I love her,” Erik heard himself admit. “I always have.”
The others exchanged awkward glances.
“What?” he asked.
“We all know that, man,” he said. “We knew that from the second we met her and Gael. No offense, but you’re not that good of an actor. You’re obviously crazy about her, about both of them. And I think they feel the same way.”
“But they took off when they heard you on the speakers,” Tom said. “Jenny looked pretty upset.”
“Gael was crying,” Angie added softly.
“So you really shouldn’t be wasting time here with us,” Fallon said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Go get your girl.”
But that was easier said than done. He couldn’t just run after them—he had no idea where they were headed. Trinity Falls was a small town, but not that small. He pulled his phone out of his pocket with shaking hands, tapping on Jenny’s number and pulling it to his ear.
It rang once and was rejected.
He tried again, and again, his heart breaking every time she didn’t pick up.
“It’s no use,” Erik admitted. “She doesn’t want to talk to me, and I don’t blame her one bit. Jenny is a good, kind person, I made her do something shameful. I wouldn’t be surprised if she never talked to me again.”
“Slow down there, Cap,” Fallon said quietly. “You can get her back. Just give her a little space.”
“That’s right,” Angie added. “And we’ll help you make a plan.”
“A plan?” Erik asked.
“We had a few surprises up our sleeves for you and Goldilocks,” Tom said with a smile. “I think we can help you show Jenny what she means to you.”
“If you’re sure you want to,” Fallon added. “We all heard what you said.”
“What do you mean?” Erik asked. “Of course I do.”
“Well, you told Sam that you were just going to say it didn’t work out,” Angie said. “And that she’d go back to Boston.”
The words hit him in the chest as he imagined them from Jenny’s point of view. He’d been saying them lightly to justify his actions to Sam.
But his feelings about Jenny and Gael going back to Boston were the heaviest thing he could imagine.
“Chin up, Cap,” Angie said with a smile. “We’ll get her back.”
Looking around at all the supportive faces of the people who he’d let down, he felt a sense of wonder. He’d thought they needed his help, but it was clear now that they were the ones helping him.
They had been here for him all along.
And he could use their help now more than ever.