Chapter 27
Ari
The first thing I do when I get home from school is head for the refrigerator. Teaching teenagers all week long burns an alarming number of calories. By Friday afternoon, I’m starving.
I open the fridge and grab a bag of baby carrots before wandering over to the table. Mom sits surrounded by wedding supplies. Ribbon. Tags. Tissue paper. Small glass jars. The woman has transformed wedding planning into a full-time job.
“Look at this!” She holds up a small mason jar wrapped with cream-colored ribbon. Inside is a tea light candle and a little tag that reads: Love Lights the Way with Landrie’s and Jaxon’s initials.
“Oh, that’s adorable.” I mean, it’s not my style, but it works for Landrie.
“I know.” She smiles, pleased with herself. “Landrie loves them.”
Mom sets the favor down and reaches for another ribbon. “Dad and I were going to grab a bite to eat tonight at Maple Bar and Grill. Want to come?”
“I’m going to the football game tonight with Wade.” I wait for her disapproval, but she just nods.
“Oh, yeah. I forgot there was a game tonight.”
For a few moments, the only sound is the rustling of tissue paper and my crunching carrot.
“I wanted to get all this done earlier”—she examines the jar she just finished—“but I’ve been swamped at work this week helping Carson get his dental office renovated and organized.”
“Do you think you’ll like having him as your new boss?”
“Oh, yes. It’s a big improvement. Carson is such a sweet guy, and his daughter, Penny, is adorable.”
I hold my breath, waiting for her to say something about setting me up with him, but instead, she says casually, “Ethan Miner was asking about you again.”
“Who the heck is Ethan Miner?”
“Jaxon’s college friend.”
Blank stare.
“The one who’s starting law school with him next year. Remember, he’s coming to the wedding and wants to get to know you, maybe even get together before the wedding on, like, a double date with Landrie and Jaxon. I know I’ve told you about him at least twice now.”
The carrot stops halfway to my mouth. “Not going to happen.”
“He’d like to take you to dinner. He’s willing to drive from Saratoga Springs all the way out here.”
I laugh because this conversation is absurd. It’s like she has amnesia or something.
“No, don’t you remember? I’m already dating someone.”
“Yeah, it’s all everyone in town is talking about.”
“Then why are you talking about Ethan Miner?”
She shrugs. “Because Wade is fun.”
Why does everybody always use that word?
Fun.
Like he’s a carnival ride and not a whole person.
“And I get it,” Mom continues. “After everything with Andy, maybe fun is exactly what you need right now. Landrie called it a rebound guy. And that makes sense.”
“Wade isn’t a rebound.”
“I’m just saying don’t overlook a forever person because you’re having fun with a right-now person.”
There’s a small part of me worried she’s right, and I hate that thought.
“You know, Ethan owns a home, he’s got a good future ahead of him, excellent credit.”
I roll my eyes. “You don’t know Wade’s credit score. You don’t really know Wade. Not like I do.”
She hasn’t seen the Wade that shows up for students or even the Wade that drops everything to drive you to Burlington for pallets and then to the doctor because you think you’re dying. A guy like that has some forever qualities too.
Her features fall into something softer. “I remember you saying the exact same thing about Andy.”
Her words are like a kick in the chest. I probably did say that about Andy.
And I probably defended him to my mother just as hard as I’m defending Wade, which makes me wonder if my mom has been right about me this whole time.
When it comes to men, I can’t trust my own judgment. I need somebody else to do it for me.
“Wade is different.” I keep up the defensiveness because I can’t explain it—I just know there’s more to Wade. “You just need to give him a chance.”
Mom looks up. “And just how am I supposed to do that?”
“How about he comes over tomorrow night…for a bonfire?”
Her expression doesn’t change.
Not approval.
Not disapproval.
Just consideration.
“A bonfire?”
“Yeah, we have to go to the football game tonight, but we’re free tomorrow night.”
At least, I hope he’s free.
“Fine, that would be nice.” She picks up another ribbon. “But don’t think I’m giving up on Ethan Miner.”
“Trust me, I would never think that.”
I take a bite out of another carrot, chewing aggressively because my mom’s getting in my head, and now I’m freaking out that, even though I know Wade isn’t Andy, I can’t trust myself to really be sure.