3. EMMA
I should”ve known better than to date a lawyer. They”re always so focused on winning. They can”t help but bring those battle skills home. Not to mention they”re stuffy and lack any sense of humor. Dean is proof of that.
Who can pass up the Macarena?
Ugh, how could I have been so wrong about him? How could I have wasted so much time on someone who would behave like this at my brother”s wedding? And worse, I caused a scene on Peter”s big day. I just hope he and Linda can forgive me.
Dean probably thinks I”m somewhere crying like crazy, but I can”t muster up a single tear for him. After the way he turned on Sterling, I can”t believe I ever thought he was a decent person. He”s definitely not worth crying over, so all I can do is laugh about it. I”ve gotten really good at laughing about things that I should take seriously.
I huff in frustration and look around, grateful that no one is at the lake with me except for the squirrels in the trees, judging me with their wild, shiny eyes. Looks like the color of this dress will be beneficial after all as I try to disappear by blending in with my surroundings.
The lake is massive, created by a dam a long time ago. It’s what started our town, really. Workers came to build it, and then ended up staying when they saw how special the area was. Cedar Lake has been the backbone of the community ever since, creating jobs in fishing, boating, and recreation.
I came here a lot when we were kids, just because it”s so pretty. There was no hotel here back then. But it”s still peaceful and quiet despite the development. The sky is clear and bright, and the breeze is so nice.
I sit down on the edge of the dock and dangle my feet into the cool water. The ripples feel soothing against my skin. I rest my arms on my knees and try to calm my racing heartbeat.
My mind is still swirling with thoughts of my jerk of an ex. I can”t get that look he gave Sterling out of my head. And I can”t believe he made a scene and got mad at Sterling for what was clearly an accident.
Ugh. It would be one thing if this was a wedding anywhere else, but this is my hometown. Everyone here knows me. And now they all know that I just got dumped. It feels like I’m on one of those prank shows.
It”s hard to imagine that I ever had feelings for someone so self-centered and full of himself. But the sad truth is that I was blinded by his fancy suits, his flashy car, and his polished manners. I thought he was the type of man who would sweep me off my feet and make my heart race, but I was so, so wrong.
”I thought I might find you here,” a familiar voice says from behind me.
I look over my shoulder, and Sterling is walking toward me. My heart leaps at the sight of him, and I smile despite my current situation.
”Hey, you,” I say, giving him a small wave. ”Are you here to check up on me? If so, you didn”t need to. I”m fine.”
”Oh, yeah?” he says, giving me a disbelieving look. ”Then why are you sitting on the edge of the lake when you can clearly hear the electric slide playing inside?”
He has me there. That song is my jam. I go full out at every wedding reception when it comes on. If I was fine, I’d be in there shimmying like there was no tomorrow.
I sigh and shrug. ”I suppose I can”t hide anything from you. You know me too well.”
”Always have.”
There”s a moment of awkward silence, and then Sterling sits down beside me.
”I”m so sorry,” I say, resting my hand on his knee.
He shrugs. ”Not your fault.”
”I feel like it is, though,” I say, chewing my lip. ”I mean, I brought the guy along. I didn”t see it, Sterling. He was so... polished. And so smooth.”
”Well, you know what they say,” Sterling begins with a light, teasing tone, ”sometimes, even the shiniest apples turn out to be rotten to the core.”
My lips twitch into a small smile. ”I guess I should”ve inspected that apple a bit closer before taking a bite.”
Sterling chuckles, and the sound lifts my mood, even if just a bit. I”m about to say something when he leans forward and grabs my hand. His touch is warm and strong, and the sight of his dimples sends a flurry of butterflies in my stomach.
”Don”t let that guy get you down, Em. You”re an amazing, wonderful woman, and any man would be lucky to have you.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, not sure what to say. He”s always been so sweet, but it”s different now, more sincere. ”Thanks, Sterling,” I whisper, hoping my voice doesn”t crack. ”That means a lot.”
”Well, it’s true,” he says, flashing me a charming smile. ”Plus, we’re almost like family—I’ll always have your back.”
I”m about to point out that we”re not exactly family when he tugs my hand. ”Come on, we should head back. There’s still time for the Chicken Dance.”
”Oh, no. I am not going back in there,” I insist, pulling back. ”I”ve caused enough drama for one wedding.”
”Nonsense,” he says. ”I”m sure Peter and Linda don”t blame you for anything. And I”m sure the rest of the guests are having a great time.”
I shake my head. ”Still, today is supposed to be about Peter and Linda. If I walk back in there, all eyes will be on me.”
Sterling sighs, his hand still wrapped around mine. ”Okay, so what”s the plan?”
I look around, contemplating our options. ”Well, I drove here with Dean, and he just left with the car. So, I guess I”ll call a rideshare and head back to my hotel.”
He raises an eyebrow. ”I can give you a ride. Why are you staying in a hotel, anyway? What about your parents” house?”
”No room. They moved into an efficiency apartment a few years ago,” I tell him. ”You should go back to the reception and have some fun. I”m good.”
”Nah, I”ve seen enough of everyone in that room. Besides, I was part of that show, too, remember? Plus, if you’re not in there to dance with, I would just sit in a chair for the rest of the night. Now, come on, get up.”
”Are you sure? It”s no problem for me to call for a ride.”
He shakes his head. ”Nope, I”m driving you. Let”s get you out of this dress.”
I cock my head at his choice of words and give him a teasing shove. ”Sterling! I haven”t been single for five minutes and already you”re trying to get me out of my dress? Shame on you.”
”I... No, that”s... That”s not what I meant,” he stammers, his cheeks reddening. He gives me a nervous chuckle, and his brown eyes soften. ”I mean, it just looks really uncomfortable, that”s all. You should probably just take it off.”
He buries in face in his hands. Look like both of us are phrasing things incorrectly today. But, I like it much more when he does it. It”s adorable.
”What I meant to say is I wouldn”t dream of taking advantage.”
I laugh and stand up. ”Such a gentleman.”
”Yeah, that”s me. A regular prince.”
I look him over, my eyes lingering on the strong, toned muscles of his arms. He always had a great body when we were kids, and as an adult, it”s only improved. He catches me staring and smiles, and his dimples make another appearance.
”What?” he asks, running a hand through his waves.
I bite my lip, feeling the flutter in my stomach again. ”You just look very handsome in your suit, that”s all,” I reply, not breaking eye contact.
”Took you long enough to notice,” he jokes. ”Come on, let”s get you back to your hotel. It”s been a long day, and you”ve had quite the ride.”
”Yes, thank you, sir,” I say with a mock-curtsy.
He shakes his head, smiling, and leads me back around the hotel to the parking lot out front. Before we can reach his truck, my old girlfriends from high school, Mia and Zoe, call out to me.
”Emma, we were worried about you,” Zoe says, rushing toward me. ”We saw the whole thing with Dean. He is something else.”
Mia nods, her long red ponytail swaying behind her. ”How are you doing? Are you okay?”
”Yeah, I”m fine,” I assure them. ”Just a little bruised ego.”
”I know what you need,” Mia says, looping her arm through mine, ”a little bit of girl time.”
”Sterling was just about to drive me back to my hotel,” I explain, gesturing to him.
”That”s okay, Sterling,” Mia says, waving her hands. ”We can take it from here. We”ll make sure she gets back safe and sound.”
”Oh, you don”t have to do that,” Sterling says, his gaze bouncing between me and my friends. ”I”m happy to take her.”
”Seriously, it”s no big deal,” Zoe chimes in. ”We can spend the night with her at the hotel and make sure she”s okay. You know how Emma likes to put on a brave face when she”s really upset.”
Sterling frowns and looks at me, and I see the hesitation on his face. He”s sweet, and I can tell he wants to be the one to make sure I”m okay. But after what Dean insinuated back there, the last thing I need is for someone to see him follow me into a hotel room.
This is a small town, and tongues wag. I don”t want to be the object of gossip or speculation.
”I can just go with them,” I tell Sterling. ”Thanks for coming after me. You should really get back to the reception before anyone misses you.”
”Are you sure?” he asks, looking skeptical. ”You don”t want to say bye to Peter and Linda?”
”I”ll see them later,” I say, forcing a smile. ”I”m exhausted.”
”Well, if you”re sure,” he says. He gives me a small wave and turns around to head back inside.
I watch him walk away for a moment. The urge to tell him to wait, to take me with him, is strong, but I bite my tongue. I need to get a hold of myself. If I leave here with him in the state I”m in, I”ll probably end up blabbing about the crush I’ve hand on him since we were kids.
I’ve been embarrassed enough for one day, so girls’ night it is.