Chapter 18
"It did happen once that you got feelings when you were working?
" I asked. My face was still turned towards him, resting near his neck.
My back was to his chest, and his hand was on my stomach, just like the scene.
Our contact was torturously light, and I took a deep breath because I was overwhelmed with sensation being this close to him again.
"Yes, it did," he answered.
"Should I ask who you were with?"
"I assume you know the answer to that," he said, his voice slow and sticky. "So, if you ask it, you'll just be wanting me to say it out loud."
"And what if I do want to hear you say it out loud?" I asked innocently, not looking at him.
"Ty." He said my name so seriously that I pulled away just far enough to look up at him. "Do you want to hear me say it?"
"I-I think so…" I said innocently.
"Because I want to make sure of what we're saying. It was summer when we stood right here the last time, and I've been waiting since then for you to… I like you, Trinity Banks. I like you so much. I miss you, and I was hoping I would hear from you by now."
I had leaned into him again when he spoke. My face was next to his neck and jaw, and my heart ached at the thought of him waiting for me.
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Sorry for making me wait? Or sorry that you don't reciprocate how I feel?"
I hesitated, smiling. "The first one," I said, shyly.
Just then, I saw headlights shine in through the windows. I let out a little disappointed moan and stepped away from him, knowing we were no longer alone. "Has it been twenty minutes?" I said as I took a step toward the door where they would all be coming in.
"I guess," he said with a shrug. "Or maybe they came early."
I hesitated, standing a few feet from him. "Do you think we could continue this, please?" I said softly, hopefully.
"Yes, I think we can," he said, staring back at me with a half grin.
"Because I thought maybe you came to this wedding just to talk to Ash," I said, gazing at him.
He smiled. "I can talk to Ash on the phone."
And just like that, the door was open, and people started coming inside. It was Jen Sutter first, and she was anxious to see how I liked everything.
Given the circumstances of the wedding, the whole process did not take a long time. It was late in the evening, and my sister had been on the road for so long. You would never know it to look at her, though. She was walking on clouds.
I was so happy for her, and I felt peaceful and content with her new surroundings. They said some short vowels to each other, and then music played through a speaker while we hung out and shared some drinks and desserts, celebrating the happy couple.
I had a short speech worked up, which I delivered while we were all hanging out.
I hadn't planned on mentioning the Bible, but that part of it just came to me.
I said more than I thought I would, and my words caused my sister to cry some which caused me to cry, too.
We hugged, and it was wonderful, and I truly felt thankful that she gave me that gift on this day.
It made everything sweeter and easier and more wonderful.
My dad gave a speech after that, which had my sister crying even more.
And then Josh, Henry's best friend, made a speech that was basically roasting Henry, and it had everyone cracking up. When Josh was finished speaking, someone turned the music back up, and we all started talking to each other again.
Sam was standing with Judd and Ash when I walked up to them. He and I had made some eye contact during the ceremony, but I hadn't spoken to him alone since everyone came in.
I approached them, trying not to make it obvious that I was anxious to be next to him. He looked like Mister California in that sweater. His blue eyes sparkled, and I did my best to stifle the biggest cheesy grin that threatened to cover my face as I walked up to him.
They were in the middle of a conversation about the movie Sam was doing next—the one Ash was going to audition for.
"What song did you use to audition?" Ash asked Sam.
"I just played and sang a Nirvana song since the band in the movie is grunge," Sam said.
"He had me do a few other songs once the casting was close.
I'm warning you right now that he's going to want to meet you in person.
You'll have to go to L.A. to let him see you perform and act in person before he commits. "
"I totally understand," Ash said, with a thankful nod as Sam looked at me.
"Judd and I were talking about making other plans for the night, but it would involve you," Sam said.
"Sure, anything, whatcha got?"
"We'll need a ride to Missoula tomorrow morning."
"Yeah, of course, what's going on?" I said casually, since Judd and Ash were standing there listening to us.
"Judd and I were talking about staying the night on the ranch. Josh mentioned target shooting. He used to take us out to do that when we were filming."
I nodded because I remembered that.
"So, we're going to wake up early and go out to no man's land with Josh."
"Like with guns?" I asked as if that were the interesting part of what he was saying. I was reeling from the knowledge that he was staying the night on the ranch. Mentally, I was jumping up and down right then.
Judd nodded, answering my question. "Josh has pistols and a crossbow," Judd said.
"We're all supposed to meet at that restaurant at ten in the morning," Sam said. "We'll need to leave here by nine. Is that too early? You'd be the one with the car. Maybe you can hang out with us in Missoula tomorrow."
"Yeah, no, we can figure all that out. But yeah, no problem. We can take my dad's rental in the morning. He's already offered it. Leave here at nine? Will that give you enough time to go shooting?"
"We're meeting him at eight," Judd said, looking around the room in an excited way. "He said the sun's not up till then. I've got to find Josh and tell him we're on. Yes, bro. Did you check with Mrs. Sutter about sleeping?"
"Yeah, she's hooking us up," Sam said, nodding. He looked at me.
Judd said something to Ash, and I stayed focused on Sam.
"Anyway, I'm glad you can give us a ride," he said, since people were still all around us.
"Me too. Yeah, like I said, I'm happy you guys are staying. I'm glad I'll get to hang out with you guys."
"Do you want to come shooting in the morning?"
"Really? Me? I've never done that. I might want to try. Would I be invited, or is it guy time?"
"No, it's not guy time," Judd said. "Girls just can't hit a target," he added, causing Ash to laugh and me to make a face at him.
"I'll think about it," I said. "But either way, I'll give you a ride to breakfast in the morning. Do either of you have clothes?" I asked.
Sam looked at Judd with a knowing smile.
"No, we don't," Judd said. "Me and my boy are gypsies tonight… going where the wind takes us."
"I was just planning on sleeping in these clothes and wearing them to breakfast," Sam said. I thought I'd shower and change after that."
"I’m in Henry's old room tonight," I said. "It's the one from when he was in middle school, and I have an original Wii. I found it earlier."
"Ooh, dude, we're so there," Judd said. "Is it hooked up?"
I nodded. "I didn't turn it on, but yeah, there's a TV."
"What are you guys talking about?" Henry asked, overhearing us.
We told him that Judd and Sam were staying on the ranch and that we had found his old Wii and were making plans to play it.
He and my sister both agreed that they wanted to hang out with us for a while once everyone left.
He said he'd hook up that Wii on the big TV in his parents' den and we could all play and hang out.
Amelia also decided to go with us to Missoula for breakfast the following day.
We were all there for their wedding, and she wanted to hang out with us since it was a quick trip for everyone.
Because of the surprise nature of the wedding, Henry hadn't been able to consult Amelia regarding a honeymoon.
It was a busy time around the ranch, anyway, and they needed Henry.
Amelia had already mentioned waiting until spring to take a honeymoon so that she could think about it and plan something.
All this to say, it had been a long day, and it was all such a group affair that I didn't get another moment alone with Sam. We finished up with the small ceremony and parted ways with the ones who were going to bed and the crew who were leaving for the night.
The rest of us changed into comfortable clothes and decided to meet up in the den.
I was glad I had packed a nice set of pajamas, so I had something I felt comfortable in.
My sister and Henry would be leaving to go back to their house in Butte soon, but until then, they were right there with Judd and Sam and the others.
Josh had stayed, and so had Henry's sister, Bailey, and two of Henry's cousins.
It was such a big group that I smiled and felt a little overwhelmed when I walked into the room.
Sam and Judd were wearing similar outfits that I knew had been furnished by Jen Sutter.
It was a simple white t-shirt with flannel pajama bottoms, and I tried not to stare at him too long.
But as I went to divert my gaze, I saw Sam move.
He patted the couch next to him. Henry's cousin was sitting close enough to him that there was only a foot of room—not enough for a whole person.
My gaze snapped up to meet Sam's, and he nudged his head just a little toward the couch, calling me over.
My heart felt like it might burst. My eyes widened because there was no room, and then he blatantly waved his hand at me, calling me over.
Henry and Bailey reacted to a race that was happening in the video game, and I was thankful because no one seemed to notice Sam and me.
I walked toward him tentatively, not knowing how I would fit there.