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When he nodded, she felt her heart stutter. Was he having second thoughts about starting over? “Are we okay?” she asked.
“I’m sorry. My phone died after I called you last night, and I forgot to plug it in.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “Okay.” But when she took in the sadness in his eyes, along with his distraught expression, her stomach clenched. “What’s wrong?”
As if he hadn’t heard her, he pulled her into his arms. “You’re absolutely stunning.”
“Carter, please tell me what’s wrong.” She stepped out of his embrace. “We promised no secrets.”
“I know, and I meant it when I said it.” He touched her sleeve. “I promise we’ll talk later.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to wait. Let’s talk now.”
“Not here.” He jammed his thumb toward the receiving line. “You’re the maid of honor. We’ll talk at the reception.”
Carter stepped over to Liam and shook his hand, and Darcy frowned. She didn’t like having to wait, but he was right. She had to perform her duties as maid of honor.
As concerned as she was about Carter, she also feared her world was about to come crashing down around her.
“Hello, dear,” an older woman said as she shook Darcy’s hand. “I’m Derek’s aunt Lydia.”
Darcy forced a smile on her face. “So nice to meet you, Lydia.” Time seemed to slow as she greeted stranger after stranger. She couldn’t get to the reception fast enough.
***
Carter stood near the back of the reception hall at the Flowering Grove Country Club and waited for the wedding party to arrive. The large room had been decorated with white fairy lights, and round tables were adorned with white candles and teal-and-white roses. A dance floor was set up at the far end of the room with a DJ nearby. In the corner, Carter spotted what looked like a photo booth set up for people to take selfies.
Beyond the large room was a balcony that overlooked a gorgeous golf course. It felt strange to attend an event at the fancy country club, especially since his grandmother had worked there as a housekeeper for years. Though he knew it was an irrational thought, he wondered if someone would assume he had snuck into the country club and ask him to leave.
He tried not to pace while mentally preparing what he was going to say to Darcy when they finally had a chance to talk. How gorgeous she had looked walking down the aisle in the teal dress—a color called “peacock,” she’d told him—which seemed to make her eyes somehow greener. Her beautiful blonde hair was styled in a fancy twist, and her lovely face sported just the right amount of makeup. He couldn’t take his eyes off her during the ceremony, and when she came back down the aisle on Liam’s arm, he hated the ridiculous thread of jealousy that wormed its way through him.
He was aware that Liam was in a relationship, but he also knew that after today, Darcy would no longer be his girlfriend. Surely she would meet another man to sweep her off her feet and treat her the way she deserved to be treated. He couldn’t stand the idea of another man holding her, kissing her, wiping away her tears, and spending the rest of his life by her side. But that was how it was supposed to be.
“Carter?”
He turned as Darcy’s parents approached him, and he worked his lips into a smile. “Josie. Ross. Good to see you.”
“Wasn’t the wedding beautiful?” Josie placed her hand on her chest.
Carter nodded. “Yeah, it was.”
“Darcy looked amazing in that dress,” Josie continued. “It was as if Haven picked that color just for her.”
“I thought the same thing.” Carter took a sip of his Coke and then snuck a peek at the door. Was the wedding party ever going to arrive?
“We hate to leave the party early,” Ross said, “but we’re heading out for a cruise in the morning and have to drive down to Charleston tonight.”
“Where’s the cruise taking you?” Carter asked.
“Puerto Rico. When I booked it, I didn’t realize it left the day after the wedding.” Ross appeared embarrassed. “You should have seen Darcy’s face when I broke the news to her. She was upset we’d have to miss the reception, but the cruise was nonrefundable.”
“I told Ross to double-check the date,” Josie said, “but he never listens to me.”
Carter forced a smile as sadness filled him. He was going to miss Darcy’s parents almost as much as he would miss her. He had enjoyed getting to know them and appreciated how kind they had been to him. It was a shame things wouldn’t turn out differently.
“Are you feeling all right, Carter?” Josie asked.
Carter cleared his throat. “Yes, just a little tired.”
