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Just then a whoosh sounded, followed by a boom. Darcy jumped, then laughed as fireworks exploded in the sky. Carter positioned his chair closer, and Darcy rested her head against his shoulder.
They oohed and aahed as the show continued to color the night sky. She lost herself in thoughts of what their future could look like—together.
***
Carter glanced over at Darcy in the passenger seat while he drove her home later that night. He found himself smiling as she continued to talk about Haven’s wedding plans.
“Kaylen and I bought our bridesmaid dresses earlier this week. Haven finally found the ones she wanted us to wear. Did I show you the photo I have?” she asked.
“No.” He stopped at a red light a couple of blocks from her neighborhood.
She leaned over and held the phone toward him and revealed a photo of her in a greenish-colored short-sleeved dress. “The color is called peacock. What do you think?”
“The dress is stunning, and you look beautiful as always.”
“You’re sweet.” She set her phone on her lap. “Kaylen and I are still working out the bridal shower. We have so much to do. I told you we’re Haven’s only attendants, right? Derek is having his brother, Liam, as his best man and then Haven’s brother, Vince, as his groomsman, so I’ll walk with Liam.”
Carter nodded before motoring through the intersection.
Silence fell between them, and he stole a glance at her. She was now staring down at her lap. “Do you want to talk about whatever is on your mind?” he asked.
When she looked up, her eyes were filled with tears.
Alarm raced through him. “Babe, are you okay? Do I need to pull over?”
She sniffed and then gave him a sad smile. “No, no, I’m okay. I was just thinking about Jace and my wedding.”
He swallowed, not sure what to say.
“Haven was supposed to be my maid of honor, and Derek was going to be Jace’s best man.” Her voice was quiet, almost reverent. “We were going to be married in November, right around Thanksgiving, but he died in September.”
Carter nodded, his lungs constricting with grief for her. He longed to take away her pain.
“My gown is stored in the back of one of my closets. I didn’t know what to do with it after he... after he died.”
Reaching over, Carter took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze, hoping to give her the strength to continue. He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.
She sniffed again and wiped her eyes with the back of her free hand. “Anyway, I need to plan this bridal shower. My mom thinks we should have it at a fancy restaurant, but I’m not sure if Haven would care for a place like that. She’s not a super-fancy person, you know?” She pulled a tissue from her purse and blotted her eyes and nose.
He remained silent.
“Does it bother you when I talk about Jace?” Her voice sounded unsure, almost worried.
He shook his head. “Jace was an important part of your life, and I want you to feel comfortable sharing anything with me.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
When he found a safe place, he pulled over and parked the truck. Then he placed his hands to her cheeks, and leaning down, he swept his lips over hers. His body relaxed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he savored the thrill of her mouth against his.
When they gently pulled apart, she rested her head on his sternum. “I’m so glad my car didn’t start that day.”
He grinned and rubbed his hands up and down her back. “I am too, babe. I am too.”
***
Darcy sat down at her desk in her office after a team meeting on a Friday afternoon. She glanced out her window toward the Uptown Charlotte skyline and smiled as she reflected on the past month and a half. She and Carter had gotten even closer as they spent more time together. They had enjoyed going to ball games, playing cards and mini golf, attending more car shows, and talking late into the night over the phone.
She was certain she loved him, but she still hadn’t found the courage to tell him. She supposed she was waiting for him to say it first, but perhaps he was just as hesitant as she was. She knew he cared deeply for her. She could see it in his eyes when they talked, and she felt it in his kiss. She sighed at the thought of his lips and how they made her melt.
