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“Bryndle,” Syd says slowly with a mischievous grin. “Is there something you need to share with the group?” I glance at Syd. Is that even her name?
Bryn scrunches her nose at Syd. “No, Sydney, there isn’t anything to tell.” She picks up her glass of wine again and downs the rest of it, filling it right back up with the bottle on the table. “I just don’t want to be the one with the ‘famous football player’.” She uses air quotes.
“For the wedding or ever?” Harper asks, eyeing Bryn.
“You guys! Nothing is going on with us. We’ve talked a couple times on the phone.” She glares at me as I start to say something. I snap my mouth shut and grab my wine. I still don’t believe it was just talking.
“The lady doth protest too much.” Syd laughs.
“Fine,” she huffs, surrendering. “I’ll be with him. At the wedding,” she clarifies.
“Ryker really is a good guy,” Macie says, putting her hand on top of Bryn’s.
Bryn lets out a heavy sigh. “Yes, he is. That’s the problem. Why can’t I meet a normal, boring guy? My life is boring. I’m a freaking accountant, for God’s sake. I just don’t want to be in the spotlight.” I certainly understand that.
I start to wonder if there is more to her story. I’ve only known Bryn for a little over a year, but she’s never talked about her past. I’ve never noticed until now. She has a strong personality, but she’s struggling with this. She could easily tell Ryker no, but it’s obvious she likes him. What’s holding her back? I know we all have skeletons, but I hope hers don’t have a tight hold on her. She picks up her wine and takes another drink.
I softly smile at her. She’s clearly flustered. I don’t want her to be uncomfortable at my wedding. “I can put Ryker with Harper,” I say, hoping it’ll help her calm down. With her elbow on the table and her glass in the air, she closes her eyes briefly and lets out a heavy sigh.
“No. I’m sorry,” she says. “It’s fine. I’ll be with Ryker.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. Now let’s talk about what you have to do next.”
I mentally file away that I need to talk to Bryn more, make sure she’s okay with this. She clearly wants to move on, so I tell them about the website they need to go to and what color the dress should be. They’re excited they don’t all have to wear the same dress. They all have different body types so they start discussing what they like and don’t like in a dress. I’m excited hearing them talk about their dresses. I tell them a few details that Ava and I discussed and where we’re trying to book for the ceremony and reception.
“That sounds amazing,” Macie says. The last few days, I’ve imagined my wedding at the Boathouse and I’m hoping we get it. Regret bubbles up inside of me, thinking I should have started planning it sooner. Aiden is getting a kick out of this.
“My next to-do is to go wedding dress shopping. I have an appointment in two weeks, so if you can be there, I’d love it because I’m going to need all the help I can get picking out a dress.”
I’m relieved when everyone agrees to come and help me. They all start throwing out descriptions of dresses, what I might like or not like. Holy shit, I’m scared. Can’t I just say a white dress and be done with it?
Chapter thirteen
“I’m so excited I finally get to meet Presley,” Lexi says, bouncing on her toes.
I knock on the door and smile down at her. Brooks invited us to dinner last week, and Lexi has been counting down the days. Truth be told, so have I. I’ve talked with Brooks a couple times since he sent out an SOS, but I want us to get to know each other better.
“Just remember, she’s a baby and you need to be careful with her, okay?” I’m a little afraid she’s going to think she’s here for a play date. This whole week I’ve tried to prep her that Presley is only two months old and all she does is eat, sleep, and poop. Her reaction? She was more excited, saying her Baby Alive poops and she knows how to change diapers.
The door opens and the person behind it isn’t the person I was expecting.
“Melanie?” Aiden and I both say simultaneously. I look down at Lexi and back to Melanie. Goddammit. I’m not sure how I feel about Lexi meeting Travis. Brooks could have warned me.
Melanie reads my hesitancy and says, “Don’t worry, I’m here alone.”
I angle me head. While I’m relieved, I’m confused. Why would Melanie be here without Travis? I haven’t seen her since my stay at Travis’s. I enjoyed talking with her during that time because she knew my mom, but she runs Travis’s house so it’s weird she’s here and he’s not.
“It’s good to see you both,” she says with a genuine smile. “Come in. Brooks is changing Presley, so he’ll be right out.” She opens the door wider to let us in. Aiden weaves his fingers through mine as we walk into the penthouse.
Lexi takes off in search of Brooks and Presley. When Melanie shuts the door, I turn in her direction. “Melanie, what are you doing here?” My question comes out snarkier than I mean it to. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound so rude. I’m just surprised to see you here. Especially without Travis.”
She softly smiles and clasps her hands in front of her. “It’s okay, Addison. I know the last time we saw each other it wasn’t under the best of terms.” Her voice is warm as she looks from me to Aiden. “You had your reasons to be there, and I might not have agreed with them but I understood,” she says to Aiden. “When Travis told me you two were together, I was elated. Life’s journey is a wondrous thing.” She brings her folded hands to her chest, releasing a soft sigh.
I’m not sure I agree with my life’s journey being wondrous. More like turbulent.
“Addie, Addie,” Lexi says, running out of a bedroom. “Brooks let me help change Presley.”
