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“You’re right on time.” She smiles brightly, beckoning me up the porch steps and into the warm farmhouse. “I just pulled lemon scones from the oven, and Rhett put on a fresh pot of coffee.”

Maybe I’ll just move in with them.

Rhett’s sitting at the kitchen table with his back to me as I enter the kitchen.

“Good morning, Red,” I tease, touching his shoulder. It’s an inside joke.

“Penny.” He sets down his enormous cup of coffee and stands to wrap me in a big bear hug, always smelling of fresh-cut wood.

I plop myself down at the table across from him and pull my knees to my chest, sighing dramatically. Mabel races over, placing her heavy, slobbery head in my lap. I don’t protest.

Peering down at her droopy brown eyes, I think of Tank. And I miss him.

“What’s up, did the wedding go okay last night?” Audrey asks, placing a plated lemon scone with drizzled icing in front of me. I take an enormous bite, my eyes rolling back in my head. Because like everything she bakes, it’s the most scrumptious thing I’ve ever had.

“To be honest, I was ready for this one to be done from the moment it started,” I admit.

It’s not that I don’t love my job. I created this business from the ground up. I get paid to be witness to couples’ happiest days, documenting once-in-a-lifetime moments. I see the look on the groom’s face before anyone else usually notices. I see the nerves of the bride as her mother zips up the white dress, and I’m always there to reassure, to make the best of the moment, to give a little pep talk.

But last night was different.

“Oh no…what happened?” Audrey inches closer.

“The wedding was stunning, and the bride was a joy to work with.” I start on a positive note. It was over the top, a winter wonderland at a boutique hotel downtown. No detail left untouched. There were smiles and tears all around, and I snapped my camera from muscle memory, capturing a thousand snippets of joy.

“But…” Audrey says, grasping her coffee mug, and even Rhett is leaning in, listening.

“You know I take my work seriously.” I inhale deeply. I put every ounce of myself into building my business with the utmost professionalism. I never let my emotions get in the way, well not until last night. “But something happened last night. I was capturing the first dance, and I froze.”

Audrey crinkles her brow at me. “You froze?”

“I froze,” I say again. “I had to run to the bathroom, leaving my assistant to do the job. I couldn’t handle it.”

I spent ten minutes splashing cold water on my face, pushing the only thought from my mind.

Will that ever be Jesse and me?

“Icriedduring the first dance last night.” I punctuate every word.

Audrey gasps, brows raised. It’s the appropriate response. I don’t even mention how, afterward, I drove home in a daze and curled up in bed without even calling Jesse, too ashamed of how much I missed him.

“I’m lost—that sounds like a normal reaction?” Rhett says, and we both turn to glare at him.

“Rhett, why are you eavesdropping!” Audrey gapes at her boyfriend, and I drop my head into my palms.

“Inevercry during the weddings I shoot. Ever.” I groan. “There’s something wrong with me, guys. I’m going to have to quit and come work at the bakery. I can work the mixer.”

Mabel nuzzles her nose into my side, clearly worried I’m in distress.

I am, girl.

My gorgeous best friend places a hand over mine.

“Did you talk to Jesse about this?” she asks, and I shake my head side to side, lifting it pathetically.

“No, no, definitely not.” I inhale sharply. “I don’t want him to think that I can’t handle this. We’re only four weeks in.” Cradling the warm coffee mug in one hand, I pet Mabel with the other. “The thing is—it’s not even the distance that bothers me. I can drive two hours in my sleep. It’s that I waited ten years forthisrelationship. And now it feels like I only get bits and pieces of it.”

Bless Audrey, she stands to bring the entire scone tray over. This calls for copious amounts of sugar and carbs, so I grab another one.