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I searched his face, afraid I’d misunderstood. Grant reached for my hand, which was clenched around a corner of the tablecloth.

“He wasn’t mad?” I asked.

“Not angry, no. He was hurt that we didn’t tell him. I made sure he knew that was all me.”

“What did you say to him?”

“That I love you. That I’ve loved you for a long time but that I loved him too and I didn’t know what to do.”

My vision blurred as tears flooded my eyes. “I knew it. I knew he would understand.”

“I should have told him a long time ago. And saved us both a lot of sadness and hurt. I’m sorry. I want to make it up to you. Somehow.” Grant took my hand in his, brought it to his cheek, closing his eyes for a second. “Please tell me you’ll let me try.”

I nodded, pressing my lips together.

“I kept telling myself I’d find a better time to talk to him,” Grant said. “After whatever was happening that day, or the next morning. It sounds pretty pathetic saying it out loud.”

“I was beginning to think you weren’t going to tell him. That you chose him over me.”

“I know.”

“I didn’t know what I was supposed to do with that. Because on one hand, I get it. I love Jack too.”

“But you needed me to make a stand. For us. I’m doing it now, Luci. I’ll do it the rest of my life if you’ll let me.” ”

“I have to ask,” I said. “What if he hadn’t given his blessing?”

Grant took a breath. “I would have hated it.”

I waited.

“And then I would have come to find you. Just like I did. And we’d have figured it out together. I imagined I’d no longer have a job with the band but I’d have you. Which is all I want.”

“What you want most,” I said.

“That’s right.”

“And I’m really glad we don’t have to choose,” I said.

I wiped beneath one eye with my free hand.

I wanted to believe I would have been brave enough to stay with him through whatever happened with Jack. I’d demanded bravery from Grant, after all. But the thought of my brother being hurt or angry with us had frightened me too.

“He’s really all right?” I asked.

“Look at him.”

Jack stood a short distance away, his arm around Ivy as they talked to a couple of guests. While I watched, he bent to hear something she said and laughed.

I’d spent most of my life relying on my big brother. He’d never once let me down. How could I have doubted that he wanted my happiness?

Jack glanced our way.

His gaze dropped to our joined hands before returning to my face. He smiled and winked.

Grant brushed a strand of hair away from my cheek. “Can I do something I’ve wanted to do since Thanksgiving three years ago?”

“Depends on what it is.”