He looked up guiltily. “Uh. Sorry.” His thumbs made a couple more quick moves and he shoved the phone back on his hip. “A…uh…business call.”

Kaelin’s phone vibrated again. She glanced around the table to see if anyone was looking at her, but no, everyone was frowning at Tyler. She sighed. She’d gotten him into trouble again, dammit. One handed, she flipped open the phone to read the message. “U R right. Did I tell U how hot U look tonite?”

Heat flooded her, rushing from her chest up over her face to her hairline, all the way down to her toes. When she looked at him, he wasn’t looking at her but was smiling wickedly.

She so wanted to message him back, but dammit, she had to stop it. What was he doing, telling her she looked hot?

Just trying to push her buttons, as usual, most likely. He’d always been like that, charming apologies and flattery dripping off his tongue—or thumbs, in this case—to make up for the stupid things he did. And since it always worked for him, he knew he could get away with pretty much anything with anyone. Well, except for his parents.

She swallowed some wine. Well, he couldn’t make up for what he’d done to her ten years ago with a cheesy compliment. Sent by text, no less. Geez.

Margot poked at the chicken with prosciutto, rosemary and white wine, her appetite nonexistent. The rehearsal had gone well, although she knew Avery’s refusal to let her father walk her down the aisle had disappointed him. She glanced at her husband, talking to Scott’s father about the stock market. She suspected the only reason he wanted to walk his daughter down the aisle was so that people would see him doing it, because that’s what people expected, and not out of any real sentimental feelings of giving his little girl away. She sighed.

Now Tyler was sitting there, scowling and looking bored and, for god’s sake, sending text messages on his cell phone that were apparently business. Then he snapped his phone shut, smiled that devilish charming grin that had gotten him his own way too many times, but that still melted her heart. And he too started talking to his father and Scott’s dad about the stock market, sounding impressively knowledgeable.

The stock market was probably the last thing Margot was interested in, but she was happy to sit and listen to her son talk, warmth and pride swelling inside her. And then Scott’s dad asked Tyler a question about his business, and she was even more happy to listen to him talk about that, so smart and talented and articulate.

“New platforms—mobile, internet, gaming—are definitely changing the dynamic of the business,” Tyler said. “But that just makes it more exciting. Lots more opportunities for creative talent to really stand out.”

She almost trembled with maternal pride, smiling and listening.

Soon the dinner was over and it had gone off without a hitch, which of course it would after her careful planning, attention to detail and numerous phone calls to the hotel to check on things. And then she heard Tyler talking about taking Scott and his best man, Hardeep, out somewhere for a drink. Oh dear lord.

Kaelin focused on the dinner conversation again, Tyler now looking interested and actually participating. Apparently Scott wanted to go out with the guys for a last single night and Tyler was agreeing to take him and Hardeep and show them the local watering holes.

Oh dear lord.

Kaelin looked anxiously at Avery, but she was all for it. “That sounds like a great idea!” she said to Tyler. “It would be good for you and Scott to get to know each other better.”

“Yeah,” he agreed, seeming sincere. “I’ll call Nick and see if he wants to come too.”

“I don’t know,” Mrs. Wirth said, a hand at her throat. Her eyes darted around. “That might not be a good idea. You don’t want to be tired tomorrow, or…”

“Hungover?” Tyler supplied.

She frowned. “Well, yes.”

“Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll behave. We’ll just go have a couple beers somewhere.”

Mrs. Wirth chewed on her bottom lip.

“Kaelin and Maddie will come back to our place,” Avery said. “And we’ll have some girl time.”

Kaelin smiled and nodded. “Sure.” As if they hadn’t had enough girl time earlier that day. But it was Avery and it was Avery’s wedding.

Back at the Wirth house, the girls curled up on couches and chairs in the family room with more wine. Well, Maddie and Avery had more wine, Kaelin had had enough, and she had to drive back to her place. It wasn’t long before Maddie and Avery started talking and laughing about things that had happened and people Kaelin didn’t know. She tried to smile and look interested, but that left-out feeling swept over her.

“Hey,” Avery said to Kaelin. “When are you going to come visit me in Los Angeles again?”

Kaelin smiled. “Well, obviously not right away. You’re leaving on your honeymoon tomorrow night.”

“You should move there, Kaelin.” Avery sat up and leaned forward. “Seriously. I miss you so much. We could have so much fun living in the same city again.”

“I can’t move, Ave, you know that.”

“Why not?” Avery’s full lips pouted a bit.

“My whole life is here.” Kaelin gave her a crooked smile and lifted one shoulder. “My job. My family. My house.”

“Your only family here is your Aunt Lara. Your cousins have left. Your parents are gone. And with your experience, you could easily get a job at a law firm in L.A.”

“I have Taz,” she added feebly. “I can’t move to an apartment with him, and I’m sure I’d never be able to afford a house in Los Angeles.”

They’d had this conversation before, but the last time Kaelin had genuinely dismissed the idea. Now, though, she actually let herself think about it. But just for a minute. Leaving everything she knew, everything that was safe and secure and stable, to move across the country to a strange city where she knew no one—that was terrifying.

But once again, that feeling of vague dissatisfaction nudged her. She wasn’t close with Aunt Lara. Her job was fine. She enjoyed it. She had friends in Mapleglen. But not close friends. Her best friends had moved away, all over the country. And her relationship with Brent hadn’t worked out so well. Her insides twisted a little thinking of what she’d wanted from him but had been too afraid to ask for.

She was safe here. Better to stay with what she had and what she knew than to risk it all by leaving.

She shook her head, still with that smile pasted firmly in place. “Well, you never know,” she said. “Maybe someday.”

Avery’s eyes widened. “Well, at least that’s not an out-and-out no. You know I’d love it if you moved closer.”

“I’d like to be closer,” Kaelin admitted. Though she wasn’t sure how well she’d fit into Avery’s new world. She and Scott, and Hardeep and Maddie, formed a neat little foursome and she’d be a…what? A fifth wheel?

“Think about it,” Avery urged her. “I know it’s a big decision. I’m not saying quit your job tomorrow. But think about it.”

And Kaelin found herself agreeing to that, although she suspected it was mostly just to keep Avery happy. She couldn’t seriously think about doing something so life-altering.

“So tomorrow, what time will you come over, Kaelin? To get ready.”

“I don’t know. I have lots to do tomorrow. We have to decorate, pick up flowers, and make sure the cupcakes are delivered and—”

“I’ll help,” Maddie said.

“I will too,” Avery added.

“No, you don’t have to.” Kaelin smiled. “You’re the bride.”

“Thank you, Kaelin. You’ve been so sweet about all this.”

Kaelin just shrugged and smiled, uncomfortable with the praise.

They planned the schedule for the next day. The ceremony was at four o’clock. Kaelin knew she could not get into the hotel ballroom where the reception was being held until noon, so she could pick up the flowers in the morning and bring them to the Wirth house. There were also decorations for the church, and she had to make sure the flowers were delivered there and arranged properly.