How is it that I spent four years at college and came home often without running into Dylan? Yeah, I know I would come home when he was visiting Brad, but that’s not the only time. There were holidays, birthdays, “just because” visits, and not once did I run into him.
I’ve been home for a week. One week and I’ve already managed to run into him five times. That first day at Brad’s, then the next day coming out of the library of all places. That same day I passed him at the bank, he was leaving as I was going in. Last night, he was at the grocery store; I was already too far down the ice cream aisle to back up without being obvious.
That brings us to today. I’m meeting Kara for lunch and, lo and behold, there he sits at a booth right across from ours.
“Aves,” he greets me, then goes right back to eating. Like I’m just another acquaintance in this small town of ours. I know that’s what I wanted, but he’s so nonchalant about it, as if it’s easy as hell for him to forget what we had.
“So much for him missing me,” I say under my breath.
“Oh, honey, he misses you,” Kara says, sliding into the booth.
Shit. That must have been louder than I thought. “You heard that, huh?”
She nods. From the corner of my eye, I glance over at Dylan and his jaw is tight. Damn it. He heard me too. Well good. He needs to know I’m not falling for his games. “How’s your day?” I ask Kara to move the subject away from Dylan.
“Uneventful, which in my line of work means it’s a good day. How about you?” She raises her eyebrows.
“Good, though I’m going stir-crazy, so thanks for meeting me.”
She laughs. “I would’ve thought Harley would have you busy with the wedding.”
“Oh she does, but it’s just… different living at home again. They want to know where I’m going and with whom. I know they’re parents and it’s ingrained in them, but come on.”
We both laugh at that.
“How’s the wedding planning coming?”
“Good, but it’s a lot of work. If I take anything out of this experience it’s that I don’t want a big elaborate wedding. Not that I’ll be getting married any time soon, if ever,” I add at the last minute.
“Come on now,” she says.
Before I can reply, I feel a shadow looming over me. I don’t have to look up to know it’s him. Dylan leans down and places his lips next to my ear. I shiver when I feel his hot breath against my skin. “I missed you, baby.” I feel a featherlight kiss against my cheek before he says, “You’ll have the wedding of your dreams, big or small. I’ll see to it.”
And then he’s gone, his long-ass legs carrying him away from me where I sit across from Kara. My mouth hanging open and my mind racing with his words. I’m trying to get my traitorous body under control from being close to him again.
“Avery.” I hear Kara say my name, but I can’t seem to focus on her. “Avery,” she says again, this time reaching over and resting her hand on top of mine. Her touch pulls me out of this fog I’m in.
“I…” I have no words right now.
“Yes, that really happened.” She laughs. “You okay?”
I nod.
“That was pretty intense.”
Again, I nod.
“Did he rob your ability to speak?” She giggles.
Another nod.
“Snap out of it, here comes our food.”
The waitress brings our food while I reach for my glass of water and down it. “I’ll be right back with a refill,” she says.
“I can’t believe him,” I finally blurt.
“What? He’s never gotten over you. Ask anyone in this town. I’m surprised he’s waited this long to tell you.”
“He didn’t tell me anything. He said he missed me last week too, but that doesn’t mean anything. He’s messing with me.”
“What about the wedding comment?” she asks.
“You heard that, did you?”
“I did. I’m telling you, he’s not going to just go away now that you’re back in town.”
“I don’t expect him to. We both have to live and work here. It’s going to be an adjustment for both of us.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“Eat, your lunch is almost over.” I give her a mock glare and she throws her head back in laughter.
I know she means well, but she doesn’t know the history with Dylan and me. It wasn’t just a high school crush. Well, I guess it was when you think about how he crushed my heart, but the love I had for him, it was real. I would still like to think that he loved me too, even though he ended us. He told me he did that day, but…
I shake my head to clear my thoughts. No more thinking about Dylan Knight.
Kara and I say our goodbyes after lunch; then she heads back to work and I go back to my parents.’ Harley is coming over later to work on the seating chart again. I didn’t want to risk another run-in with Dylan, so I convinced her to lug it all here.
“Hey, Av,” Mom greets me.
“Hey. Where’s Dad?”
“He and Alan went fishing today.”
“What? Alan’s not whipping the next round of Montgomery High state champs into shape?” I tease.
She laughs. “Not today. What do you have going on the rest of the day?”
“Harley’s coming over so I can help her work on the seating chart for the wedding.”
“Two more weeks. You ready for this?”
“It’s not my wedding.”
“I know that, Miss Smarty Pants. I meant walking with Dylan.”
I shrug. “It’s four quick walks down the aisle between the rehearsal and the real thing, and then it’s over. I can do that for Harley and Brad.”
“What about the dance?” she asks.
“What dance?”
“Avery, the new couple dances and then normally the wedding party joins them. You’re going to have to dance with him too.”
“Harley didn’t mention that. She must not be holding to that tradition.”
Mom gives me an “Are you crazy?” look. “This is Harley, Avery.”
Shit, she’s right. “Well, Little Miss Bride and I are going to have a chat when she gets here.” I stalk up to my room, cussing myself and Harley the entire time. I should’ve thought about that; this isn’t the first wedding I’ve been to, after all. I was so wrapped up in the walking down the aisle thing that anything else involved with the wedding slipped past me. I mean, I know I have to walk down and back at the rehearsal and the wedding, but the dance? Damn! I even thought about the wedding party table, but guys are on one side and girls on the other, so that’s distance between us.
“Is it safe?” Harley asks from just outside my bedroom door. She has a big bag on her shoulder.
“You forget to tell me something?”
“Avery, listen. I knew you would stress over it.”
“Harley!”
“I’m sorry. I just knew you would do it and not make a scene at the wedding, and no way can I get married without my best friend as my maid of honor. What was I supposed to do? You refuse to talk about him or even be civil.”
“Because he broke my heart!” I yell. “He didn’t want me, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop loving him.” My voice is barely a whisper now.
“Av, he loves you too. We all see it. Maybe the two of you should talk.”
“Oh, we talked today.”
“Really?” she asks, surprised.
“Yep. He was at the diner when I met Kara for lunch.” I go on to tell her what happened, and her reaction is to grin like a fool. “What in the hell are you grinning at?”
“I’m right. He loves you and you love him. Let’s make this happen.”
“Come on, Harley. He broke me.”
“If I recall correctly, he did it because he loved you. Isn’t that what he said?”
“That was his excuse,” I correct her.
“All right. This is the last time I’m going to say this, and then we’re going to stop talking about Dylan and work on the seating chart. I’m your best friend, so I’m going to give it to you straight. I think you’re hiding behind the pain. You’re using it as a shield. You didn’t get your way. You wanted to make the decision for both of you and it was one Dylan couldn’t live with. He wanted to stay together, long distance. He wanted you, but you refused to try things his way. We all stood behind you, but maybe, just maybe, you’re being selfish.”
I open my mouth to fire back at her and she places her hand over my lips. “No. I said my piece. I love you, Avery Stanton. You are my best friend, my sister from another mister. Just think about it. Watch him in the next couple weeks and at the wedding. Just clear your mind and let go of the pain. Try and see things from his point of view. You were young, we all were, but you’re older now. Open your mind and your heart. You might be surprised at what you find.”
“Seating chart,” I croak out past the emotion in my throat. My mind is racing. What if she’s right? What if Dylan really does still love me? My heart stutters at the thought.
“You want to do it up here?”
“No, let’s go down to the kitchen.” I follow her downstairs and push thoughts of Dylan out of my mind. I need to get our best friends married, and then maybe I’ll think more about what she said.