I looked at my hair, the sun on my nose, the curves of my hips. I picked a spot of fuzz from my dress and adjusted the strap on my heel. Twenty-two-year-olds do not talk marriage. Do they? I tried to focus on my appearance and not the feelings and thoughts trapped in my head. Grey was probably just observing the situation, getting my feedback on things. He wasn’t actually asking what kind of wedding I thought we should have. Was he? I washed my hands again with cool water, hoping the clamminess would stop.
It was a big step moving in together. A huge step. And it wasn’t just normal moving in together. I had moved from another state to be with him. It occurred to me that maybe all along that’s what he thought it meant. That we would get married. I touched up my nose with a dab of powder from my clutch.
He was twenty-seven. Twenty-seven-year-olds probably did think about getting married. After all, Grey was a serial monogamist. After he and Laura broke up and he moved out, he didn’t date anyone until me. Grey was a serious type of guy. Did that mean marriage was on his mind? I inhaled again and pulled on the handle of the bathroom door. I had to get things together and get through the rest of the dinner. There were still toasts, dessert, and then dancing on the deck afterward.
I pasted a smile on my face and walked back to our table.
Dinner lasted longer than I expected, and then we headed to the after party at Marin’s parents’ house. I guess this is what Grey meant about keeping things simple. It felt as if we had only participated in wedding events all week. That is, except for the couch christening.
The ocean was rough tonight. I couldn’t see it from the balcony, but I could hear it.
There was a jazz band set up inside the living room, but I only heard them play when someone opened one of the beachside doors.
Connor walked up behind me. “I checked the forecast for tomorrow. It’s supposed to be sunny and hot. You girls don’t have to worry about your dresses.”
“Thanks. I haven’t had a chance to look at my phone today.” I turned back toward the waves in the distance. Grey was getting us both drinks, but I was sure he had been cornered by one of the many parents at the event. They loved to ask him about the Palm.
“You look preoccupied, Carolina. Something on your mind? You know I’m walking you back up the aisle after the ceremony, so you have nothing to worry about.”
“That’s sweet, Connor.” We had done a quick run-through at the church, and I was glad to know the groomsman who was my escort. “I’m just in one of those thinking moods.” I wasn’t about to tell him it had all to do about weddings and whether Grey was the man at the end of the aisle for me. Connor and I had worked through enough awkwardness for one friendship.
“Ah, I get it. Weddings, the beach. It’s enough to make anyone think.” He tipped back his beer. Ok, I had pegged him all wrong. He was more astute than I realized.
“Something like that.” I smiled. “Tell me what’s going on with you. Are you bringing a date tomorrow?”
“Sure am.”
“Connor, who?” I hadn’t heard he was dating anyone.
His crooked teeth peeked out. “Girl I met in class. You’ll see her tomorrow. She’s pretty and smart.”
“I bet. I can’t wait to meet her.” Love was definitely in the air.
Grey appeared with two bottled waters. “Here you go, darlin’.” He handed me a cold water. “Hey, Connor. Good time last night.”
“Sure was.” They exchanged a knowing look.
I imagined there was some element of male bonding that happened during bachelor parties, similar to what I experienced with the girls. Sending off one of your own into marital bliss, even if it’s not full of the stereotypical confines, tends to bring people together. I didn’t expect it, but I felt a little closer to Tara and Mindy after last night.
I twisted the cap off my water. As much fun as I was having, I was ready to go. My feet were sore from my new shoes, and I had an entire day ahead of me in heels. I leaned toward Grey’s ear.
“Do you think we could go in a few minutes?”
He nodded, sweeping a hand around my waist.
“See you tomorrow, man. Good luck at the altar.”
“Thanks. See you tomorrow. Goodnight, Eden.”
“Goodnight.”
We left Connor standing at the railing alone.
“Was that rude?” I looked at Grey. I hadn’t meant for him to whisk me away that quickly.
“No, I was ready to leave the second we got here. We’ll say good-bye to all the parents, and then we’re out of here. Deal?”
I laughed. “Deal.”
I assured Marin’s parents I would be at the house on time and I’d be ready to help with anything they needed. They had had a few glasses of wine and were giving hugs that lasted for minutes at a time. Grey managed to peel us both out of their grip before steering me toward the door.
Grey slid behind the wheel of his truck after making sure I was in my side of the car. The way he always opened doors for me hadn’t gotten old. I wasn’t sure it ever could.
“Did you have a good time?” I asked as he cranked the engine.
“Yeah. It was a good party.” His eyes were on the rearview mirror while the truck lurched backward.
“You sure we didn’t leave too early?”