Page 64 of Caught in Us
“Bathrooms?” I ask, pointing to the sign.
She laughs, nodding. “How come you’re out here? You use up all your dance moves last night?”
“Something like that.” I smile.
“You should come dance with us.” She nods back at the dance floor.
“Maybe later.” I’m happy to see everyone having a good time. Normally, I’d join them. But I can’t celebrate until I’ve had a conversation with Alicia. “Hey, you haven’t seen Alicia, have you?”
“Not since she left to go check on Matthew.”
I exhale a breath of relief. Of course. She hasn’t left. She’s being a good mom. “Are they inside the house?”
She shakes her head in the negative. “No, I think Simon took him to spend the day with one of her brothers.” Callie’s gaze lifts suggestively. “Which means she’s kid-free for the night.”
Wait.Does she know?
“I saw you two last night. Cam told us you broke up with Julia.” Callie rolls her eyes. “Just make a move already.”
“Oh, I’m not . . .” I scrub a hand down my face. “You don’t think it’s too soon? I don’t want her to think she’s a rebound. I want a real chance.”
“You’ll never know if you don’t ask.”
Fuck. She’s right. “Well, it’d help if I could find her first.”
Callie smirks, nodding down the pathway. I follow her stare.
Alicia sits on a bench that’s nearly hidden by the bend in the pathway. She blends with the wall of ivy behind her. I almost let out a laugh. I was out here waiting. Driving myself nuts. But she was here the whole time. Her gaze lifts toward the sky, and the light streaming through the open tent behind us casts shadows upon her face. My breath catches at her beauty.
“Good luck.” Callie squeezes my shoulder. “You both deserve to be happy.” She struts away, passing Alicia with a wave on route to the restrooms.
I wait a second before I walk that same path, clearing my throat as I get close. “Hey.” Nerves rattle my confidence, but I push them aside. I’d rather look the fool than miss this chance. “Mind if I join you?”
She hesitates a second, almost as if she’s warring with herself, but the slight nod of her chin is all the invitation I need. She scoots over, putting space between us as I sit down.
One of the wedding guests, a co-worker of Jill’s, walks over and glances around as if looking for something or someone. “Do you know where the bathrooms are?”
“Down the path to the building on your left.” Alicia points.
“Thanks.” The woman nods, following Alicia’s directions, but her heel catches on one of the pavers and she nearly trips.
I wince. “That could’ve been ugly.”
“We should have put more lights out here.” Alicia nods. “When my parents used to host their big fundraisers, the entire path had solar lanterns. I don’t know why my mother had them removed.”
“They host a lot of parties like this?”
“Not in the last couple of years.” She doesn’t explain more. Almost as if she’s uncomfortable with my question. I wonder how her family feels about her living overseas with Matthew. I’m sure they miss him. It’s only been a matter of days and I already do.
“I missed seeing Matthew today.”
“He was out with my brother and Simon.”
“Yeah, that’s what Callie said.”
“Sorry, you probably want to spend time with him.” She wrings her hands together in her lap. “Maybe this week before we fly back?”
My heart sinks at the mention of it. Time is not on our side. “Yeah, I’ll move things around. Take a day off work. Whenever you’re both free I’ll make it work.”
