Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“Are you okay?” Leah asked from the passenger seat.
“Uh-huh.” I exhaled.
“You’re acting a bit odd.”
“Am I?” I let out another breath. “Sorry about that. Might’ve been something I ate this morning. I’m feeling a little out of sorts, to be honest.”
“Well, you’d better pull yourself together. They’re going to introduce you at the reception.”
My eyes widened. “They are?”
“Didn’t you hear the wedding planner giving instructions on what to do when you get to the venue?”
That was laughable. I hadn’t even realized there was a freaking wedding planner. Was she giving instructions before or after I’d noticed Blair and lost my damn mind? Because everything after that was a blur. Shit, the last thing I needed was to be in any kind of spotlight now.
As I continued the drive, my thoughts returned to Blair. She’d looked so beautiful, exactly the way I remembered her, yet more grown-up and mature—which of course she would be after four fucking years. Standing before her and being unable to hug her, to comfort her when she was shaking, had been awful.
Though, who was I to say she’d even want that? She’d never reached out to me. I’d been sure she would call me at least once, but that assumption was stupid on my part. I’d been deceived by our intense chemistry. That didn’t change the reality of the situation. I was never right for her. Yet I was still disappointed that she’d never reached out.
The past didn’t matter anymore, though. Everything now took a backseat to protecting Taylor, and I was certain Blair agreed with me on that.
Maybe if I’d used my actual name on that trip, she might’ve figured it out. Tate was a nickname I’d been given in the military. After my discharge, I’d started using it more than Theodore when I met someone new. I wasn’t sure Taylor even knew about that name. He’d only ever known me as Theodore or Teddy, as my immediate family called me.
“Earth to Tate!” I heard Leah say.
Fuck. How long had I been ruminating this time? I hadn’t even realized we’d pulled up to the reception venue. Pretty dangerous to be driving and not know how the hell you’d gotten there. And I was worried about Blair driving? I needed to check myself.
Leah grinned as she removed her seatbelt. “Ready, handsome? It’s showtime.” Thankfully, she didn’t seem to be holding my behavior against me.
I forced a smile. “Yeah.”
The moment we entered the venue, I began looking around for Blair. But she was nowhere to be found.
Before I could go into the reception with all the guests, I was ushered over to where the wedding party had congregated behind a partition.
“Where have you been, Teddy?” my mother asked. She smoothed her brown, beaded gown.
“I got a little diverted on the way here,” I told her. By a twist of fate you’d never imagine.
“You okay, son?” my father asked.
“Yeah,” I said, wiping sweat off my forehead.
After about twenty minutes, the wedding planner began lining us up outside the entrance to the reception. Where the hell was Leah? I couldn’t remember separating from her, but it must’ve happened before I got dragged over to join the wedding party. Dread developed in my stomach as I wondered where they’d sat Leah and prayed it wasn’t anywhere near Blair. That caused me to sweat even more.
The DJ began announcing us one by one. My heartbeat accelerated as I waited my turn, and I finally entered the hall to cheers I certainly didn’t deserve. Waving to the crowd, I made my way to the assigned head table. I was honored that my son had included me in the special placements today. I needed to keep the focus on him and behave accordingly.
I forced myself not to run around in search of Blair just yet, owing Taylor my full attention as he and Juliana were announced. I’d never get this moment back. As my handsome son and his beautiful wife waltzed in, I smiled, beaming with pride, despite my inner turmoil.
Continuing to stay in place, I folded my hands together as I watched their first dance. After, I listened as the best man and maid of honor each gave their toasts. But I was getting more antsy by the minute.
The second that dinner was announced, I found Leah at her assigned table, which thankfully didn’t include Blair. After checking in, I told Leah I needed to use the bathroom. Instead, what I actually did was walk around the ballroom for a bit, surveying the space as my gaze moved from table to table. I wondered if Blair had skipped the reception. Once I determined she was nowhere to be found, I actually went toward the bathroom.
Just as I turned the corner into the hallway where the restrooms were, I stopped short at the sight of Blair exiting the ladies’ room.