ons in check. Years of practice had made it easy to push

Lucas again was t

reception hall, forced to work

doned us for a phone call,

of us. "Are we separating people based on whether

eyes. "Tempt

ose to the head table. Bridesmaids and groomsmen over here..." I gestured to a section of the

, crossing his arms. "That's a

who just admitted people might wa

led. "Fa

I made notes, but I co

teasing, knowing glances that had once made my heart race. No, this w

w much it

ou really don't want

my nose. "We're

ow what

ating chart. "Lucas, the

aned forward, lowering his voice.

ened around th

." His voice was calm, steady. "But I r

ul ache bloome

sounded hollow. "Funny. I

a lie the se

as's expression hard

k, nodding sl

ut before I could say anything else,

ely oblivious to the tension in the air.

rateful for the interr

ire, don't forget-we need to pic

eager for

my things, Lucas's

driv

glancing

, perfect! I was going to a

ady moving on to another topic, and Lucas just

d feeling

to be alone with him, I knew

cas Montgomery was the l

t, her

spoken words, the kind that sat heavy on my chest and made it hard to breathe. I kept my

d less inclined to le

rvous," he said after a few minu

pping against my knee. Annoyed, I stilled t

itched. "If

. I could see the reflection of his smirk in

asked, unable to hold it in any longer.

steering wheel tighter.

rms. "You coul

nt before answering. "M

hrew m

the slight crease between his brows, the way his fingers

the Lucas

ways full of witty remarks. But the man sitting next to me now carr

t it ma

away. "Well, don't expec

t me, Claire. I know better tha

the hell is that

his hazel eyes unre

d. "Say what y

eans you walked away

Are you seriously trying to

er sai

dn't ha

ar again, but this t

sing down on us, all the unresolved pain

"I'm not trying to fi

ying to do?" I asked,

wheel tightened.

raw, so honest-c

ught in the web of a wedding weekend. We were just Claire and Lucas. Two people

ment passed

ew, and with it, the reality of

straightening in my

ut didn't say

lot, I was out of the car befo

ded s

eded

new one thing for certain-this weekend w