Chapter Eleven

Ah, shit.

Ford had come back from the bathroom to see Violet in front of the mirror, a wedding dress over her clothes.

A mere moment ago, he’d been ruminating on how much fun he’d had sitting next to her, remarking on gowns of all things. Affection had tightened his chest in a not-altogether-unpleasant way as she’d helped out his best friend, and he’d seriously considered following Addie’s advice.

If there were anyone he’d be inclined to attempt a full-blown relationship with, it’d be a woman like Violet.

So why not Violet?

Because she has a fucking wedding dress over her clothes and is after someone to walk her down the aisle.

Dating was one thing. Marriage was a whole different ball game—one he’d determined wasn’t for him. Say he could open himself to the possibility of more than casual, it’d still be a while before he’d be willing to move past the practice stage.

Along with the nerves gnawing at his insides, his heart thumped a million miles an hour, affirming it agreed.

The only thing keeping him from fleeing the scene—’sides Murph, of course—was the last snippet he’d overheard. Her ex implied she needed to lose weight before he would marry her?

Not that Ford was volunteering for a stroll down the aisle, but what a prick. An ignorant prick at that. How dare someone behold those killer curves and request less of them.

As he’d stated earlier, he’d always been an ass man, and Violet’s was perfection.

He cleared his throat as he approached, and Violet quickly shoved the dress at Lexi. Her confusion lasted half a second, and then she placed it with the other dresses.

Violet leaped from the pedestal instead of stepping down, so she must be getting antsy. “You survived your first wedding dress shopping trip. What are you going to do next?”

Run.

Or maybe hop on the dating train and enjoy the ride while it lasts.

Except he didn’t want to be another jerk who hurt her, accidental or not. “Get back to work, I guess.”

“And here I assumed you were the kind of guy who knows how to celebrate.”

“He needs to be retaught,” Addie said as she exited the fitting room in her usual clothes. She and their group headed to the front of the store to wrap things up.

The consultant had rung up the dress but suggested other items Addie might want to add: a strapless bra and the slip they’d originally thought was a dress. With each item she rattled off, Ford’s skin became itchier and itchier. He scratched at his neck and then headed outside in the name of fresh air.

At long last, the women exited the shop, carrying bags he relieved them of. He placed the bags in the trunk of Lexi’s car, and it hit him that he and Violet now had a drive ahead of them.

It’d be easier to evade her gravitational pull if he avoided her.

Not that it was a stellar plan, given how small Uncertainty was, but she’d managed to duck him well enough. If only asking her how wouldn’t hurt her feelings.

Violet rocked back on her toes. “I figured I’d ride with Lexi and Addie, since you have to get back to work.”

The mutinous bastard in his chest twanged, the reverberations traveling through his entire torso. He swallowed hard, employing the poker face he had down pat, thanks to countless games with the gang. “That’d save me some time. I appreciate it.”

Violet wrapped her arms around herself, and he’d swear she was offended.

Ma had been hot and cold like that. Tell Dad one thing and be mad whether he agreed or disagreed. As if she were thirsting for a fight. Or an instance to later use against him.

Whether Violet was playing games, testing him, or as sensible as a soup sandwich, he didn’t have the time or energy for this.

“See you around,” Ford said. But after realizing the only place he and Violet could go was nowhere, he’d do his best to make sure he didn’t.

…

The scenery morphed from cityscape to green trees that met blue skies.

Violet bounced her knee, her thoughts volleying between relief and regret. While Addie and Lexi were perfectly nice travel companions, she missed the woodsy scent that filled Ford’s truck. His easy jokes. His deep voice…

Staring at his stupidly handsome profile and experiencing butterflies whenever he glanced her way.

“You still alive back there?” Addie peered between the bucket seats.

Violet slid her fingers along her seat belt, the bouncing of her knee creating a rustling noise. Stopping meant her restless energy would have nowhere to go. Then she’d be eyeing the door handle and considering a Charlie’s Angels roll onto the highway.

And she asked a question. “Sorry. I get lost in my thoughts.”

“Let me guess…” Lexi caught her eye in the rearview mirror. “You’re wondering if you made a mistake getting in the car with us instead of going in the truck with Ford.”

“No. I was hoping to get to know both of you better.”

“That explains all the questions you’ve been asking,” Addie teased, light enough Violet couldn’t be offended.

“It’s just that you and Ford seemed to have a vibe,” Lexi said. “And if I’m not mistaken, you told me about your failed nuptials and then ran from him.”

“Failed nuptials?” Addie asked, and Lexi winced.

“Sorry.”

Violet swiped a hand through the air. “It’s not a secret. I talked to all my friends about my wedding, we planned several versions, and I ended up holding the short end of the stick. Benjamin didn’t even propose, so it’s not like I have an epic story about being jilted at the altar.”

“Wouldn’t that be worse?” Addie asked.

Both Lexi and Violet hmmed.

“Yes and no,” Violet said. “While I did foolishly plan an entire wedding, at least I wasn’t discarded in front of my family and friends. Fancy dresses and fairy-tale setting aside, the vows are what I truly want, so I guess being stood up day of would’ve hurt worse.”

Like a scab that’d been picked, the wound in her heart throbbed to life once again. Fainter than it used to be but far from fully healed. “But it hurt enough.”

“Lexi’s better at the pep-talk crap, but I’m sorry, Violet. That guy sounds dumb as a doorknob.”

Naturally, her mind flashed to the day she told Ford she’d gotten to first base with his doorknob, and he’d replied, Lucky doorknob.

“What Addie means is, I soften it when I call people on their crap,” Lexi said with a laugh. “The rest of the group are tactless and blunt. Once I got accustomed to it, it was rather refreshing.”

“Wait.” Violet ran her fingers through her hair. “Who decided doorknobs are the dumbest of knobs? Are there even other kinds of knobs?”

Both Addie and Lexi opened their mouths, looked at each other, and burst into laughter.

“I like where your head’s at,” Addie said.

“You mean lost in an earlier subject?” Violet picked at a stray thread on her jeans. “The truth is, after everything happened with Benjamin, I decided to give up men.”

“Oh honey, I gave them up for Lent once, and it was the worst forty days of my life.” Lexi hit her turning signal. “And that doesn’t make me weak. Technically I discovered I could live without them, but I’m a fan of sex on the regular and a hot man to cuddle with at night. The experience did give me time to reflect, though…”

After checking her blind spot, Lexi merged onto the smaller, cracked highway that would take them to Uncertainty. “I had this ideal man in my head, but after dating too many self-centered duds, I realized I’d been wasting my time on the wrong guys. That’s why, when I met my Will, I gave him a shot, despite my belief that a country-boy schoolteacher—even one hotter than hell and half of Georgia—wouldn’t be my type.

“But boy did Will Shepherd prove me wrong.” Lexi’s voice turned as dreamy as her expression. “And he continues to do so every single day.”

The flame that burned inside Violet—the one she couldn’t quite snuff out—craved love stories with happy endings and wanted more fuel for the fire. “What about you and Tucker, Addie? How’d you guys meet?”

“I don’t even remember my life without him,” Addie said. “We grew up together, got into loads of trouble, and earned our reputations as hooligans. I used to get so mad when he treated me like a girl, and then one night, I wished he’d see me as one. After a drunken flirting session where I embarrassed the pants off myself—”

“Literally,” Lexi added, “since I’d forced her into a dress.”

Their laughter mixed together, and Violet experienced a contact-happy high, same as she’d gotten from their tales of romance. The two of them rehashed memories and explained how they’d become friends.

“Here’s what you should take away from those stories, Violet.” Lexi slowed as they passed the sign welcoming them to Uncertainty. “One, that I’ll force my friendship on you, so do yourself a favor and accept it now.”

“Two,” Addie cut in. “Her head was obviously full of stump water when she asked me to help plan her wedding.”

Lexi raised her voice over Addie’s. “Three, when life throws you a curveball, you might want to catch it.”

Both of them looked at Violet, so apparently it was her turn to reply. “Oh, I’m not much for catch. Balls just hit me in the face, and two seconds later I try to get my mitt up.”

The girls erupted in giggles, and Violet found herself giggling as well.

“How about this, then?” Lexi asked. “Three, country boys are sexy, and I think Ford was upset you didn’t ride back with him.”

Addie nodded. “Yeah, I play poker with him, and that was his fake, it’s-all-good face.”

A cold lump formed in Violet’s belly. “I didn’t mean to hurt his feelings, although I’m sure he’ll recover in all of two seconds with that ego of his.”

“My boys have enormous egos, it’s true.” Addie lifted her seat belt off her neck and pivoted in her seat. “But they also have their soft sides. Bonus, if you do decide to give McGuire a shot, and he hurts you, I’ll kick his ass.”

When Addie cracked her knuckles, she didn’t have to make the noise with her mouth.

The loud pop, pop made Violet shudder. “I appreciate it, but I think I’m better equipped to take over your spinster spot.”

“I might not’ve been forthright enough about what the title entails. For example, it comes with being set up on multiple dates with everybody’s single cousin or nephew or grandson. I got nothin’ but love for our county, but pickins is slim.”

Violet sat back, defeat and exhaustion setting in. “It’s okay. I have a way to take care of that. I’ll just mention I’m interested in getting married, and they’ll trip over their own feet getting away from me.”

Lexi shook her head. “I wouldn’t count on that. You’re a catch. Pretty, smart, funny—”

“You’re a hottie with a naughty body,” Addie said, flashing her a smile that showed off her pearly whites. “Seriously, maybe a penchant for settling down would scare men in the city, but here, you might end up gettin’ hitched before me.”

The girl Violet used to be might want that.

“And if Ford was the guy I told that to?”

Lexi and Addie glanced at each other, their wordless exchange saying a lot. Then Addie said, “It doesn’t mean he’s not a good guy. Tryin’ not to cross the line here, but he had a rough family life, and I think he needs someone to show him it doesn’t have to be like that. I think even seeing Shep, Tucker, and me settle down will help.”

It was what Violet expected. Disappointing yet not surprising. She’d already made the mistake of thinking that if she showed a guy she loved him for him, eventually he’d do the same for her, flaws and all.

As much as she hated labels—and don’t get her started on the phrase “daddy issues”—the lack of a father figure had impacted her. After Dad’s failure to make an appearance at events like her sixteenth birthday, high school and college graduations, and a dinner where he was supposed to meet Benjamin, she wanted someone who’d show up.

Someone who didn’t only spend the required minimum with her out of obligation.

Benjamin had shown up in the beginning. During the past couple years, though, they’d fought over him promising to be at her events and then canceling because he was too tired or too stressed.

She’d settled for his excuses, giving extra weight to the previous times he had managed to show up. Crumbs of affection she’d gobbled up like the starving girl she was.

While Ford seemed like a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, she worried that in the end, he’d end up only giving her crumbs, too.