Todd had taken longer than he’d meant to, but there was no way he could drive by Lydia’s without stopping.
Jessie’s car was in the parking lot when he pulled up to the bar, and a wave of guilt washed over him. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but not telling her that Lydia was home suddenly ate at him.
When he walked into the bar, he spotted her at a tall bar table with Finn and four other men. They each had a beer in front of them, and a large platter of nachos between them. Finn was telling a story, and before he reached them, they all burst into laughter.
Her eyes sparkled when she laughed and the guilt twisted in his belly.
“Hey, sexy,” she said as he walked up next to her and took the kiss she offered. “I beat you.”
Her voice was light an airy, and there wasn’t a hint of disappointment in it.
“Just needed to check on things.”
Finn waved the waitress down and ordered Todd a beer. “How’s the hall? Can’t believe someone would break into it. What’s going on in this town?”
Todd shrugged as the waitress returned with his beer. “I think it’s just some young punks trying to see what they can get away with.”
“They’re ruining businesses. And that’s the livelihoods of the people around here.”
“I think their reign of terror is almost over. The footage I got of them is clear. Someone will recognize them and come forward.”
“That had to cost Lydia a pretty penny though.”
Todd thought of what was taken, and the cost was negligible, as was the cost to fix the door. But he still wondered about the sentimental cost of the bottle that broke.
Jessie sat with her teammates and her fiancé and wondered if the dynamic would soon change. Would meeting up at the bar on Sunday nights after their game still be a thing when she got married? Then again, why would it change? It hadn’t changed since she’d gotten involved with Todd, he’d just become a part of if.
The thought filled her with warmth—he’d just become a part of it. He’d settled into her world, just as she’d settled into his. There was no doubt that he’d sit and have a drink with Finn, just as she spent time in Pearl’s store having wine and cheese platters with his family.
Jessie thought she could almost cry. She loved him so much, and he was all hers.
But as she watched him talk to the other men, she could see something behind his eyes. There was worry.
Was it about the Bridal Mecca and the break-in? Or was it because of Lydia and her homecoming?
Jessie knew that Lydia should have arrived. She’d seen the text the other night. But he hadn’t said anything, nor would he, she assumed. Lydia would need to integrate herself back in to everything. She’d been gone nearly a year.
One by one the men finished their beers, ate their nachos, and headed home. Soon, Finn did the same, and Todd and Jessie moved to the table where they’d first got to know each other.
“I’m glad Finn is doing so well,” Todd said after they had ordered wings.
“It’ll be a while before he’s on the court again, if he gets back. But, yeah, I’m glad too.” She watched him take a thoughtful sip of his beer. “How is she?” It was time to ask.
Todd lifted his eyes to her and for the first time she couldn’t read them and know what he was thinking. “She’s fine.” He let out a breath. “How did you know?”
“I knew she was coming, remember? I just didn’t know when for sure.”
He nodded and reached for her hand. “She looks good. She’s feisty as ever, but I think she’s anxious. Reintegrating herself will be a process, but she says she has the tools to manage it.”
“Were you going to tell me you saw her?” Jessie asked and felt the stirring of jealousy kick up in her belly.
“I didn’t mean to upset you by...”
“You didn’t,” she admitted. “I’ve been wondering when this would kick in and I guess it’s here.”
“What’s that?”
“Jealousy over Lydia.”
Todd furrowed his brows. “You’re jealous over Lydia?”
“I said I knew I would be.”
“I’m not understanding the difference.”
She noticed his grip on her hand grew tighter. “I’ve never been around Lydia, yet everything revolves around her. Where I work. Where you lived. The job you do. And now, her homecoming. You have to understand that I don’t know your feelings for her when she’s here in person.”
“You’d better damn well know that they’re the same as when she’s gone. She’s like a sister to me and you’re the woman I’m going to marry.” His voice was rising along with the noise in the bar.
“Todd, I don’t want to upset you...”
“You did. I can’t believe you’re jealous.” He pulled back his hand and the jealous swirl in her belly intensified.
“I think I deserve some time to figure out how this makes me feel.”
“At what cost?”
“None. Some time. I don’t know. You have no right to be mad at me.”
“You’re mad at me,” he reminded her.
“For not telling me you went to see her.”
Todd drew in a breath before taking a long drink from his beer. “She texted me she was home during your game. She doesn’t want anyone to know she’s here yet.”
“I get it,” she admitted, sipping her beer. And she did get it, so why were they arguing? “This is going to happen again when I see her, meet her, see you with her,” she offered, hoping that he’d understand she needed to process what was going on.
“I love you.”
“I love you too. There is no doubt there.”
“And since you’ve walked through my daddy issues,” he said using air quotes with his fingers, “you deserve to have Lydia issues.”
There was a tinge of humor in his eyes now. “So we both understand. I get to process this. We still love each other, and this changes nothing.”
“The only thing it changes is we live together now. I’m not driving out to my old place, which has a lease option by the way, and I can’t run to Lydia’s to stay. When you’re mad at me and you lock me out of the bedroom now, I sleep on the couch—or you do. We’re in this—together.”
“I don’t want it any other way. And I want to get married in December,” she blurted out the thought she’d had earlier.
The anger that had masked his face dissolved, and a smile formed on his lips. “The girls will be happy to have a date finally.”
“Have they been asking you about that?”
“Of course. Pearl wants to help you with a dress. Bethany wants to know your colors. Gia wants to make sure she’s in town and not in Italy buying things for her store. The list goes on.”
And this, she thought was what it was all about. They could have insecurities and arguments, but they would talk them through and move on. Their marriage would be solid. There was no doubt about it.