Chapter 24

Twenty-Four

Finn

I reland texted to say she talked to Aria, and things were okay between them. That was the first step in Aria realizing that not everyone walked away. Ireland was upset that we were hooking up behind her back, but she understood after speaking to us.

Now I just needed Aria to see that, no matter what happened, we’d be fine. We loved each other, and we were a team.

But I couldn’t make her see that; she had to figure it out on her own. If Ireland pushed her in that direction, I wouldn’t be upset about it.

My plan was to give Aria space and hope she came to that conclusion. I didn’t like that she’d given up on us so easily, but I understood why. She wasn’t used to anyone being there for her. She was the one who took care of her family.

Her family members weren’t bad people, but they didn’t give her what she gave them in return. Aria was the one who gave too much of herself to the ones she loved. She needed to set boundaries and put her needs first.

Thankfully, Aria promised to watch Paisley this week, so I was able to get to my gigs. I didn’t want to explain to Paisley what was going on between us.

Aria was polite when she came, but I didn’t push for anything more. It wasn’t the time or place. On Saturday morning, Paisley and I made breakfast together. I told Gia I wouldn’t work any of the weddings, but this one was already booked, and the couple wanted me there. Hailey and Ryan were friends with most of the people at Happily Ever Afters, so I anticipated another after-party similar to the one we held after Remi and Colton’s wedding.

I was both looking forward to it and dreading it. What if Aria never came around? What if she never saw what I was to her or what we could be? My head was spinning, and my chest hurt.

Paisley’s face screwed up. “Daddy, the pancakes smell like they’re burning.”

“Shit.” I turned off the burner. I dropped those attempts at pancakes into the trash and scrubbed the pan. “I’ll just make another batch.”

“Is everything okay?” Paisley asked, sounding older than her six years.

Satisfied the batter would be okay for a minute, I turned to face Paisley, who was coloring at the counter. “How would you feel if I started dating?”

“Mom has a boyfriend,” Paisley said thoughtfully.

“They’re engaged, but yes, what if I started seeing someone like when your mother started dating Chris?”

Paisley lifted her head, her forehead wrinkled in confusion. “How would Aria feel about that?”

“Why do you ask that?” I asked, my heart beating faster.

“She likes you.”

I ran a hand through my hair, shocked she’d been so intuitive. “That’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. Aria and I have been seeing each other, but we’d like to be more open with our relationship. We want to spend time with you as a couple.”

Her nose scrunched. “You mean kissing stuff?”

“That and holding hands. But nothing that makes you uncomfortable.”

She raised a brow. “You know I hate kissing.”

“Right, so it might make you a little uncomfortable, but it would be like your mom and Chris.”

Aria shrugged. “That’s cool. I like Aria.”

Was it really that easy? I shook my head as I laughed. “You’re something else, you know that? You’re the biggest little girl I’ve ever met.”

I turned back to the pancakes when Paisley said, “That made no sense.”

“It made perfect sense to me.”

“Will Aria be here all the time?” Paisley asked.

“Not yet. We got into a little argument, and we’re taking some time to think about things. Aria wasn’t quite ready to be in a relationship, but I hope she’ll come around.”

“She will.”

“How can you be so sure?” I asked, resting a hip against the counter.

“Because you like each other, don’t you?” She didn’t stop the scribble of her marker on the page.

“We do.” Was it as simple as that? As long as there was love, you’d find your way back to each other.

I finally made a good batch of pancakes and set them in front of Paisley, who picked them up with her fingers and ate them. I’d reprimand her, but she’d been eating them this way since she was little. So I did the same.

“You know I love you the most, right?” I chucked her under the chin, smearing chocolate chips.

Paisley rolled her eyes. “Dad.”

“What? You’re already embarrassed by me? I thought that didn’t start until you were a teenager.”

She just huffed out a breath and didn’t say anything else.

“Will I get a little brother or sister soon?”

“I think you can expect that from your mother a bit sooner.” I wasn’t sure how Aria felt about me or having kids, but Naomi wanted more.

“Yay!”

I knew it wouldn’t be easy, having a blended family like this, but as long as we talked to each other and considered Paisley’s feelings, we’d be fine. I just needed Aria on board. The worst part was that I couldn’t control the outcome. I didn’t know what she was thinking or feeling.

The bell rang. “I think that’s Grandma.”

Paisley hopped off the stool and ran to get the door. I knew I’d need to clean chocolate chips off the knob later. I heard Paisley greet Mom and her current husband, Gerald, before their footsteps were sounding down the hall as she headed toward the kitchen.

“You’re just in time for pancakes.”

“Why do they smell burnt?” Gerald asked, his nose wrinkling in distaste.

“We threw out the first batch. These are fine. I can make some eggs to go with them if you’d like.”

“That would be great,” Mom said as she moved to get the cartoon of eggs out of the fridge.

Gerald sat next to Paisley and picked up a marker to color with her.

“I’m doing the sixteens. You can do the thirteens with that color.” Paisley pointed at the key that indicated what color matched with the number.

“Oh good. Help me find the thirteens. I don’t see so good anymore.”

“You would if you wore your reading glasses,” Mom said.

I whipped up some eggs and bacon while Mom and Gerald entertained Paisley. It was the perfect Saturday morning. The only person missing was Aria.

When we all sat down to eat the eggs, Mom said, “We have an announcement to make.”

“Oh yeah?” I couldn’t imagine what it would be. They were working with a new charity, going on a vacation with friends? It usually didn’t affect us.

“I don’t like living so far away from you guys,” Mom said.

“You know why I can’t move.” I didn’t want to live in the city. I’d have to pay for expensive private schools, and I wasn’t prepared to do that. I liked that Paisley went to the same school as our neighbors and her friends.

“We are looking for a house here. Both you and Ireland live nearby, and I’d like to see my only grandchild more. Maybe I can even help babysit.”

“Yay!” Paisley said.

“I wasn’t expecting you to move here, but if that’s what you want, we’d love it.” I was ecstatic. Paisley would be able to see her grandmother more. What could be better than that? Only having Aria here, which wasn’t within my control.

“We’re talking to a realtor. I don’t know how long it will take to find a place,” Mom said.

“Take your time. Find a place you’ll love.”

They exchanged a look. “We’d like to find a place on the water.”

“Wow. That would be amazing.”

“Could we go waterskiing?” Paisley asked.

“I think we’d be on the bay, so I’m not sure that would be safe, but we’ll have to wait and see what we find,” Mom said diplomatically.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’ll be closer.” I was thinking of the games they could attend, the school plays and concerts. It was everything I’d always wanted for Paisley. “Have you told Ireland?”

“Not yet. We’re going over there later to see her.”

Things with Aria were still up in the air, but this was a great development. I’d always wanted my parents to be more involved. I just assumed they were happy with their lives in Baltimore.

“We’ll keep the old house for when we have events in town.”

“I think that’s the perfect solution.” My heart was full. If Aria didn’t come to me soon, I might need to make a move. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold out. My perfect future was right there waiting for me, if only she would reach out.

Maybe I’d been too harsh to tell her she wasn’t ready. That she needed to do some work before we could be together. We could work on those things together. Sure, things might trigger her, but we’d work through it together.

Determined to let her know I’d welcome her back, I left Paisley with my mom and Gerald while I got ready for the afternoon wedding.

Hailey and Ryan’s wedding was a big deal for Gia and the others because they were friends. It was also the reason we were holding a wedding on the Eastern Shore. They’d gotten engaged at a house there and wanted to get married at the same location.

Apparently, Hailey and Ryan had already gotten married in a private ceremony. But they still wanted to have a party for their family and friends. They’d recently gotten pregnant, so it moved the time line up a bit.

Paisley was with Naomi for the next week, so I didn’t have to drive back. Gia had rented rooms for all of us to stay.

The ceremony itself would be outside by the water, and then we’d set up the tables and chairs and the dance floor. It wouldn’t be as smooth as our other venues. I couldn’t remember another occasion where we’d hosted a wedding at a house like this. But it was what they wanted.

When I arrived, everything was set up. I’d play for the ceremony itself and later at the reception. The house was a small ranch-style, but the Chester River flowed by the backyard, making for a beautiful backdrop. I’d love to fish off the long dock.

I warmed up, playing a few chords while guests filtered in. It was a small wedding of family and friends. I’d seen glimpses of Aria, but she hadn’t stopped moving since I arrived. I couldn’t get a sense of how she was doing.

When Gia stopped by, she said, “We’re on schedule.”

I stretched the kinks in my neck. “I’m ready.”

“Are you staying overnight?”

“I didn’t want to drive tonight.” I hoped to talk to Aria and see where her head was at. I was worried she was going to avoid me.

“Good. We’re having an after-party at a local bar. I’ll send you the information.”

“Thanks for including me.”

Gia nodded and was gone. She wasn’t one for small talk before a wedding.

I played through the ceremony music, watching as Ryan stood at the altar, waiting for the bridal party to begin their journey down the aisle. His best man and friend, Jake, was his fiancée’s brother, so he’d be walking her down the aisle before he joined him at his side.

When Hailey appeared, her hand in the crook of Jake’s arm, I played the first few notes of the wedding march. Guests immediately rose to their feet.

Jake held Hailey’s hand against his arm, almost as if he didn’t want to let her go. When they reached Ryan, Jake said something too soft for me to hear over the music and placed Hailey’s hand in Ryan’s.

She wore a dress that allowed for the swell of her belly, and her face was a little fuller than the last time I’d seen her, when we’d discussed the playlist. She was just happy to be spending the rest of her life with Ryan.

I remembered her not caring about whether she looked pregnant in her dress. They’d had their private wedding, and this ceremony was for everyone else, including her grandmother, who was very special to both her and Jake as her parents weren’t in the picture.

Once Hailey’s hand was tucked securely in Ryan’s, he leaned down and said something in her ear. I closed my eyes, imagining it was me greeting Aria at the end of the aisle. What would I say? You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I love you and will forever be grateful you chose me.

A pang shot through my heart, leaving my chest aching. Would she choose me, would she put herself first, or would she let the old insecurities and doubts interfere?

I let the notes fade away to nothing as the pastor cleared his throat. I listened with half an ear as he went through the usual litany of wedding comments about the couple and then finally, the vows.

Ryan and Hailey’s happiness was a palpable thing from where I was sitting. I wondered if anyone in the first few rows felt what I did. They were almost giddy as they exchanged vows and rings, their energy hitting me in waves.

I knew I’d feel the same if Aria would let me in. I’d be the happiest man on this planet. I never thought I’d want a relationship and all it entailed, but instead of feeling confined, the thought of a future with Aria felt a lot like freedom.

I searched the area for her, but she must have been on the porch, waiting for the ceremony to be over so she could direct the bridal party in photographs. Harrison stood nearby, waiting for the end of the ceremony so he could work his magic on the transformation of the yard. He was in charge of rentals—the chairs, tables, dinnerware, dance floor, tent, and the general setup and takedown at any location.

We usually held events at larger venues, where the reception was set up somewhere else entirely. It made for a smoother transition, but this was what the couple wanted.

The pastor pronounced them husband and wife, and the pounding of my heart increased. I needed to talk to Aria to make sure she knew how special she was to me. I’d wait forever for her to be ready. I didn’t want to, but I’d do it.

I didn’t want to have to explain to Paisley why Aria was distant or couldn’t hang out with us anymore. I didn’t want to miss her in my life. I just wanted her. Whatever she needed to work through, we’d do together.

Once the couple made their way down the aisle to applause, they turned to greet their guests, and Gia directed them to the screened-in porch for cocktails. Aria and Ireland helped Abby direct the couple and the bridal party for pictures.

I placed my guitar in its case so I could help Harrison. He needed everyone’s assistance to get things ready for the reception.

Once things were in place, I gratefully accepted the water bottle Gia provided. “You’re on in ten.”

“I’ll be ready.” I’d need to play soft background music until dinner was served and they were ready for dancing. That’s where I shined. I loved that smile of recognition when the first few notes of a favorite song hit their ears.

I was busy during the reception, playing song after song, with a brief break to grab a drink and a bite to eat between sets. Aria was either avoiding me or busy somewhere else because I never had a chance to talk to her.

After the couple’s send-off, the guests started leaving one by one for their hotels for the evening. I stayed to help with the cleanup, and then the crew headed to our hotel for the night. After checking in, we walked to a nearby bar and restaurant for the after-party. Everyone had eaten at the reception, so we ordered drinks and stood by the bar.

It was a long day and an even longer week. I was done waiting for Aria to come to me. As soon as my drink was in my hand, everyone paired off in conversation, so I moved to the corner, where she stood with Ireland. I touched her elbow, watching as her eyes widened as she turned to face me.

A smile played on Ireland’s lips as she slipped away.

“Can we talk?” I asked her, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Um, yes?” she asked uncertainly as she allowed me to guide her around the corner, away from our friends.

“I know I’d said I’d wait for you, but”—I ran a hand through my hair—“I need to know where your head is at.”

I’d moved closer while I was talking, and she placed a hand on my chest as if to hold me back. “I wanted to talk to you too.”

I drew in a shaky breath, ready for whatever she had to say. It was better to know now than to wait for a rejection to come later.

How had I gotten here, to a place where I was waiting for the woman to choose me? I’d thought there wasn’t anyone who could get me to believe in love and relationships—until her.