The church was filled with people, but she kept her focus on the altar, making sure to not look in the direction where all the guys were lined up in their tuxes. There was no way she was going to make eye contact with Carter.
Instead, she looked straight ahead and made sure to smile, because pictures were being taken, and she wouldn’t ruin Emma’s day by scowling.
She made it to the altar and turned, watching cute little Tabitha all dressed up, smiling broadly and sprinkling flowers across the carpeted aisle. Then everyone stood as Emma and their dad started down the aisle. Everything else was forgotten as her beautiful sister and Luke stood together and made their vows to love and honor each other forever. And after Reverend Barry pronounced them husband and wife and they kissed, Molly’s heart squeezed.
Despite her views on love and marriage, she felt right about this ceremony. It was so obvious Luke and Emma belonged together, and watching them seal the deal with a passionate kiss only confirmed that. Molly sighed in contentment.
They exited the church, but stayed behind for photos. Fortunately, she was paired up with Logan, though she was conscious of Carter nearby, who looked utterly, devastatingly handsome in his black tux with white shirt and purple flower tucked in his lapel.
She tried her best not to notice him, but it was difficult as they all shuffled for photos, and then she had to sit in the pew while Logan, Luke, and Reid took a photo together and they all sat and watched as the bride and groom took one spectacular picture.
“They look perfect, don’t they?” Carter asked.
He was sitting behind her. She nodded, not looking at him.
“You look beautiful today, Molly.”
“Thanks.” She got up and made her way over to her parents, then stood for the family picture with them and with Emma, then with Emma and Luke. It seemed to take an eternity at the church, and it felt like Carter’s gaze stayed on her the entire time, but when she happened to glance his way again, he was huddled up with Bash and Will and not even looking at her.
Likely it was all in her head, tension and nervousness at his proximity getting the best of her today. She’d known she’d have to spend the entire day with him, and she’d built it up that she’d be shoulder to shoulder to him for the duration, when it was anything but.
She could survive today. She could put up with anything, because after tomorrow, she’d be on her way back to Austin, and she’d never have to come back to Hope again.
After they finished up the photos, they climbed into the limos. This time, the bridesmaids and groomsmen rode together, and the bride and groom rode alone. Which meant more time in a confined space with Carter. Des and Logan snuggled up together, as did Will and Jane, which made sense since they were couples. She chose a seat over in a corner of the limo, and didn’t it just figure that Carter ended up sitting next to her. Bash and Chelsea were preoccupied arguing about something, leaving her and Carter alone.
It was a good-sized limo, but there were quite a few of them in there, so it wasn’t like they could all spread out. Which meant Carter’s thigh was pressed alongside hers.
It had been twelve years since he’d touched her. Since she’d touched him. In those last moments before she’d walked away from him forever, they’d shared tears and words neither of them could take back. Now, silence stood like an impenetrable steel wall between them.
“The wedding was good, huh?” he asked, obviously reaching for something, anything to say.
“You don’t have to talk to me.”
“We have to talk, Molly.”
She lifted her gaze to his. “No, we don’t.”
“There’s a lot that needs to be said.”
“No, there isn’t.” She purposely kept her voice low so the others wouldn’t hear their conversation. But damn if she’d smile at him.
Instead, she looked straight ahead, wishing she were seated near the window so she could focus on the scenery, and not the partition separating them from the driver. She couldn’t eavesdrop on everyone else’s conversations, because that would be rude, which meant her only recourse was to either talk to Carter, or stare ahead like a zombie.
And it was a twenty-five-minute drive to the reception venue.
Great. Maybe she should close her eyes and take a nap. Or maybe Carter would, since he’d had so much to drink the night before.
“Shouldn’t you be tired or something?” she finally asked him.
He frowned. “No. Why should I be tired?”
“You drank a lot last night.”
“Oh, that.” His lips curved, drawing her attention to the fullness of the bottom one, something she definitely did not want to look at, or remember. “Nah, I’m fine. Had a whopper of a headache this morning, a minute of panic when I couldn’t find Rhonda.”
“Rhonda is just fine, and parked in Luke’s garage.”
“Thanks for the rescue and the ride home, by the way.”
“You’re welcome.” She looked away again, but then shot her attention back on him. “You wouldn’t have really driven home in your condition, would you?”
“No. I’d have either called a taxi or one of the guys to give me a ride. I am a responsible adult now, Molly.”
She snorted in disbelief, louder than she’d intended to, which caused nearly everyone in the limo to look her way.
Great.
“What’s so amusing over there?” Chelsea asked.
Searching for something . . . anything . . . she finally blurted out, “Oh, nothing. Carter told a joke.”
“Well, now you have to share,” Logan said.
“Was it a dirty joke?” Will asked, causing Jane to poke him in the ribs.
“Thanks a lot,” Carter whispered to her.
She clasped her hands together in her lap. “You’re so welcome.”
Now that everyone’s attention was focused on Carter, she could relax. And she could tell he was squirming, which made her even happier.
“Let’s see,” Carter said. “What was that joke again? Oh, right. I remember now. A husband and wife came back from their honeymoon, and they weren’t speaking to each other. The best man asked what was wrong.
“ ‘Well,’ the groom said. ‘When we made love the first night, I forgot what I was doing and left fifty bucks on the pillow.’ ”
“ ‘Ouch,’ said the best man. ‘I’m sure she’ll forgive you, though. Surely she couldn’t expect you to save yourself for marriage.’ ”