There’s a small flutter in my stomach when he steps closer, but I tamp it down, unsure of what it is about. “Do you . . . want to come in?”
He shifts his weight and then nods. “Of course. I’d like to see everyone and say hi.”
I wonder if he honestly feels that way or if he’s doing it to appear unfazed by seeing Devney and Sean together.
As soon as I step aside, Sean moves forward. “Oliver, it’s good to see you.” He extends his hand, and Oliver takes it.
“You too, man. I saw your last game in the playoffs. Such a fucking bad call.”
Sean shrugs. “It was a tough blow, but we’ll get them next year.”
Devney comes toward us. “Ollie.” Her smile is warm as she reaches to give him a hug.
I wait to see if he stiffens or pulls away, but it’s almost natural. He doesn’t look uncomfortable or regretful. He releases her and steps back, looking toward the living room. “I heard you guys had a baby?”
Sean smiles as though he can’t help himself when he thinks of his daughter. “We did. She’s a few months old, and . . .”
“Sean, guess what?” Austin barrels into the room and then looks up. “Oliver!”
“Austin, my man, look at you!” Oliver squats down and pulls him into his arms. “You’re so big.”
Austin looks overjoyed, and my heart swells. My father always said you can tell a lot about a person by the way kids react to them. It’s clear that Austin has a deep affection for Oliver.
The two of them chat about baseball, and Sean rubs the top of Austin’s hair. “He’s really remarkable,” Sean explains.
“I remember going to his games and thinking how talented he was,” Ollie says with a smile. “It’s really great seeing you guys. I’m honestly happy that everything worked out for you all. Truly. I know people say that when they’re in this situation, but I mean it.”
Devney wraps her arm around Sean and leans into him. “You have no idea how much that means to me. I hated that I hurt you. It wasn’t easy. I promise you that.”
“I know,” Oliver says easily. “I think things worked out exactly how they were meant to.”
Sean laughs. “You mean with you getting talked into marrying Maren?”
I roll my eyes. “We’re not actually getting married. I’m just doing what I can for my dad.”
“You don’t think this is a good plan either?” Oliver asks Sean.
“Hell no I don’t. As a father, I would be devastated if I found out my daughter lied about getting married. Don’t get me wrong, I understand why Maren wants to give her dad this, but I worry it’ll all backfire.”
I worry the same, but I have plans. Plans and contingencies, which means I’ll be able to get through this successfully.
Or I’ll die trying.
“All right,” I say. “While I’d love to sit and talk about how this is going to fail and disappoint everyone, Oliver and I have things we need to do.” I turn to Devney. “You’re going to handle the room stuff and finalize the itinerary today, right?”
She nods. “I’ll take care of everything on my list.”
Oliver furrows his brows. “What room stuff?”
“We have welcome bags for everyone, and Stella and Devney are going to update all the names on the programs so they match the new plan.”
“And the itinerary?” he asks.
“Well, we have to do things to keep people occupied for a week. Stella is who helped me come up with it yesterday, but we have to reprint everything.”
He runs his hand through his hair. “I just . . . I have stuff to do at the resort. I’m not sure how I’m going to split all my time.”
“I’ll help,” I offer. “I’m really good at planning.”
He smiles. “I see that.”
He has no idea . . .
“You’re getting married?” the little old lady behind the counter at the registrar’s office asks.
“I am, Mrs. Garner,” Oliver replies smoothly as he places his hand on my back.
“Oh! This is just wonderful! I have to tell Marivett, she’ll be just floored. Delia didn’t tell us you were getting married when we were over visiting with her and Josh the other day. Heavens me, I am just beside myself. Who would’ve believed this? Another Parkerson tying the knot so quickly. And you, my sweet, wonderful Oliver, you’re nothing like that wastrel of a father you have. Thank God for that. You’re a fine young man, just like your brothers and Stella of course. Why, if I were younger, I would be chasing you around this town.”
Oliver shakes his head. “You wouldn’t have had to chase me far. I might have even let you catch me. Now, about the license?”
Mrs. Garner ignores him. “And you’re just a vision. What’s your name, sweetheart? And how did you meet our Oliver? He’s so dreamy it’s no wonder you’re in love with him.”
“I’m Maren, and we went to college together.” At least that isn’t a lie.
“Oh, and you realized that you were in love from the start?” She clutches her hand to her chest. “I’m sure you saw him from across the room and just knew. Like magic. I think love is like that. You see someone and boom . . . it happens. That’s how it was for me, you see. I met my husband in first grade. He was a stupid boy because they all are at that age. When we got out of school, he went to work for his daddy and I went away to college. When I came back, we saw each other and were married a week later. Your story must be so romantic. Nothing like those two girls beforehand who broke your heart.”
“Something like that,” Oliver says under his breath. “Would you be able to get us the forms, Mrs. Garner? I have to take Maren to a few other places today.”
“Yes. Of course. I’ll need you both to fill this out and then we’ll issue the certificate today.”
“Thanks,” he says. When she walks away, he turns to me. “This is going to be an issue.”
“What?”
“In about ten minutes, the entire town will know about our upcoming wedding. I’m going to have to explain to everyone what happened when you never return to town.” He runs his hands through his hair. “I didn’t even consider this. Shit.”
It’s a good thing I have already thought of this issue. “You just need to blame me and tell everyone that I’m a horrible girl who broke your heart. They will see how you’re the victim.”
He shakes his head and gets to work with his portion of the form. “It doesn’t work that way for the Parkerson men.”
“Why?”
“My father is a piece of shit. He’s known around here for being a cheater, manipulator, and jackass. People here will assume I’m at fault no matter what I tell them because of him.”
Oliver finishes and hands it to me. I take it, filling out all the appropriate boxes, still a little shellshocked we are doing this.
“She seemed to love you,” I note absently, pondering over his statement about his father.
“Not sure that will stop the gossip. It won’t really matter that I’m nothing like him or that I’m the easygoing Parkerson who laughs at everything.”
“I remember that about you,” I say softly.
I never really thought about why he did that. Why he always seemed to make himself the center of the laugh. Maybe it was because he was trying so hard not to be so serious.