“How’s Wolf taking it?”
“He was shocked, to say the least, but I think he’s starting to warm up to the idea.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m not sure.” What does playing the role of Violet’s father look like for Henry? “I’ll let you know when I do. But we’re keeping this on the down low, Ronan. To protect her, mostly. Henry’s closest friends know, and now you.”
He gives me a “Come on, are you kidding me?” look. “I’m not gonna say anything to anyone, including Connor.” He hesitates. “I told him I left and went straight to the cabin, that last night in Alaska.”
He means the night Ronan, Henry, and I were together, while Connor and Margo were defiling the hot tub. “Why?”
He shrugs. “You know me, Red. I don’t kiss and tell.”
“Yeah, but you and Connor share a brain.”
He picks up a paper coaster and flicks it at me. “I don’t know. I guess it felt too personal to share. You know what I mean?” In his eyes I see something raw.
“Yeah. I know what you mean,” I say softly. “So, what about you? How’s Miami? You already have a tan.”
He pushes up his sleeves and stretches his arms out to study his golden forearms. “Yeah, it’s good.”
But he doesn’t sound especially excited about being back there. “Have you decided about Wolf Cove next summer?”
He shakes his head. “Kind of reevaluating my whole life right now. Figuring out what I want to do with the rest of it.”
Back in Alaska, I sensed Ronan was running away from something. It didn’t take me long to figure out that it was a bad breakup. We were similar in that way—running to the remote wilderness to escape having our hearts smashed by people we trusted. But where Ronan guarded his feelings, I fell headfirst in love with Henry.
“What about for my wedding? Will you still come to that?”
His eyes flash to mine. “I already promised you I would.”
I gather my nerve, suddenly doubting myself for even considering this. “Actually, I was going to ask you if you’d do something for me.” I hesitate.
“Spit it out. It can’t be any worse than what you’ve already asked me to do for you.”
My cheeks flush. “I did not ask you for that.”
“You didn’t complain about it either.” He chuckles, but it dies off quickly. “Do you regret it?”
After a beat, I shake my head.
“Me neither.” He picks lint off his shirt as if we’re having a casual conversation. “So what do you need me to do?”
“Be in my wedding party?” God, we’ve come so far. There was a time, only a few months ago, that I pegged him as a depraved soul, raised by criminals and drug addicts and only after one thing.
He cocks his head. “What? Like a bridesmaid?”
“I think the technical term is bridesman.” I hold my breath, and with each passing second that he doesn’t answer, I worry he’s going to decline. Maybe Margo was right about Ronan’s feelings. Is it fair to ask him to stand beside me at the altar while I marry another man?
“Why me?” he finally asks.
“Because you’re one of my very best friends, and you’ve been there for me through a lot of this.” As a shoulder to cry on, a distraction, and a knight in shining armor when I thought I’d lost Henry for good. The most important people in my life—Mama, Jed, even Henry—have hurt me. But Ronan never has.
“Do I have to wear a dress?”
I giggle, sensing him shifting from a rare display of seriousness to the version of Ronan I recognize. “Yes, definitely.”
“Are you asking Connor too?”
“No.”
“That alone is worth it.” He shrugs. “Sure, I guess I can do that.”
“Gee, don’t sound too thrilled,” I mutter.
“I’ll do it. Of course, I’ll do it. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere but there that day.” Our eyes meet and it seems like a thousand thoughts are conveyed in that look. “Will you need me for the wedding night too?”
“No! That is not happening again.” My cheeks burn with a new fury as I give him a playful kick. He grabs my foot, holding on to it for several long moments, his fingers searing against my ankle.
He releases me, his throat bobbing with a hard swallow. “I’m happy for you, Red. Really. You deserve the best.”
“So do you.” And I truly mean it. There’s nothing I want more than for Ronan to find someone who deserves his loyalty. “You seeing anyone?”