Don't Call Me Sweetheart

by Codi Gary

  “Really?” Brent’s sarcasm grated on Luke. “You don’t want to know that she made a mistake and that she thinks she lost the love of her life?”

  Hope stung Luke’s heart despite all his bravado, but he squashed it before it could fully bloom. “Did she say that or did Kendall?”

  “I think Kendall interpreted it from all of Marley’s weeping and woe-ing.”

  Luke laughed. He couldn’t help it, although the thought of Marley weeping because she missed him did soothe him a bit. “Woe-ing? Really?”

  “Just what a little Kendall bird told me.”

  Luke tossed back his whiskey, and set his glass down on the bar with a thud. “Well, she can stop putting herself in the middle of the drama and let it go.”

  “Come on, you don’t mean it. I saw the way you were with her.”

  Luke didn’t want to discuss the fact for a few, blissful weeks, he’d thought maybe he’d found the one. But it was going to be painful enough being around Marley without Kendall and Brent playing matchmaker.

  “I’m assuming Marley is going to be at your wedding?” Luke asked.

  Brent had the good sense to appear uncomfortable. “She’s the maid of honor.”

  Luke took Brent’s glass of whisky and downed it. “Swell.”

  “Just talk to her. I think that she was freaking out a bit and is scared you won’t forgive her.”

  Luke stood up, ready to get the hell out of there and go home to his apartment, where there was no one reminding him of the woman who broke his heart.

  “She’s a big girl. If she wants me, she knows where to find me.”

  * * * *

  Marley sat at her kitchen table that night, a dozen balls of paper littering her feet. She’d been sitting there for hours, trying to pen the perfect apology letter to Luke.

  Only words seemed to be failing her.

  Smoothing her hand over the white sheet, she closed her eyes and released a calming breath. She thought about the emotions that had been swirling and twisting inside her for the last week. The regret, and the sadness, lonesomeness and heartbreak. She pictured Luke standing before her, that broken look in his eyes…

  And started writing again.

  Dear Luke,

  I am so sorry that I hurt you. You were right. It only took a few days for me to realize that nothing that happened was your fault, and that I was taking out my anger at myself on you. It was my choice to disregard the rules of Something Borrowed and start seeing you in secret. It was on me that I called out Sonora in front of all of her wedding guests.

  And I wouldn’t change any of it.

  I should have probably told Brent sooner than his wedding day, but as for the stuff between you and me, I wouldn’t have done it any differently, except for the way I treated you that last night. You were so patient and supportive and I shit on you. You told me how you felt and I let you walk away thinking that you meant less than nothing to me.

  I wish I could expunge that from your memory. I wish you were here now, so I could share all of these feelings with you and all the things that have changed.

  I’m not moving to New York. I am staying in Sweetheart, and putting the settlement money Sonora’s parents gave me to restoring Buzzard Gulch. I’m going to start a freelance editing service, and Kendall and Brent have generously helped my mom rebuild the Sweetheart Café. She’d almost considered not rebuilding because she didn’t want to take money from me, but it all worked out.

  Except between you and me.

  But if there is anything I’ve learned this summer it’s that I am lucky. I’ve been lucky in this town. With the friends I’ve made and most of all, I was lucky to have found you.

  This letter has probably come too late, but I didn’t feel like a phone call would do everything I needed to say justice and I was afraid if I showed up on your doorstep, you might call the cops. They’d probably get there fast since you’re one of them.

  I understand if you can’t forgive me. I just wanted to say that this summer was the best and worst of my life, but I owe all the best parts to you.

  Your Sweetheart, Always,

  Marley

  Chapter 25

  Two weeks later, Marley walked down the hallway at Castle Vineyard, a nervous wreck. Not because she thought Brent and Kendall were making a mistake getting married. No, she knew they were completely gone for each other and going into this with open eyes and hearts.

  She was a frazzled bundle of nerves because she hadn’t seen Luke yet. She’d sent him the letter two weeks ago and hadn’t heard a word about it, even from Kendall or Brent. She figured if he cared at all, even if it was just to be pissed off, he would have at least told his best friend.

  Instead there’d been nothing, and she wasn’t sure what to expect today when they stood up with Brent and Kendall. Would he ignore her still? Be civil for their friends’ sake?

  God, was it too late to run away and let Kendell hold her own bouquet?

  Knowing damn well that it was, Marley stepped into the bridal suite and held up the veil she’d run to fetch. “Got it.”

  Kendall sat at the vanity, smiling beautifully into the mirror. Marley was the only bridesmaid she had, mostly because Kendall’s family had opted out of coming, including her parents. They thought that she was betraying her sister by marrying Brent, even after Sonora had cheated on him.

  Assholes.

  Kendall’s blonde hair was up in a top knot with curls cascading down, and her makeup was light. The simple A-line gown fit her perfectly, and once Marley placed the veil over the curls, she looked as though she belonged on the cover of a magazine.

  “I am so sorry the rest of your friends and family couldn’t be here.”

  Kendall tried to put on a brave face, but Marley could tell she was hurt. They might not have known each other for very long, but Kendall wore her heart on her sleeve.

  “It’s just so crazy, you know?” Kendall said hoarsely. “Sonora played a part in everything that went down, yet everyone feels bad for her. I’m the horrible sister who stole her fiancée .” Kendall grabbed a tissue from the box on the vanity and dabbed at her tear-filled eyes. “Brent and I didn’t do anything except have feelings until after he called off the wedding. She actually slept with someone else.”

  “I know, love,” Marley said.

  Kendall chuckled bitterly, and blew her nose. “It’s all right though. Brent’s family has been amazing, and his older brother offered to walk me down the aisle, but I kind of thought you and I would just walk together.” Kendall turned and took Marley’s hand. “I don’t know why, but from the first time we met, I’ve always thought we were kindred spirits, like Anne and Diana from Anne of Green Gables.”

  Marley squeezed her hand. “How did you know I loved that book?”

  “See? Kindred spirits.”

  “Well, sister from another mister,” Marley said, pulling Kendall to her feet with a laugh. “What do you say we walk out there and get you your happy ending?”

  “I am so ready.”

  Marley looped Kendall’s arm through hers, and they left the bridal suite, heading down to the double door exit out onto the veranda. Even in late September, the weather in Northern California was still summery and Marley could feel the warmth from the afternoon sun beating through the doors. Droplets of sweat rolled down her temple, and she told herself it had everything to do with the heat and was not because just beyond that door, Luke would be waiting.

  Two of the attendants opened the doors and the music from “God Bless the Broken Road” played over the outdoor patio. As they stepped down, the guests stood, but both Marley and Kendall were focused on who was waiting at the end of the aisle.

  The minute that Marley saw Luke, her chest tightened and her breathing grew unsteady. Her heart kept slamming against her breast bone, and she had to tell her feet to slow d
own, not to run into the arms of the man she loved.

  Loved.

  Kendall had mentioned it, browbeat her with the truth, but it was the first time that Marley had ever let herself think it. She was in love with Luke Jessup.

  Luke wasn’t looking at her as though he was happy to see her, and her stomach knotted. Instead, he smiled at Kendall, not even casting his dark eyes Marley’s way through the whole ceremony and she resisted the urge to run weeping back inside.

  It’s not about me or us. It’s about Kendall today. Tomorrow, I can cry.

  * * * *

  Luke fought the need to stare at Marley as the officiant pronounced Brent and Kendall husband and wife. She looked so happy for them, her smile nearly splitting her face, her soft blonde curls pinned back from her face and the simple silver dress fanning out to below her knees. It was modest and sexy all at the same time.

  Luke wanted to get her alone and his hands under it.

  Don’t rush into anything.

  When he got her letter, he’d gone through several stages of emotions. At first, he was pissed that after almost two weeks, she sent him a damn letter instead of picking up the phone. He tossed it in the trash and went to work, biting heads off the whole day and making pretty much everyone miserable.

  Then he came home, dug it out of the trash and read it, sadness wrecking him all over again. He’d almost called her, but then fear settled over him. What if he called her up, told her he forgave her and she hurt him a second time?

  It was why he hadn’t been able to respond, and he still hadn’t figured out what his next move would be.

  Until he saw her, staring down the aisle at him with so much joy that it knocked the wind out of him. It took all he had to not meet her in the aisle, wrap her up in his arms, and tell her he forgave everything.

  But he wasn’t going to just fall to his knees for her. She could work for it. He’d chased her all summer.

  She could sweat for a couple of hours.

  He held out his arm to her, and she took it silently, placing her hand on his forearm. As they followed behind the bride and groom, she asked, “How are you?”

  She sounded so casual, he almost tripped. Here he was practically coming out of his skin and she was cool as a cucumber.

  Well, he could play it close to the breast too. “I’m fine. How are you?”

  “Okay.” She paused, smiling and waving at several guest before adding, “Did you get my letter?”

  “I did.” That was Marley, right to the point. He liked that she was still direct, but damn, he did not want to have that conversation in front of all of Kendall and Brent’s guests.

  She seemed to be waiting for him to say more about it, and when he didn’t, she mumbled, “Oh. Good.”

  They made their way out to the back lawn for pictures. As the photographer, a friend of Kendall’s from college, directed them on where to stand and pose, neither Marley or Luke spoke.

  Then Kendall decided to meddle. “Darcy, I think we should do a couple of casual pics, you know? Lighten the mood and loosen us up.”

  Darcy nodded, her gray eyes twinkling behind her glasses and Luke wondered what they had planned.

  “Luke, cradle the back of Marley’s head and dip her as though you’re dancing. You two were really good together as I recall.” When Marley shot her a glare, Kendall added, “At dancing, of course.”

  Brent bent down, and Luke could almost imagine him telling her to leave them alone, but she wasn’t having any of it. “Chop chop, the photographer is waiting.”

  Luke did as she asked, wrapping his arm around Marley’s waist and cradling her head. As he dipped her toward the ground, it was so reminiscent of the day they met in the grocery store that he smiled.

  Her green eyes stared into his, as if trying to read his thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”

  “Trix and you.”

  Marley’s cheeks turned pink. This close he was overwhelmed by the scent of her, the lithe body he thought he’d never hold again stirring a rush of desire through him. Before he knew what he was doing, he was resting his forehead against hers and releasing a shaky breath.

  He didn’t say anything, and was shocked to his toes when she squeezed his shoulders and whispered, “I’ve missed you so much.”

  Luke pulled away then, needing distance before he did something crazy like tell her he missed her too or God forbid, kiss her.

  Setting her on her feet away from him, he asked, “Are we done? Cause I need a drink.”

  Without even waiting for them to protest, Luke walked back up the stairs and into the great room where the reception was being held, finding the bar as fast as he could. Taking the Jack and Coke the bartender handed him, he downed the entire contents of the glass and asked for another. It was an open bar after all.

  After Kendall and Brent were introduced to the room ten minutes later, he found Brent standing next to him, frowning.

  “Kendall sent me over to find out what you’re doing to Marley.”

  Luke was on his third glass and drinking it a lot slower than the previous drinks. “I’m not doing anything. At the moment, I am enjoying a Jack and Coke.” He caught sight of Marley standing next to Kendall, scanning the crowd. Luke nodded in their direction. “As far away from her as humanly possible.”

  “That’s what I mean. One second you’ve got her in your arms, acting as though you can’t get enough of her, and then you’re running away.”

  To hell with slowing down. Luke took a swift gulp and set his glass on the bar. “I need to figure out what I want without you and your wife getting in the middle and causing more drama. Just enjoy being married and let us figure things out for ourselves.”

  Brent shook his head grimly. “In that case, I am also required to inform you that my sweet, demure bride will ‘rip off your junk’ if you hurt her MOH.”

  “Is that a direct quote?” Luke asked, grinning.

  “Yes, and it was painful to deliver.”

  “You can assure Kendall that hurting Marley is the last thing on my mind.”

  Kissing her was another story.

  Chapter 26

  Marley finished her toast to the bride and groom and once she was out of the spotlight, she downed her champagne like a glutton. For the last hour, she had tried unsuccessfully to get Luke alone and he’d somehow managed to elude her every time.

  If this was the way the rest of the night was going to go, she was definitely in need of something stronger.

  She crossed the room, the soft fabric of her silver dress swishing around her legs. She ordered an apple martini at the bar. When she heard the DJ on the mic call Luke’s name, she turned around to watch.

  Luke walked out into the middle of the dance floor, looking so handsome in that tux. His hair seemed longer than the last time she’d seen him, making his ears stand out less and it was disappointing. She loved his ears.

  Luke took the mic and mumbled, “Good evening.”

  The crowd murmured their response, and Luke continued.

  “Brent and I have been friends since high school, and I can easily say, I love the guy like a brother.”

  “I love you too, buddy!” Brent hollered, making the guests chuckle.

  “And I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that my friend has found a woman who loves him as much, if not more, than I do. A woman who is kind, compassionate, funny, and smart. Because she realized, even when others didn’t, that Brent is a great guy.”

  Every word was obviously coming straight from his heart.

  “God, isn’t he fantastic?” Kendall’s friend Darcy asked, having come up beside her without her knowing it.

  “Here’s your drink, miss,” the bartender said.

  Marley picked up her drink and shot Darcy a small, forced smile. “He’s definitely something.”

  �
��He is just so delicious.”

  Back off, sister, he’s mine.

  Marley ignored Darcy, her attention focused on Luke as he continued his speech. “When we think about love, parents, grandparents, siblings, and such come to mind because, they are our family. We have to love them, even when they hurt us or break us or make us want to never speak to them again. Romantic love is different, because if we’re not careful, if we take it for granted and lash out at it, it can be gone like that.”

  Luke snapped and it was like a knife plummeting into Marley’s chest. He was talking about them. How she’d destroyed his feelings for her. Nausea bubbled in the pit of her stomach, and she pushed down the urge to vomit.

  She needed to hear this. For Luke.

  “Or is romantic love really any different?”

  Wait, what? What did he just say?

  Her mind couldn’t process it quickly enough before he was speaking again. “Because true love, the kind you feel for your family, that’s supposed to be unconditional. So, despite whatever hurtful actions your lover may commit, those feelings don’t go away. No matter how hard you try not to think about that person, she’s always going to be in your heart. Because that is what truly being in love is. It is forgiveness. It is unconditional. And it is forever.”

  Luke’s gaze fell on her from across the room and he raised his glass. “To Brent and Kendall. Forever.”

  “Forever,” the reception echoed.

  Marley downed her appletini, trying to catch Luke’s gaze again, but he’d already turned away to kiss Kendall’s cheek and shake Brent’s hand.

  Marley ordered another drink from the bartender, more confused than ever.

  Had that speech really been about Brent and Kendall, or had Luke been trying to tell her something?

  The only way she could find out for sure was to ask him. But she had to catch him first.

  * * * *

  Luke lost sight of Marley after his speech, and an hour and two more Jack and Cokes later, he was ready to give up and go back to the hotel. There was no point in staying if he wasn’t going to speak to Marley; he definitely didn’t want to dance with anyone else.