Chapter 2

Caleb was 40 minutes late the night we went to try on our outfits. By then, the sales associate had already ironed the white shirt twice.

When Caleb finally showed up, Connie Moore was with him. She was his childhood friend and the only woman among his friends going on the trip.

"I ran into Connie on the way here. She wanted to do some shopping anyway, so I brought her along."

Caleb took the water the sales associate handed him. "You don't mind, do you?"

Before I could answer, Connie laughed. "If Anna doesn't want me here, I can leave. I wouldn't want anyone saying I'm overstepping."

She said that, but she'd already made herself comfortable on the couch.

Caleb frowned. "Don't worry about her. She's upset about the vote."

The sales associate came over with two shirts, one ivory and one light blue.

"Your fiancée picked out the ivory one earlier, and your friend just chose the light blue one from the window display. Which one would you like to try?"

"The light blue."

Caleb took it from her. "Connie's always had a good eye."

The sales associate glanced at me.

I'd come in three days earlier for measurements and to choose the style. Caleb thought the whole thing was a hassle and had barely even looked at the photos I sent him.

When he came out of the fitting room, Connie walked over and straightened his collar.

"This color makes you look younger. It'll look better in the photos too. Less formal."

Caleb checked himself in the mirror. "Yeah, it does look better than white."

"So this one?"

"Let's go with it."

I finally spoke up. "These are supposed to be what we wear when we get married."

Connie pulled her hand back. "Sorry. I forgot you were still here."

The store went silent.

Caleb looked at me, a warning in his voice. "Connie was just trying to help. Don't make it into something it's not."

"I didn't say anything."

"It's written all over your face."

He walked over and smoothed the crease between my brows with his thumb. "You're about to get married. Stop making everyone guess how you're feeling."

I moved his hand away. "Let's put off getting married."

Connie froze.

Caleb just laughed, like I'd said exactly what he expected me to.

"Fine. We'll put it off."

He didn't even ask why. "For how long? Until after the trip, or until you're not mad anymore?"

"I'm not just saying this because I'm mad."

"Sure. You're not."

The look on his face made it obvious he was just humoring me.

The sales associate quietly asked if we were still taking the shirts.

Caleb pulled out his card. "We'll take both."

"The white one too?"

"Yeah. She likes it."

He said it so casually, as if buying the shirt I'd picked was enough to show he'd considered me.

After he paid, Connie got a call by the entrance. She talked for a moment, then covered the phone with her hand.

"Caleb, they're asking how we're splitting up the rooms."

"Weren't we supposed to have four rooms with two beds each?"

"The hotel says there's a plumbing issue in one of them. So now it's three rooms with two beds and one king suite with an ocean view."

Connie looked at me and joked, "First we had an extra seat for the luggage, and now we've got an extra bed. Want to come after all, Anna? You'd have to share the suite with Caleb, though."

Before Caleb could say anything, voices started chiming in from the other end of the call.

"No way. If she comes, we'll have to watch the clock every time we drink."

"Let Connie have the suite. She's been going through a lot lately."

"Then who's Caleb sharing with?"

Connie turned the speaker down, but not enough to keep me from hearing.

My cousin, Eleanor Lynch, said, "Who do you think? It's either Anna or Connie."

Connie and I both looked at Caleb.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Connie can take the suite. Harry and I will take one of the rooms with two beds."

"What about Anna?" Connie asked.

"She wasn't going anyway."

The answer came without a moment's hesitation.

The shopping bag in my hand suddenly went light. The bottom had come unglued, and the white shirt I'd spent three days picking out fell to the floor.

Someone passing by stepped on it, leaving half a footprint across the fabric.

As Caleb bent down to pick it up, a piece of paper slipped out of his pocket.

It was a hotel reservation. Under special requests, it read, "Anniversary setup. White roses preferred for Ms. Moore."