Small Town Girls Don't Marry Their Best Friends: Contemporary Christian Romance (Beaches of Trumanville Book 3)

by Carol Moncado

  His newest brother-in-law was right behind him, followed closely by Eli.

  “I think I’m going to sit outside,” Harrison said to Eli, more loudly than he really needed to. “That’s where the tables are set up.”

  Eli agreed, just as Gray’s father made a comment about it being too hot to eat outside, despite the tables being set up in the shade.

  There wasn’t enough room in the living room for all of the tables, or Gray would have done that in the first place.

  Then Grandma Vi walked in.

  Gray watched as she looked around, assessed the situation, and decided to do something about it.

  “Oh my word!” She hurried to where Gray’s mother had taken a seat. “Now, I’m sure you didn’t mean to put your injured daughter-in-law in an untenable position, but there’s only one tray table in here right now.” Grandma Vi picked up the plate and handed it to his mom. “I’m certain there’s a lovely seat with your name on it outside. There’s simply not enough room in here for everyone, so let’s allow your son and daughter-in-law and a few of the others much closer to their age to sit in here.”

  And just like that, the tray was back in front of Tessa so Gray could set both of their plates on it then go get something to drink.

  It took a while but eventually almost everyone made it outside.

  “Are you guys going to Brittany’s wedding?” Lani asked as she reached for her drink, also sharing Tessa’s table. “I know you’re in it, Mia, but they sent a blanket invite, didn’t they?”

  Mia shook her head. “Not really a blanket invite, but yes, all of you should have gotten an invitation.”

  “I didn’t.” Tessa looked at Gray. “Did you?”

  He shook his head. “No, but did either of us actually forward our mail?”

  “I didn’t, but the wedding is in just a few days. Wouldn’t they have been sent before we moved?”

  Mia already had her phone out, texting someone, probably Brittany. “I know you guys were on the list at one point.” They’d all had Brittany in class once upon a time, and were friendly after high school, though Mia was closer to her than the rest of them. Mia set her phone down and went back to eating. “I guess it’s possible they had to bump some of you guys for guests Cole felt he had to invite. I know they were both frustrated with the have tos and envied the wedding Eli and I had. Just a few friends and family who could show up on short notice. They both hated that some of the people they really wanted might not make the cut because of the professional colleagues and such who might be so offended at not getting an invite that they wouldn’t work with Cole anymore.”

  “Well, when you’re a billionaire, you get to deal with that kind of stuff.” Gray winked at his wife. “I kind of preferred our wedding with just a few people.”

  Tessa smiled back at him. “I never really dreamed of the big wedding thing, but ours was pretty perfect for us and where we are in our lives.”

  Mia’s phone buzzed. “You’re all still on the list. The invitation must have gotten lost. She wondered why she hadn’t gotten an RSVP from you guys then heard about Tessa’s fall and wondered if that was the reason.”

  “I’d love to go.” Tessa poked at her baked beans with her spoon. “But I’m not sure it’s the best idea the way I feel right now.”

  Mia looked at her phone again. “She said she’d have a spot for you, and if you’re not up for it when the time comes, don’t worry about it.”

  Tessa nodded. “That sounds like the best plan.”

  “We’ll be there.” Lani took a sip of her drink. “Harrison is kind of excited about it, but I’m not sure why. He goes to fancy stuff all the time.”

  “Which means you’ll have to dress up a lot more often than you’re used to,” Mia pointed out. “Did you really think this through when you married him?”

  Lani laughed. “I love him. The bespoke clothes are bonus.”

  Gray snorted. “I don’t even know what bespoke means.”

  “Custom,” Tessa told him. “Made just for her. Sometimes, it’s a design that exists but in a different color than the designer usually offers or with some minor modifications. Catherine wore a dress not too long ago that comes in full length or knee length, but hers was somewhere in the middle.”

  “Catherine?” Gray had a feeling he should know who that was but had no clue.

  “The Duchess of Cambridge,” Lani told him. “Did we teach you nothing growing up? You even watched part of the wedding with us.”

  “Oh, yeah! She married the helicopter pilot, didn’t she?” Gray knew the “helicopter pilot” was also the future king, but it was more fun this way.

  Tessa laughed then whimpered. “It hurts to laugh. Don’t do that.”

  Gray sobered. “I’m sorry, Tess.”

  She shook her head. “No. I just need to do better holding it in. You guys shouldn’t have to watch what you do or say because laughing hurts.” Tessa reached out and squeezed his hand. “I’ve always loved that you could make me laugh.”

  “But I also promised I’d never hurt you.” And right now, the two things were in conflict.

  Gray wasn’t sure how to deal with that. He went back to his meal. Maybe it was safest to just keep conversation with his wife to a minimum for the time being. He hated that. Tessa was his best friend. Not talking to her wasn’t normal.

  But if it was the best thing for her, he’d do it.

  Sitting back down was the best thing Tessa could do.

  And the hardest.

  Her tush ached.

  The chairs she’d been sitting in weren’t the best ones ever for sore tushies, but they were the best ones for her aching back.

  Except aching wasn’t the right word.

  “Need your meds?” Gray walked in carrying a cooler. Everyone else had said their good-byes at the Beach House, shooing the newlyweds away so the others could clean up.

  Gray’s parents had made more than a few snarky remarks about Edward and Miriam and their cleaning experience.

  Never mind that Miriam hadn’t grown up a member of the royal family. Tessa actually didn’t know her history. Maybe she came from a family worth nearly as much and had never lifted a finger.

  But Tessa wouldn’t have bet money on it.

  “Why don’t you go upstairs, take a shower, and get in bed? I’ll bring you a snack in a bit.” Gray leaned against the door frame leading into the kitchen with his arms crossed over his chest.

  Had she ever noticed what nice arms he had before?

  Why not?

  They were very nice arms.

  “That means standing back up,” she pointed out. “Not something I’m too keen on right this minute, but I will in a few. What about you?”

  “I’ll get the wedding presents put away then watch the baseball game.”

  Tessa was glad she hadn’t scooted back in the chair just yet. “I’ll watch with you. I’m kind of enjoying watching the Crimson Knights this year.”

  “It’s actually a cross-county rivalry with the Cardinals this weekend, playing at the Crimson Knights stadium.”

  It took a lot of effort, but she managed to stand on the first try. “I’d like to go to one of those games sometime.”

  “Then it’s now on our bucket list. I went to a whole series a few years ago, and it was a lot of fun, but it was at Busch Stadium. They usually play one series a year, but since they’re so close together, neither one has an extreme home field advantage with the crowd.”

  “Because they’re in different leagues, they don’t play more often. The Crimson Knights play the Kansas City Royals a lot more. One of those series would be fun, too.” She wasn’t a complete newbie at how baseball worked. The Cardinals were in the National League. The Royals and Knights were in the American League. “I’ll let you know when I’m ready for that snack. That’s when I’ll take some medicine. I need some food with it.”

  She made her way up the stairs and to the shower. Everything took so much energy at the moment. What should ha
ve been a quick shower and change of clothes took over half an hour.

  When she emerged into the bedroom, Tessa found that Gray had left a tray with some snacks on the other side of the bed along with a drink and her medicine.

  She managed to take it, then get situated and text him that he could come up. The remotes were also left for her so she turned the game on. A minute later, Gray settled into a chair he moved beside of the bed. He wore his new Crimson Knights ball cap, given to him by Lani earlier in the day.

  “Why don’t you sit over there?” Tessa tilted her head toward what had become his side of the bed, though he’d never slept in it. “With the movable frame, you can get quite comfortable.”

  “Nah. I’m good here. I am glad that bed works with the frame you helped Pop Pop pick out. I know you love it.”

  “I do.” She ate a few of the M&Ms off the tray. “Wyatt Carson hit a triple.” She’d caught that in the first few seconds after she turned on the game. “They’re already talking about whether or not he can hit for the cycle.”

  “That’s one thing he hasn’t done yet this season. He’s been on fire, though, so you never know if he’ll manage a single, double, and home run.”

  For the next four-plus hours, they watched the close game. Neither team scored much, but when they did, the other team answered in kind.

  “Bottom of the eleventh.” Tessa tried to shift just a bit so her hip didn’t ache as much from lack of movement. Carson was walking to the plate with bases loaded and down by three. “Does it count if he hits the home run in extra innings?”

  Gray shrugged. “It should. It’s more impressive if it’s done in nine innings, but there’s no shame in taking more.”

  The tension rose with each pitch as Carson worked the count until it was full then fouled off two more pitches into the stands along the third baseline.

  “Never mind. I don’t think I can take the stress. I think I’ll watch from...” Before Tessa could finish her sentence, the crack of the bat filled the room.

  “Is that...?” Gray was on his feet. “Go! Get up!”

  Tessa tried not to laugh. It hurt too much. But she grinned as the ball cleared the outfield wall for a grand slam.

  “That did it!” Gray gave her a gentle high five. “A walk-off grand slam for the cycle.”

  The team crowed around Wyatt Carson as he jumped onto home plate to officially end the game.

  Tessa reached for the remote to turn off the television. “On that note, I think I’m ready to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a big day, plus Brittany’s wedding is coming up.”

  Gray reached over and squeezed her hand. “Get some rest. I’ll probably be gone when you wake up in the morning. They want me in early for a conference call with the on-site marketing team.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll call if something comes up.” That was their new plan. She stayed home alone, but called or texted if she needed anything. So far, she only had as a reminder or request that he pick something up from the store for her on the way home, not because she’d fallen or anything more dire.

  After another squeeze of her hand, Gray picked up the tray and took it with him, flipping off the light as he left.

  How was she ever going to get any sleep, if all she could think about was how much she liked having Gray close?

  Tessa closed her eyes and tried to find out.

  14

  Gray tossed his suit jacket on the bed in the master suite. “Do you need any help?” he called.

  “Maybe?” Tessa was in the bathroom getting dressed. Or doing her makeup or something.

  “What can I do?”

  An exasperated groan came out of the room. “Can you zip this up?”

  Not exactly what he’d expected, but something that he wouldn’t have thought twice about a few weeks ago. He’d helped her zip before, though not often.

  Whatever he did, he needed to make sure he didn’t make Tessa uncomfortable.

  With a deep breath he knocked on the mostly open door. “Can I come in?”

  “Please.”

  She’d already turned so her back was to him.

  Gray tried not to let his mind go places it shouldn’t, not yet. Someday, hopefully.

  Discoloration caught his attention. He ran his fingers lightly over it, barely touching her. “Is this where you hit?”

  “Yes.”

  “There’s barely a bruise. Maybe the size of a quarter or a little bigger.”

  “That’s it? I kind of figured it would have grown a lot more than that. I guess it’s all inside maybe? Because everything inside is bruised.”

  He gripped the tab of the zipper and started to pull it slowly upward. “That would make sense.”

  His fingers brushed against her skin as he did so. It was softer than he’d imagined.

  “Are you all right?”

  Gray looked up to meet her eyes in the mirror. “Of course. Why?”

  “No reason. You just had a look on your face.”

  He cleared his throat. “It’s nothing.”

  Her forehead creased as her brows furrowed. “What aren’t you telling me, Grayton Beach? That look isn’t nothing, and we both know it.”

  Gray sighed. “Fine. I’m wondering what it would be like to kiss you. I’m not going to, but I wondered, okay?”

  He turned to walk out but stopped when she said his name. When he looked into her eyes again via the mirror, they shimmered with tears.

  “It’s okay.” She blinked. Long enough to clear the tears from her eyes. “I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t at least crossed my mind. I don’t think either one of us are really ready for that though, so maybe not just yet.”

  Gray nodded. “Of course. When we’re ready. Otherwise, life could get really long. Being married, but not, could get really lonely over the next sixty years.”

  She gave an affirmative tilt of her head but didn’t stop him when he left.

  A few minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom. “Thank you for your help.”

  He smiled and started to say he was happy to when he noticed her shoes. “I don’t mean to be that guy, but are you sure heels are the right move tonight? Wouldn’t something flat be easier on you?”

  Her nose wrinkled in a way he’d always noticed but never thought quite as adorable as he did now. “I know, but I tried flats on, and I just like these better. They look better.” When she didn’t look at him, he knew she suspected it wasn’t the right decision, but was making it anyway.

  Gray moved in front of her and crooked his finger under her chin until he could tip her face up. “Don’t sacrifice your well-being to look a little better, Tess.”

  “I’ll be fine. They’re probably not the right choice, but I’ll be fine. Stay next to me on the stairs. I won’t have to walk very far after that. Just to the car then to the ballroom where I’ll sit down. Then back to the car. I won’t be dancing tonight.”

  Against his better judgment, he let it drop. “At least let me carry your shoes until we get to the resort.”

  Rather than answering, Tessa gripped his shoulder and stepped out of her shoes.

  She started slowly for the door while he picked them up.

  Since she didn’t have the shoes on, he went past her to get the SUV and pull it up to the front door so she’d have to walk as little as possible. He was incredibly grateful to his brother for letting them borrow it indefinitely.

  Once Tessa was seated in the passenger seat, Gray helped her slip her shoes on. Then she would be ready when they arrived and wouldn’t have to try to find them in the floorboard.

  The drive to the Serenity Lake Resort and Spa on the south side of Serenity Lake didn’t take long.

  “When was the last time you were at a wedding here?” Gray asked her as they waited their turn at the valet parking.

  “I’m not sure. Mia was playing, though. I think it was a friend of a friend, and I came as a plus one for someone whose girlfriend was out of town or something. Jazz’s brother
maybe. I don’t remember.”

  Before they could continue the conversation, they pulled up to the valet who opened Tessa’s door and held it for her.

  Gray hurried around to help her if needed, but she’d managed to stand up on her own. He offered his arm. She slid her hand through it, and they walked inside together.

  A few minutes later, they were seated. He heard her sigh of relief.

  “You might have been right,” she said softly. “The shoes may have been a mistake.”

  “I wish I’d grabbed another pair for you.” He reached over and took her hand, linking their fingers.

  Something he didn’t think they’d ever done before.

  “You’re not going to say ‘I told you so.’”

  He brought her hand to him so he could sandwich it between both of his. “I don’t think I ever actually said that. I asked you if you thought it was a good idea, but I never told you it wasn’t.”

  “Still.”

  They were joined by Lani and Harrison before he could say anything else. The sitting area was filling fast. He suspected all three main ballrooms were reserved for this event. One for the ceremony itself, one for cocktail hour, and one for the sit-down dinner reception and dancing.

  The music changed and the quiet conversations died off all together as the bridesmaids started down the aisle.

  He turned to Tessa and whispered, “Don’t stand when Brittany walks. She’d understand, but she won’t even notice.”

  Tessa was going to take Gray’s advice, but only because it would take her far too long to stand up in the first place.

  As she’d figured it out, she’d gotten faster, but not fast enough for a walk down the aisle.

  She didn’t know how she felt about how snugly her hand fit in his as he watched the bridesmaids.

  The feeling of loss when he let go to stand up surprised her.

  Just like the desire to kiss him after he zipped up her dress had an hour earlier.

  The way his fingers had brushed softly against the bruised spot then up her spine sent chills running through her.