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“T-thanks,” I said.
“I can go back out there and distract them.”
“No.” I shook my head. “We need to be united.”
“But you’re stressed.”
“I’ve been stressed for weeks. Just give me a second.”
“Amy, this was supposed to help your stress.”
“Yeah, but everyone looking atme...” I took a shaky breath. “I think my parents and Calvin were right.”
His gaze shot to me. “What could they possibly have beenrightabout?”
“They always told me I wasn’t able to handle the attention Calvin got, and this is just proving to me that I can’t. I had maybe twenty people’s eyes on me and I had to hide out.” I rubbed my forehead, frustrated with myself.
“Is it the twenty people, or is it your parents in the audience?”
Fuck.He was right. “I think it’s the second one. And ... everything else.”
“This is not a normal event. It’s fine that you’re a little out of it.”
“They looked mad.”
“Probably because you look prettier than Calvin ever could.”
“The term they’d use is handsome.”
“Don’t worry about them.” Levi’s voice was gentle, but my head fell into my hands, and I wasn’t sure what to do. But then his hands came to my shoulders. “Be yourself. We’ll kick them out the second they do anything.”
“Iammyself.”
“Not the version I know.” His hold on me loosened and he moved to grab my hand again.
I happily let him.
Everyone turned to look at us as we reemerged into the backyard, even my parents. Levi’s hand squeezed mine, reminding me that I was okay.
Logically, I knew that we had to play the part, and this was a part of it, but I would take any source of comfort and deal with the consequences later.
Isra made it to us first.
“That was beautiful! The best planned wedding since my own.”
“Does this mean you’ve forgiven me for not letting you meet her until now?” Levi asked.
Isra’s smile fell. “No.”
Levi let out a long sigh. “Amy, meet Isra. She’s my?—”
“Stepmom. I know. She already introduced herself.”
“When?”
“I found her while she was getting dressed. Nancy joined me. Now you can’t hide her anymore.”
“Isra,” he said, exasperated.