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They watched as Betsy returned to her car, parked along the curb. Once she was safely inside, Megan marched right back up the steps.“I’m so sorry that happened. I should have been more thoughtful about our—”

“We didn’t do anything wrong,” Allison said blandly, as if all emotion had been drained from her body. She looked like a shell of herself, and Megan detested that she’d contributed. Hell, she’d been the abject cause.

“That part’s true. But I know this isn’t how you imagined telling your family.”

“No, it’s not. But maybe it’s better this way. Rip off the Band-Aid. You heard Betsy. She doesn’t care about whatever this implies about me, or what kind of journey I’m on.” Allison had a point. Betsy was focused on pretty much every factor but Allison and her feelings. “This is about landing a Carmichael and protecting the investment.” She said it with a sigh. “Which was never a goal of mine.”

Megan nodded. “What can I do?”

Allison turned and their eyes met. In that moment, Ally visibly came back to herself. “Nothing. You’ve been caring and supportive, and that’s all I can ask for. If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me to you for what you just witnessed.” She gave Megan’s hand an affectionate squeeze.

“That was nothing,” Megan said with a grin. “Have you ever seen a bride when her flowers are late to the ceremony?”

That pulled a laugh from Ally, comforting to hear. “Thank you for minimizing the situation. But if I really want to do the right thing, I should probably head to my parents’ house and get ahead of the story. They should hear everything from me.”

Megan nodded. “Do you want me to go with you? I can sit in the car while you talk. Offer moral support on the drive. Google knock-knock jokes and deliver them with gusto on cue.”

Allison seemed genuinely touched. “No. I think this is something I have to do on my own. But maybe we can try the knock-knock jokes out next time.” She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Megan’s lips, which said she wasn’t ready to pack it in just yet. A lot of people would have run for the hills with so many complications involved. It spoke to Ally’s character, which Megan grew to admire more and more.

“Promise me that you will call and update me.”

“I promise.”

She gave Ally’s chin an affectionate shake and headed home,awash with conflicting emotions. The evening had been wonderful until the moment it wasn’t. And as much as Megan wanted to give herself over to all the incredible feelings she was experiencing, she couldn’t lose sight of her precarious position in all this. People in her shoes always lost out, didn’t they? And the more she let herself fall for Allison Hale and get used to the idea of anus, the greater that loss would hit. She was up against Brent Carmichael, for God’s sake. She could skip across clouds all day, or she could stay measured, realistic, and with one foot on the ground. She nodded in understanding of what simply had to be her path.

Chapter Ten

The porch light glowed with warmth as Allison made her way up the winding sidewalk to the house that had been her childhood home. She used to play hopscotch on the driveway and dive onto the Slip ’N Slide in that very front yard with the neighbor kids, Tina and Terry, across the street. But there was something daunting about the house as she approached it now, as if once she crossed the threshold, nothing would ever be the same again. She took a fortifying breath. That was okay, because things were only going to get better, a concept she told herself to hang on to.

She let herself in after a loud two knocks, her standard practice. Her father was doing dishes in the kitchen, and her mother sat at the kitchen table with her laptop open, likely updating the books, a once-a-week practice. She took off her work glasses when Allison walked in. “Well, to what do we owe this surprise?” Her bottle-red hair was a little crazy, which meant she’d been shoving her glasses all over her head.

“Hi, guys,” she said, planting a kiss on her mother’s cheek and stealing a chair at the kitchen table. “I decided to swing by and see what you were up to.” Her heart was beating way too fast.

Her dad held up a cereal bowl and shook his head. “It’s too exciting to put into words.”

Her mother turned her screen around to show off her spreadsheet. “Truly riveting.” She studied Allison. “It’s later than you usually visit us. I’m suspicious.”

Allison laughed. “Well, I have updates if you have a minute or two.”

Her father, wearing his comfy, oversized Dallas Cowboys around-the-house-pants and white T-shirt, turned off the water, appearing interested. “Fire away.” He stood at the edge of the counter in anticipation.

Her mother was also now watching her carefully, her brow furrowed. “Is everything okay?”

“First of all, yes. Everyone is healthy and safe.” A pause. “But I need to let you know that I gave the ring back to Brent.”

Her mother blinked and looked to her father and back again. For a moment, neither said anything. “I don’t understand. What in the world? Why?”

Her father’s only response was to drop his brow in concern and shift his weight. He liked to collect all the information before reacting.

“I know that to you this seems out of left field. But the truth is, I was questioning things between us, and we agreed that it was better to wait until I was sure. Brent felt strongly that we should spend some time apart, and I agree. There’s no use planning a wedding when we’re not clear on if there will be one.”

She could see the wheels in her mother’s head, as if she was trying to keep up. “Allison. This isn’t like you. I’m scared now. What’s going on? Are the two of you fighting? You must be so rattled. Are you okay?” Her mother took her hand in both of hers, and the soft touch and sympathetic gesture hit Ally square in the chest. Her mother cared abouther, more than the engagement, and it meant so very much.

Tears crept into her eyes and her voice felt scratchy. “I hope so. I think I am.”

“So this means I don’t have to wear a tux?” her father said, coming to sit at the table with them. He offered a soft smile.

That broke the tension, and the three of them shared a laugh, which allowed Allison to catch her breath and regain momentum. “Let’s wait and see,” she said, but part of her knew that ship had sailed.