Page 48 of Not that Sea-Rious

Marissa

W hy did Marissa keep scanning the crowd?

She knew better. He wasn’t there. Yet every chance she got, she searched for him.

It didn’t matter that she was listening to Carolyn’s mom tell the story about how she argued with the florist for the centerpieces.

God help Marissa if someone asked her Erich’s mother’s name, because Marissa was too busy looking over the woman’s shoulder when they were introduced.

She was too distracted to be a functioning guest—let alone an effective bridesmaid. Ugh, why was she like this? Pathetic and desperate.

With shoulders slumped and her gaze locked on her plate, Marissa pushed the leafy greens around on her plate. She wasn’t hungry. It was a delicious salad. She’d gone with Carolyn to sample the food the other day. She just wasn’t interested in it.

“Come with me,” Joyce whispered as she got up.

Furrowing her brows, Marissa glanced around. “Where?”

“I should take Ava to the bathroom, and I need someone to watch her while I go. Ted had to wrestle me into the Spanx this morning, and I haven’t a clue how long it’s going to take me to stuff myself back into them.

Last time I brought Ava into a public restroom, she opened the door on me, and the entire world got a show. I do not want a repeat of that.”

Glancing at the little girl squirming against her mother, Marissa chuckled. “Okay.”

As they made their way over the dance floor, the DJ asked everyone to clear it.

They’d already done the dances, so it must be time to toss the bouquet. Marissa wanted no part of that. She already felt sad. There was no reason for her to join Carolyn’s teenage cousins as the only single women at the wedding.

“Thank you,” she murmured to Joyce.

Opening the bathroom door, Joyce peered at her. “For what?”

“Giving me an excuse to avoid all that hoopla.” Marissa gestured behind her.

Once Ava had gone tinkle, Marissa helped her wash her hands and entertained her by dancing in the bathroom to the music coming from the reception hall. Twirling and showing off their tap dance moves, they waited for Joyce.

They had really gotten into it busting a move when Joyce finally exited, muttering to herself about girdles. “Can you zip me?” she asked, approaching the sink.

Pausing the wiggles, Marissa stepped to her friend and dutifully fixed her dress.

“Calling single ladies,” the DJ announced from the other room.

“I thought they did that already,” Marissa groaned.

“Apparently not,” Joyce said as she scrubbed her hands. “But Carolyn will kill you if she doesn’t see you out there.”

Resigned to her fate, Marissa had no other choice. It was still the bride’s day, and as her maid, she had to do what Carolyn wanted. Turning toward Ava, Marissa extended her hand. “Want to join me on the dance floor?”

“Yeah,” the little girl said as she took Marissa’s offering.

Seeing the approving smile on Joyce’s face, Marissa headed out of the bathroom and toward the dance floor to brave the dreaded bouquet toss. As she suspected, a bunch of teenage girls vied for a spot close to Carolyn, who had her back to them.

Keeping to the rear, hopefully out of reach, Marissa paused.

“No.” Ava tugged. “Closer.”

“Baby, we don’t want to get trampled,” Marissa mused as she gestured to the cousins throwing elbows.

Shaking her head, Ava continued on and effectively dragged Marissa to the women.

“Ready?” the DJ asked.

The women cheered.

“Set,” he said.

Carolyn glanced over her shoulder and winked.

What was that about?

“Throw.”

Using both hands, and apparently all her might, Carolyn tossed her flowers behind her, over her head to the group of young women with their hands in their air, hip checking one another.

Marissa’s gaze followed the cluster of calla lilies tied with a wide ribbon as it soared in an arc toward her. Her eyes widened as she noted the trajectory.

Oh, hell no. She wanted to be no part of that pageantry.

Ava lifted her hands, spread her fingers, and reached for it.

Closing her eyes and turning away, Marissa all but darted as though it were a missile aimed at her. With her head down, she collided with an unmovable force. As she bounced off a well-tailored suit and nearly fell back on her ass, arms caught her.

When she looked up, her mouth fell open, and her heart swooned.

Beau.

Of course it was.

“Easy,” he said, wearing the most adorable smile she had ever seen.

“You came,” she stated the obvious as she got her feet below her and reestablished her balance.

On a chuckle, he ran his hands up and down her arms a moment before releasing her and stepping away. “Joyce had this whole plan where I’d catch the garter belt, and Carolyn would throw you the bouquet,” he said as he scrubbed the back of his neck.

Marissa glared at Ava’s mother, who twisted her head like she wasn’t eavesdropping and pretended to console her daughter, who had not caught the flowers.

“But some overeager dude snatched that shit right out of the air,” Beau continued. “So, I figured I’d catch you instead.”

She couldn’t stop smiling. No one had ever “chased” her like this. When stuff got rough, everyone else just left. They didn’t care, put effort in, or try harder. They quit. Beau didn’t. He had hard conversations and showed up. His persistence nearly brought tears to her eyes.

He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She rested her head on his shoulder, closed her eyes, and let herself melt against him as they slow danced right there on the corner of the dance floor to “I Hope You Dance,” by Lee Ann Womack.

It was the perfect moment. The world sent her a message. Give it a shot. They could figure things out. It wasn’t every day that a sexy ginger appeared in her life, took her to swim with dolphins, ate her out in public, and attended a wedding with minimal notice for her.

She’d be a fool to reject him.

“How far is Allentown, Pennsylvania, from you?” he asked.

Pulling back, she peered up at him. “About two hours. Why?”

Wearing a Cheshire cat grin, he nodded. “Totally doable.”

Still confused, she stammered. “Wh-I-What?”

He pulled her against him as he swayed. “I’m starting a new consulting firm.

Very small. One employee and a former client reached out, infuriated that I wasn’t working with him anymore.

He’s got some franchises around the Allentown area and offered to pay my relocation costs if I’d help him out and get his businesses in better shape. ”

Her eyes widened, and her feet stopped. “What?”

None of this made sense. What was he even saying? Her brain wasn’t wrapping around his words, and she was pretty sure it had nothing to do with the half a sip of champagne she had during the toast.

“I’m moving closer to you because I want to give us a shot,” he said and kissed the top of her forehead. “That is, if you’ll have me.”

She blinked, still processing what he said. Things like this didn’t happen in real life. When did she wind up in a rom-com?

“Marissa, will you be my girlfriend?” he asked more blatantly.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Tina and Joyce leaning in, practically biting off their fingernails. Wait! Was Carolyn in on this too?

Turning her focus back to the man in front of her, she caught the final verse of the song and took a leap of faith. “Absolutely.”