“Was head buyer really your goal, though?” I wondered. “Or another safety net?”
She frowned, and I shrugged. “You love traveling and adventure, and you’ve never met a stranger. In the right job, those traits would be prized. And if you didn’t feel stuck in your job anymore…”
“Then maybe I wouldn’t blow off my friends and family for a week of revelry?”
“Then maybe you’d be able to find happiness in other places, too,” I corrected. Then I grinned and quoted my own words to her from long ago. “So your talent’s not sewing, babe. You’ll figure it out.”
She laughed out loud—a bright, genuine sound—then sighed. “Maybe you can help me explain it to my parents.”
“You know your parents want you to be happy more than anything,” I began.
A deep, familiar voice responded from behind me. “They certainly do.”
I turned to see Erin’s parents. She flew into her dad’s arms and hugged him tightly. “I thought you were in California at Uncle Dave’s place.”
Lorraine nudged Rod out of the way so she could hug her daughter. “The phones work just as well in California, dear. Or they would have if your father had remembered to plug the charging thingamajig into the wall last night.”
Rod reached out a hand for me to shake. “Thank you for coming. Hazel told us you were on your way here, but I wanted to make sure you didn’t feel obligated to help.”
“You know me better than that,” I said, clasping his hand. He pulled me in for a hug. I thought about the hundreds if not thousands of times he’d been there for me, encouraging me as a fledgling competitive skier, celebrating my wins through college and beyond, and finally offering me a job doing what I loved. This man was like a father to me, and I’d do anything to keep from disappointing him.
Anything but deny my relationship with Julian.
“Join us,” I said, moving over so they could get to the other two chairs around the square table. “Would you like a cocktail? The rum punch is good, but I’m sure they have margaritas, too.”
Lorraine gave me a quick hug and kiss on the cheek as she moved past me to take her seat. “Lord, yes. Margarita for me.”
I found the server and ordered drinks as well as a few appetizers for the table. When I returned to my spot, I saw Rod had pulled out some papers.
“I brought a photocopy of your passport, your birth certificate, and anything else I thought we might need to get your passport replaced.”
Lorraine looked between Erin and me with hesitation. “Honey, your message mentioned wanting to get married down here, but I don’t think—”
Erin cut her off. “We’re not doing that. That was… that was a bad idea.” Her face flushed, and she reached out to take my hand in hers again. “Parker and I agreed we’re better off as friends.”
“Really?” Lorraine’s eyes went wide.
I nodded and took a centering breath. “Because I’m, um… I’m…”
Erin’s face softened in understanding empathy. “Mom and Dad… Parker is with Julian. They’re together.”
Hearing her say it out loud somehow gave me the confidence to speak. “She’s right. I’m in love with Julian. I’m sorry for…”
While I searched for the right words, words meant to apologize for taking us all down the wrong path, which included an expensive wedding cancelation, Lorraine hurried around the table, wrapped one arm around Erin’s neck and the other around mine while we were still seated, and dragged us over the corner of the table into the world’s most awkward—but loving—group hug. “Thank heavens!” she cried. “Oh, I’m so proud. I have the best kids ever.”
Rod chuckled. “Good lord, woman. Don’t strangle them.”
Erin and I caught each other’s gazes. She winked and smiled, and I couldn’t help grinning back in joy and relief. Lorraine could squeeze me as tight as she liked. I was so damn glad that I got to have Julian and keep this, too. It was beyond anything I’d imagined.
Lorraine sniffed loudly and shook my shoulder. “Ah, Parker, I’m so happy for you. I always knew you two belonged together!”
“You did?” I wished someone would have clued me in.
“Oh my gosh, Julian!” she exclaimed in surprise.
“Yeah.” I was grinning goofily, but I couldn’t stop. “Julian. He and I—”
“No, I mean, Julian.” She gave me a brilliant smile, then turned my head toward the man whose long strides ate up the tile floor between us. Julian—my Julian—was here in Mexico, looking upset but determined, his blue eyes never wavering from mine.
I jumped to my feet and pushed my chair away, heart thundering in my chest.
“Baby,” I began as he came closer, then broke off as my thoughts began tripping over themselves. I wanted to make sure he was okay, and to ask why he’d come, and to tell him that I loved him so, so much.