What He's Been Missing

“Yeah, right! And where have you been anyway? I haven’t heard from you since the big proposal at the hotel weeks ago.”

“Scarlet has had me everywhere,” Ian said. “Dinners. The engagement party—”

“Engagement party? You didn’t invite me?”

“Oh, it was small. Just some folks at her parents’ house.”

“That was fast,” I said.

“Yeah, seems like everything is moving pretty quickly.” Ian’s face went nervous. He seemed to drift away. “My Scarlet sure knows what she wants.”

“Do you?”

“I’m fine!” He raised his voice as he refocused on me. “No need to revisit what happened at the hotel. It was just nerves. I love Scarlet. And I’m ready to get married.”

“Being ready to get married is no reason to marry someone.”

“Are we going to do this? Are you really going to force me to have this conversation in front of”—he turned and pointed at the sign over the shop—“Big Bird’s Auto Body?”

“Well, you—”

“I’m in love! I’m getting married.”

“OK!” I held up my hands in surrender.

“And . . . speaking of the wedding . . .” Ian smiled at me.

“I wasn’t talking about the wedding. No one was talking about any wedding,” I said. I knew this was coming. But Ian knew my rule: I don’t plan friends’ weddings. No mixing business with pleasure; it always goes wrong.

“Come on, Rach! You know I have to ask.”

“And you know my rule.” I started walking back to the garage.

“I know, and I told Scarlet, but why can’t you at least talk to her about it?” He grabbed my arm.

“About what?”

“About planning our wedding,” Ian said.

“I can’t. I won’t,” I said.

“Won’t?” Ian followed me closer to the garage. “That sounds like more than principles.”

“Ian, I just don’t do that.”

“It’s all Scarlet is talking about. She’s telling everyone my best friend is planning the wedding.”

“What? She’s telling people that? You need to tell her I’m not doing it.”

/> “I think it’ll come off better if she hears it from you. If I say it, she’ll think it’s because you don’t like her—”

“Well, I—”

“But if you say it, she’ll know it’s not personal.” He made it sound so simple, but I knew better.

“This is a setup,” I said.

“How about over dinner tonight? My treat. Parish at eight?” He pulled the keys from his pocket like it was a done deal.