Baking Me Crazy (Donner Bakery, #1)(56)

"I don't think I can do this," I whispered to Nero before I left the house.

Like an asshole, he didn't answer and simply cocked his head and twitched his ears.

"You're right. I'm being a chicken." My fingers played with the clasp on the small purse I'd borrowed from the back of my mom's closet. It was probably outdated, something she'd used in college, but I'd forked over enough for a dress I'd only wear once, so I was not about to add a purse into my budget too. "It'll be fine. It's not like he'll kick me out or something, right?"

Nero sniffed, shaking his head. I laughed.

"Thanks, bub." I scratched under his chin, which made him groan happily. "Have a good night while I'm gone, okay?" I sighed. "Honestly, I don't know how late I'll be."

That kinda depended on Levi. And my ability not to screw this up.

I took one last look in the mirror over the entryway table and managed one heaving breath to get my lady balls firmly in place.

Wheeling out to my car, I carefully, so very carefully lifted my chair into the back. Walking in a long, flowing dress felt far more terrifying than it should have. Each step was an accomplishment. When I was sitting in the driver's seat, I realized that I'd been holding the air in my lungs for too long because my head felt a little dizzy.

Or maybe that wasn't oxygen deprivation, I thought as I started driving toward Sylvia's parents' house. Maybe it was sheer, hanging-off-a-cliff-face nerves. By going into that wedding alone, I was about to let go. Let my hands fall off the edge and hope to God he'd catch me.

I'd arrived early enough that finding a close parking spot wouldn't be a problem, and off to the side of their three-acre spread, I saw the wedding party posing for the photographer.

Levi was easy to spot as he was a head taller than his brother, wearing dark navy pants, a crisp white shirt, and a fitted gray vest that molded to his broad chest. I couldn't help my smile. I'd missed him this week.

I saw him look in the direction of my car, but from this distance, it was impossible to know whether he'd actually seen me. When the photographer moved them to a different spot, in the back corner of the yard with the tall weeping willow behind them, I took my moment to get out of the car while I wouldn't be a distraction to him.

Normally, a backyard wedding would fall on my list of top ten things I'd dread attending because of simple wheelchair issues, but because I'd snagged a parking spot on concrete, and Sylvia's parents' yard was one long stretch of even, neatly manicured grass, it wasn't as daunting as it could have been.

I stood and exhaled, pulling my skirt down and checking to make sure it wasn't wrapped funny around my ankles or anything before I took my first step to get my chair.

Levi's parents beat me to it. I heard Mr. B clear his throat, and before I could move, I found them both beaming at me. Mrs. B was already wiping underneath her eyes.

"Oh my gosh, you are not crying already," I chastised her.

With a watery laugh, she gathered me in her arms and hugged me tightly. One of my hands was still on the door handle, but I held her with my free arm.

"Sweetheart, you are as pretty as a picture." She stepped back. "Look at you in a dress."

"Right?" I laughed. "It feels as weird as it looks, trust me."

Mr. B was smiling at us. "Nothing weird about it, Joss. You look beautiful," he said in that gruff voice of his. "Let me grab your chair for you."

"Thanks, Mr. B."

Mrs. B rubbed my back and smiled softly at me, her eyes an obvious mixture of sadness and hope. "We've missed you, sweetie. You better not be gone too much longer. House feels empty without you."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "How much did he tell you?"

Mr. B brought my chair over and locked it for me, before hooking a hand in his wife's elbow. "You're not meddling, are you?"

She sniffed. "I'd never."

He caught my eye and winked. When he bussed a kiss on her cheek, I couldn't help but sigh. In his starched shirt and gray bowtie, his dark gold hair—lightly peppered with gray—and beard freshly trimmed, he looked so handsome. Levi might get his personality from his mom, but his looks were all from his dad.

"You look very dapper today, Mr. B," I told him as I sat in my chair.

He grimaced, tugging on his tie, but his cheeks flushed a soft pink at my compliment. "No one told me I'd have to wear one of these."

Mrs. B clucked her tongue and swatted his hand away. "Leave it alone. I've already had to fix it once."

The look in his eye when he looked at his wife made me melt. No other way to say it. Even after five years of watching them together, the way they loved each other still made me feel gooey. Those were the parents I'd wished for growing up.

"Can we help you find a seat, sweetie?" Mrs. B asked.

I smiled. "No, I'm sure you guys have stuff to do."

She waved that off. "Nonsense. Besides, we need to make sure you're up by the family."

"What?" I shook my head. "No, no, that's okay. I wouldn't want to intrude."

My protests were summarily ignored when she looked at her husband. "Why don't you have Grady move that chair at the end. That way she'll have the best view, and I can have someone next to me to hold my hand when I'm blubbering mess."