Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(62)

Wolf’s family was making their rounds, as well.

We were waiting for Dylan and Wolf, who hadn’t shown up just yet.

“Of course, those two are late to their own rehearsal dinner,” Everly said with a laugh as she typed out a text on her phone and let us know she was texting Dylan now.

“Hey, they’re the only ones allowed to be late,” Vivian said.

“They’re here,” Charlotte and Ashlan said at the same time. The Thomas sisters were as close as the Reynolds siblings.

It was refreshing.

“And who do we have here?” a very attractive man said, reaching for my hand as we stood in the private room and were just getting ready to head to the table.

“Oh, hi. I’m Lila.”

“I’m Sebastian, the big, bad Wolf’s brother.” He chuckled and raised the back of my hand to his lips, slowly, and kissed it.

Hugh was watching from a few feet away as we’d intentionally kept our distance. We were just friends, after all, at least for appearances. His green gaze locked with mine, and I didn’t miss the heat there. Nor the anger.

Or was it jealousy?

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, pulling my hand away as politely as possible.

“Oh, for God’s sake, it’s my rehearsal dinner. Keep your paws off the guests. Sorry about that, Lila,” Wolf said, before giving me a brisk hug. Dylan swooped right in and did the same.

“I’m so glad you’re here. I see you’ve met my brother-in-law-to-be. Charming, isn’t he? He’s all bite and no bark, so be careful with that one,” she whispered close to my ear and then glanced over to see her cousin brooding as he watched us. “Ohhhh, someone does not look happy. Such a protective friend, huh?” She chuckled and then winked at me.

Hugh appeared at my side after hugging his cousin and her soon-to-be husband, then glaring at Sebastian.

“Hugh, my man. I didn’t realize you two were together.” Sebastian extended a hand, and Hugh took it with a scowl on his face and gave him an equally grumpy greeting.

He didn’t respond to the comment; he just placed his hand on the small of my back and led me toward the table where Georgia was waving us over to sit beside her.

I hugged Hugh’s parents and their grandparents, who I hadn’t seen in a long time. There were maybe forty people attending the dinner, and it managed to feel very intimate as they were all family.

I’d never had a family unit like this, and I definitely admired it.

Or like the Sunday dinners I’d been attending at the Reynolds’.

It was something I think I’d always craved.

A hand found mine beneath the table, and I glanced up to see Hugh watching me before he leaned close to my ear. “You okay?”

I nodded. “Yes. Of course.”

I reached for my wine glass to take a sip, and he leaned close again. “How’s your vajazzle feeling?”

I chuckled and squeezed his hand. “Very good. Thanks for asking.”

“It’s something, Snow. One of a kind.”

I shook my head and tried hard not to laugh. Finn was sitting on the other side of Hugh and asked him something that he and Cage were clearly arguing about.

Georgia tapped my arm, and I turned to look at her. She leaned close enough so only I could hear her. “So, what do you think of Dikota?”

“He seems really nice,” I said, as I glanced around her to see him awkwardly talking to Charlotte’s husband, Ledger. Dikota did not seem comfortable being here at all, nor did he seem to be making any effort to hide his discomfort.

“He’s not as outgoing as I am. He’s sort of this broody guy. But, girl, he’s got this possessive streak that I’ve never experienced. Some guy said hello to me at a restaurant the other day, and he punched him in the face. I was so startled because I didn’t think he even liked me that much. But wowsers, right?”

I tried not to react because red flags were going off in my head. Being jealous is one thing, but getting physical at a restaurant because someone said hello? That didn’t seem right.

“That’s an intense reaction. How long have you guys been together?” I tried to move the conversation to a safe subject.

“Three months. He’s a total wild card. I never know what I’m going to get. But it’s kind of fun, you know?”

“Yeah. I’m sure it is. And he goes to school with you?”

“Nope. He’s in a band downtown. I met him through a mutual friend. He’s not into school because he feels like it sort of puts people in a box. And, of course, I get it, because, hello, I’m graduating with a degree in art. You can’t put artists in a box, you know?”

“I get that. So, what do you want to do when you graduate?”

“Well, thanks to my dad and Cage, who both enjoy life inside the box,” she said with a chuckle. “I minored in business. That’s why it’s taking me the extra semester to graduate. They were so terrified I wouldn’t be able to find a job as an artist. But I don’t know what I want to do yet. I’m open. How about you? Are you excited to go back to Chicago and start your career there?”

I thought about it.

The thought of leaving did not excite me.

Maybe that was because I’d come home to help my father, and even though things were happening, we still had a long road ahead of us.