Team Bride by Valerie Comer Read Free Book Online Page B

“Yeah.”
    “Love does that. It messes with your equilibrium.”
    “Oh, good grief. I’m not in love with him. We’ve been on two dates, that’s all.” She wrapped her arms around the dragon, holding it close to her chest.
    Lindsey reached across and grabbed the dragon’s tail, but Sarah didn’t let go. Lindsey laughed. “What did he say when he won this bad boy?”
    Oh, man. Did she have to say?
    Lindsey raised her eyebrows. “By the look on your face, it was pretty good. Spill, girl.”
    What did it matter? Years — maybe only months — from now Corbin would be long gone, and all she’d have was this plushy to remember him by. She thrust the toy at her friend. “Something about slaying all my dragons for me.”
    Lindsey pushed it back. “Sounds romantic.”
    It had been, in the dusk of the midway. Now, in the light of day, she wasn’t sure. “After the fright I had on the Ferris wheel, he rode the teacups with me.”
    Lindsey burst out laughing. “Corbin in the teacups? Tell me it’s not true.”
    “See, I don’t even know why you and I are friends.”
    “Sarah, you’re too much. Personally, I think Corbin is perfect for you. He stretches you out of your comfort zone—”
    “A place I quite like, thank you very much.”
    “And it sounds like you stretch him out of his. That’s good.”
    “Just because you’ve been Mrs. Nick for two weeks doesn’t make you an expert in everyone else’s relationships.”
    “Hey, girl, I’m on your side. You know how hard it was for me to believe Nick had changed since the jerk he was in high school? He needed a chance to prove to me that Jesus had made him a new man. It wasn’t easy to accept, even while I was being swept away by all the anonymous gifts he sent.”
    Having a plush dragon gallantly presented to her was at least as romantic as all the secret admirer gifts Nick had showered on Lindsey.
    “So I think you need to give Corbin a chance, too.”
    “What do you think I’m doing? We’ve gone out twice, and will again on Monday.”
    “But are you letting yourself see the good in him? Are you willing to see him as a potential life partner?”
    Sarah opened her mouth, but closed it again when Lindsey put up her hand.
    “He’s a good guy, Sarah. He’s a solid Christian man, and I think he’s fallen for you. Open yourself up a bit and see where this takes you.”
    “You keep saying that as though I’m already singing the swan song.”
    Lindsey quirked an elegant eyebrow. “Aren’t you? You’re twenty-eight. It’s okay to date with the future in mind. It’s more than going to the fair like some teenagers.”
    “Hey! It was Corbin’s idea.” One she should’ve turned down, so he wouldn’t see what a chicken she was.
    “I didn’t say it was bad . I just said there’s more. A whole lot more.”
    “Yeah, well, you’re married. I don’t want to hear about the more part.”
    Lindsey chuckled. “We’ll have that talk later, after Corbin’s popped the question and you’ve said yes . Trust me.”
    Could she envision his proposal? Man, a guy like him would probably pull off something public and YouTube-worthy. Instead of being thrilled, she’d be mortified. She shuddered. “I don’t think I can do this, Linds.”
    “What are you really afraid of?” Her friend’s voice was soft with compassion.
    Sarah clutched the dragon tight. “I don’t know. It took a lot for me to stand up with you. That wedding I was in when I was a kid... I’ve managed to block most of the memories, but it was horrible.”
    “You’ve never told me what happened.”
    “I didn’t really know the people. They were neighbors or something. All they cared about was that I was cute. The ring bearer was a couple of years older, and he was mean, and no one stood up for me.”
    “What kind of mean?”
    “I took my job of dropping flower petals very seriously.”
    To give credit where credit was due, Lindsey did not roll her eyes. “I’m sure you