“I’m a great liar,” Kennedy protested. “You just caught me off guard.”
Juliet laughed and hugged her again, then pulled back. “Wow. That is so… you.”
Kennedy finally grinned. “I know. We were just hanging out one night, and I turned to him and said, ‘I really want to marry you,’ and he said, ‘Oh, I fully intend to marry you,’ and I said, ‘Prove it,’ and we got on a plane.”
“So you kind of proposed to him?” Juliet asked. Then she nodded. “Yeah, that’s very you too.”
Kennedy shrugged. “Two weeks ago. And yes, we’re going to tell everyone and have a big party, but after this circus is over and everything.”
“Oh my God, did you get married by Elvis?”
“Of course.” Kennedy grinned. “And I had him sing ‘Burning Love’ to Bennett.”
Juliet giggled.
“So”—Kennedy pointed a finger at Juliet’s nose—“you have to keep this to yourself.”
“I will. But I’m throwing my bouquet directly at you.”
The women linked arms and headed for the truck again.
Mitch, grinning, started after them. He glanced back when he realized Paige wasn’t beside him.
She looked like she was trying not to cry.
He immediately turned. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m in love.”
15
Mitch’s heart turned over in his chest. “What?”
“I’m in love with your family.”
Mitch sucked in a breath.
Fuck.
That had scared him for a second.
Except, scared wasn’t really what he was feeling.
Paige pulled her gaze from Kennedy and Juliet to meet his. “They are loud and over-the-top and in everyone’s business, and there really are no secrets, but I love them. The way they are in each other’s business is so different from what I’m used to. Like that—” She waved in the direction of Juliet and Kennedy’s retreating backs. “Kennedy and Bennett elope, and Juliet is just happy that they got married and notes that it’s very them to do it that way. It’s just supportive and happy. My family would have been disappointed and upset about missing it.” She sighed. “Everyone here knows everything about everyone else, but they’re all accepting of how each of you is unique and needs and wants different things.”
Mitch wasn’t sure what to say to that. It was all true. His family definitely kept track of one another, but there were no expectations of anyone being or doing things a certain way. As long as everyone did their part and supported each other and no one was a dick, then there was a lot of room for being whoever or whatever you wanted to be.
He wasn’t sure he’d ever really appreciated that before. At least, he’d never put specific words to it before. That was pretty damned great though.
He reached for her hand and tugged her close. “That includes you.”
She nodded. “I’m understanding that. If I want to hang out here and not marry you, they’re okay with that.”
His heart didn’t flip at that. It squeezed painfully. But he nodded. “Exactly. Whatever you need. They still want you around.” He pulled her even closer. “I do too.”
She didn’t say anything, but she let him hug her, resting her cheek against his chest for nearly a minute.
“Are you really going to come to Ellie’s for wedding talk?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Sure. I mean, there’s coffee and cinnamon rolls if nothing else.”
She laughed.
He kept his arm around her as they walked to his truck. He never wanted to let go of her. That wasn’t a new revelation, but every time it hit him, it felt stronger.
Even when they were seated at the end of the bar at Ellie’s with the other girls spread out along the length of the scarred wooden slab, he kept a hand on her leg. He didn’t want to stop touching her. She didn’t seem to mind. She leaned into his side, watching and listening to everyone else talk and laugh as she nursed her cup of tea.
“My mom sent these.” Tori held up a silver coin and a gold coin with a smile. “They’re for my shoes.”
Maddie leaned in. “What do you mean?”
“They’re a Swedish tradition. You put them in your shoes,” Tori said.
Paige shifted and sat forward. “Your family is Swedish?”
Tori nodded. “Yeah. On my mom’s dad’s side.”
“Mine too. Actually, my grandma and grandpa,” Paige said. “Both of my sisters wore coins in their shoes.”
“What do the coins mean?” Ellie asked.
“It’s luck.” Tori looked at Paige. “I guess?”
Paige smiled. “It’s a Swedish wealth blessing. The coins are presented to the bride before she goes to the ceremony. The silver coin comes from the bride’s father, and it goes in her left shoe, and the gold coin comes from her mother and goes in her right shoe. It’s a symbol from her family that she will never go without.”
Tori sighed happily. “Oh, that’s even nicer than I thought.”
Ellie nodded. “I like that a lot.”
“Your parents won’t be there?” Paige asked Tori.
“They will, but they sent these along with a lace handkerchief from my grandmother to act as my something borrowed. They just wanted me to know I had these things ahead of time.”
“I didn’t know you were Swedish,” Paige said. “Did you want to incorporate any other traditions?”
“Like what?”
“Oh, well, my sisters both walked down the aisle with their grooms rather than having their fathers give them away. It’s Swedish custom that signifies the bride and groom are equals who are marrying out of choice rather than one being given to the other.”
Maddie straightened. “Yes. I love that.”
Mitch smiled at his cousin’s fiancée. Her father was actually in prison and wouldn’t be a part of her wedding. Her grandfather and brother had both passed away. She had talked about walking down the aisle alone. This was perfect.
“Yes.” Juliet leaned over and hugged Maddie. “That’s exactly what we should all do.”
“What else?” Tori asked Paige.
“Oh, this one is maybe good for you all too,” Paige said. “In Swedish weddings, there is often only one bridesmaid and one groomsman and many times none at all.”
The girls all looked at one another. “Since we’re all going to be brides too, we had tried to figure out how to do that. Maybe we should just not worry about it.”
Kennedy slumped on her stool, letting out a long breath. “Yes. That’s a great idea.”
They looked over at her.
“Don’t want to play the part of bridesmaid three times on one day?” Maddie asked her.
“No offense,” Kennedy said. “But I’ll give you a great group toast. Hilarious and sappy at the same time.”
“I know you will,” Maddie said.
“At Swedish weddings, the speeches and toasts go on for a long time,” Paige said.
“Well, hell, maybe we are part Swedish way back,” Ellie said. “This group definitely goes on and on.”