Off to the side, Lia and Claire chattered happily, snapping pictures of their own. Paige stood between them, red hair swept up off her face, and peacock blue column dress making her look like a friggin goddess.
“It’s not too late to see him now,” Paige teased. “Spare the man the embarrassment of bursting into tears in front of a hundred people at the sight of you.”
Molly laughed. “No way, I can’t wait for someone to catch that on camera.”
I stood back, and the photographer moved around Molly, directing her this way and that.
Paige slid an arm around my waist. “You four sure clean up all right.”
“For as much time as we spent in a hair and makeup chair, we better,” Claire said.
Because Molly allowed us freedom in choosing our dresses, Claire and Lia had opted for a dusty shade of blue, and in similar styles that flowed gently away from their hips, off the shoulder straps holding up a sweetheart neckline. All of us wore our hair down and curled, Molly was the only one who kept hers pulled back.
Her wedding dress, with impossibly thin straps holding it up over her shoulders, was fitted to the waist, covered in delicate floral lace before it flowed out dreamily toward the floor.
And after trying on dresses with far too many frills and embellishments, I found one in a deep navy that skimmed the length of my body, crisscrossing fabric covered my breasts, which left a small peekaboo cutout underneath. My back was completely bare.
I looked beautiful, felt beautiful, and so far, could breathe easily that the pre-wedding moments were going off without a hitch.
“Logan is on his way,” the wedding planner told us, tapping her CIA-level earpiece and speaking to someone we couldn’t see.
Nodding, I picked up my small clutch and walked to meet him, careful to miss the cracks in the path with my heels even though they were wedges. The last thing I needed was a rolled ankle. I’d just ditched the wrist brace the day before.
I stopped when I caught sight of my big brother walking my way. Hands tucked into his black tux pants, dark hair starting to show the slightest hint of silver at the temples, he looked handsome, and visibly nervous.
His smile was slow when he saw me. “Look at you.”
“Wait until you see the bride,” I told him.
Logan stopped in front of me and shook his head. “You look beautiful.”
Instead of deflecting like I so desperately wanted, I let out a deep breath. “Thank you.” I tilted my head back where Molly waited for him. “You ready for this?”
“Hell no,” he answered feelingly.
I laughed.
But to my absolute horror, his eyes got bright as he stared over my shoulder. “Shit, I just saw her.”
“Do not start crying.” I glanced up at the sky and blinked. “If you had any idea how long this makeup took, you’d take pity on me.”
Behind him, I saw guests starting to filter toward the adjacent garden, where the ceremony would take place. From where she stood, Molly was protected from view by a large hedge. I clutched my purse tightly, and Logan laid a hand on mine, squeezing gently.
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about, Iz. She’s not here.”
I turned my hand and clutched his. “I know. I think I always knew she wasn’t going to come.”
His eyes, so capable of seeing through all of us, studied me carefully. “From the first day, it’s been her loss. And my unbelievable gain.”
When my eyes watered, I let out a deep breath. “Today is going to be great,” I told him. “Even if you cry like a baby when you walk her down the aisle.”
He chuckled.
“Who’s crying like a baby?” Paige asked. She grinned at Logan when he stepped away from me and slid an arm around her waist. “Is it you, husband?”
“Maybe,” he murmured.
“Ready to go see our girl?” Paige said gently. “She’s waiting.”
Logan nodded, his jaw tight.
I stood in place and watched them walk hand in hand toward Molly. My sister turned and saw Logan, and my big brother had to stop to rub suspiciously at his eyes. Paige rubbed his back, which heaved on a massive breath. He approached Molly, shaking his head. He reached out and swiped a thumb under her eyes, and when they embraced tightly, I had to look down at the grass so I didn’t absolutely lose it.
No matter what happened for the rest of the day, I would be okay.
Or tomorrow, or the week after.
Even if I felt slightly hollowed out after what happened with Aiden, and his continued silence, days like today filled some of that void with pure joy.
It’s the only reason I could smile as I turned toward the hotel.
But I stopped short, the breath knocked out of me like a punch.
Aiden.
He was at the end of the path, waiting for me. Hair slicked back neatly, jaw slightly dark with stubble, and his muscular frame covered in a deep navy suit that fit him so perfectly I could’ve wept. He wore no tie, his hands hanging loosely at his sides.
My hand fluttered to my stomach, and his eyes tracked the movement.
It must have been enough for him because he approached with long-legged strides, eyes confident, mouth slightly curved in a smile.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” I asked.
His eyes traced my face, but he said nothing until he held out his hand. “I’m here for you.”
The sight of his arm outstretched blurred through the tears that filled my eyes until I willed them away. Taking in a slow breath, I slid my palm against his, only exhaling when he wove our fingers together.
Together, we walked down a short fork in the paved path, and he gave me a secretive smile over his shoulder when we turned around a large tiled wall to a small enclosed garden.
I was gripping his hand so tightly when he stopped, I wondered if he would pull away. Instead, he took my other hand in his, gently curled his fingers around my wrist, lifting it up to his mouth so he could press a kiss to where I’d worn the brace.
His eyes held fast to mine, and honestly, I wasn’t sure how I was still standing.
I wasn’t sure how my legs still worked or how my heart was still pounding blood to my body because it all rushed through my head.
Even with my heels, he towered over me, but Aiden gently tugged, pulling me into his arms.
His hands slid over the skin of my back, my arms curled around his middle, and I breathed out shakily when there was nothing but him. Nothing I could smell or see or feel except Aiden.
All the times we’d been alone, I’d imagined heat and the lighting of a bonfire, flames hitting the sky in a sharp whooshing sound.
But this, what a slow, gentle undoing of my heart. His fingers slid up the bumps on my spine, and I tucked my body closer to his. Those hands, they pushed underneath the veil of my hair until he cupped the back of my neck.
I pulled back to stare up at him. My smile was as easy as breathing, which was sort of how it felt to fall in love with him. It was simply the way I worked, I realized. It was the big picture that I hadn’t been able to see until he was in front of me. Loving him was the thing I was born to do.
His big hand slid over the side of my face, thumb brushing the seam of my lips.
“I’m sorry I made you wait,” he whispered.
My lips split in a happy smile. “You’re worth it.”
Aiden cupped my face in both hands and leaned down. But instead of brushing his lips over mine, he kissed my cheekbone. My forehead. The tip of my nose. My hands curled into the lapels of his jacket, helpless fists that did nothing to make him hurry up and kiss me already. Then I tugged, and he chuckled against my temple.