“So, we wanted to talk to you two about something.” Holden tells them.
“Uh oh.” Brandon answers, acting as if it’s a bad thing.
Emily studies me carefully. “Nah. I can read Kayleigh like an open book. We’re not in trouble.”
“Should you be?” I question, narrowing my eyes.
Brandon grins deviously and winks. “Maybe.”
“You’re right.” I say to Holden. “He’s a horrendous liar. No wonder you knew about the party.”
Holden nods in agreement, giving me his signature ‘I told you so’ look. “No, but really.” He says to them. “Sit.”
The two of them sit down, and Holden nudges me to start the conversation. I smile brightly at Emily, remembering all the times we talked about this moment. It starts to make me emotional.
“I wanted to know, if you will be my maid of honor.”
She lights up and covers her mouth as she gasps. “Of course!” She answers happily. “Come here.”
Em reaches over and hugs me tightly, the two of us both tearing up a little. Brandon watches on, happy to see his girlfriend so excited. Then, he makes a face at Holden.
“Wait, what does that have to do with me?”
Holden laughs and rolls his eyes. “Shut up, dick. You know you’re my best man.”
A wide grin appears on Brandon’s face. “Damn right, I am.”
THAT NIGHT, HOLDEN AND I watch the sunset on the beach, wrapped up in each other and not wanting to move – even long after it turns dark. The warm breeze blows through my hair as my lips move against my fiancé’s. When I dig my nails lightly into his back, a low groan emits from the back of his throat.
He turns us, laying me back on the oversized towel before climbing on top of me. I arch my hips up to press against him, feeling his hardening length through his bathing suit.
“Have you ever had sex on the beach?” He murmurs against my mouth.
“Isn’t that illegal, and insanely cliché?”
He hums. “Cliché, yes, but it’s only illegal if you get caught.”
I giggle, but it’s quickly replaced by a moan as he grips my waist and grinds down against me roughly. Within seconds, he’s moving my bikini bottoms to the side and slipping two fingers inside of me, instantly finding my g-spot. Fuck, he’s good at that.
Chapter 11
The white chairs are carefully placed on both sides of the pale pink aisle runner. Flower pedals lie scattered amongst the room. At the end of the aisle stands the most perfect altar, decorated with floral arrangements and fabric to match the runner. The entire sight is breathtaking.
“Where are we supposed to go?” Bree whispers, looking around like everything is fragile.
I shrug but then hear Dawson behind me.
“Hey trouble.”
Spinning around, I take in his appearance. He’s dressed in a tuxedo and his hair is done for once, keeping it away from his face. He looks nervous, but handsome nonetheless. He smiles brightly as he sees the two of us looking at him.
“You look great.” I compliment.
“Thanks. So do you.”
“She’s lying. You look like you’re seconds away from vomiting all over the place.” Bree says, causing me to smack her arm but Dawson just laughs.
He tilts his head to each side a couple times. “Sounds pretty accurate actually.” Taking a deep breath, he grabs a chair and sits. “It’s not that I’m having second thoughts. I’m marrying the love of my life, and I couldn’t be happier.”
“But?”
He smiles sadly and looks down at his hands. “I’m afraid she’s going to leave me at the altar, or that I won’t be a good enough husband.”
“What?!” Bree and I shout in unison, but he shushes us.
I lower my voice and address him calmly. “Daws, relax. She loves you. She wouldn’t have agreed to marry you if she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life with you.” He visibly softens at my words before another voice booms through the room.
“Aw, is someone getting scared?” Holden chuckles.
Dawson stands up and shakes his hand. “Hey H. Thanks for coming.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He replies.
My eyes rake over my fiancé. The charcoal grey suit hugs his body perfectly. The quiff his hair is styled into makes me remember the night of the black and white party last year. He’s gorgeous, and I’m so lucky.
“I take it you’re Bree and Kayleigh?” A girl from behind us asks. Her strawberry blonde hair curls all the way down to her belly button, falling perfectly against the light gold dress – the same kind Bree and I will be wearing. She looks like she can’t be any older than sixteen.
She grins at us until her eyes land on Holden. “Oh.” She hesitates. “And you’re H-Holden Rivers.”
Dawson laughs, walking over to the girl and places his hand on her shoulder. “This is Aria, Sky’s little sister.”
Bree nudges Holden with her elbow as Aria can’t take her eyes off him. “Looks like someone has a crush.”
He rolls his eyes playfully and wraps his arm around me. The gesture causes Aria’s stare to break and she frowns at the floor. I quickly kiss his cheek and step away.
“Okay, we have to get ready.” I tell him then turn to Aria. “Can you show us where to go?”
She nods. “Of course. It’s this way.”
With one last glance at Holden, she leads Bree and I down a set of stairs and into a room. Skylar’s sitting in a chair in the corner, having her hair and makeup done. She smiles as she sees us in the mirror, but can’t say anything while the makeup artist is applying her lipstick. Our dresses hang on the wall, with hangers that have each of our names shaped with the metal.
“Thank fuck you’re here.” Sky greets us as soon as she can speak.
Bree and I chuckle softly as her mother chastises her for her language. “It’s nice to meet you both.” Her mom smiles. “I’m Lilly, Skylar and Aria’s mother. I take it you’re Kayleigh and Brianna?”
“Mhm. I’m Kayleigh, that’s Bree.”
Skylar gets up from the chair as soon as her hair is done, and comes over to hug us both. She’s visibly shaking and I give her a look.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah.” She replies, but it doesn’t sound at all convincing.
Aria doesn’t look up from her phone. “She’s freaking out.” She tells us, blowing Sky’s cover. “Though, I’d be freaking out too if I was marrying the only guy I’ve ever been with.”
“Aria.” Sky and her mother both bark.
“What?” She giggles. “How do you know he’s the one for you if you have never given anyone else a chance?”
Skylar gapes and I can see the level of panic growing in her eyes. In a split-second decision, I take out my phone and send a quick text.
Me: I’m sending Aria out there.
Distract her PLEASE.
“Shoot. Aria, can you go help Holden with finding where he needs to go? I have to get ready and he’s clueless.”
Her eyes widen as she immediately clicks off her phone and jumps up from the couch. She leaves the room without another word as my phone vibrates in my hand.
Holden: Fine, but you owe me.
“Did you just sacrifice your fiancé?” Bree questions, smirking.
I shrug. “Essentially, but he’ll live.”
Skylar looks at me thankfully before showing us to our dresses.
STANDING IN FRONT OF so many people triggers my anxiety. However, the moment I find Holden in the audience – looking at me as if I hung the moon – it dissipates. I focus on him as Dawson and Skylar exchange vows. Just barely registering the shakiness of Dawson’s voice, Holden and I maintain eye contact. It’s like he knows I need this, because he doesn’t look away.
“I, Dawson Tyler Leadley, take thee, Skylar Valerie Campbell, to be my wife…”
“I, Skylar Valerie Campbell, take thee, Dawson Tyler Leadley, to be my husband…”
“By the
power vested in me, by the state of New Hampshire, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Dawson’s smile lights up the room as he pulls Sky close, grinning into their kiss. Bree stands behind me, wiping tears from her eyes and sniffling slightly. Meanwhile, I glance back at Holden and blush when he winks at me. I don’t miss the way Aria pouts.
We all take our turns making our way back up the aisle, and my fiancé watches intently as I walk with one of Dawson’s groomsmen. The idea of him still being jealous, even though we’re engaged, makes me giggle. I agreed to spend the rest of my life with him, and he’s still afraid of losing me to someone else.
“You look beautiful.” Holden whispers into my ear as soon as he comes up behind me.
My heart flutters as I turn around and pull him into a hug. “Thank you.”
“Kayleigh.” Bree calls. “Come on. We have to go take pictures.”
Holden and I both groan in unison before I grab his hand and pull him outside with me. He may not be in the pictures, but he can stay close for the sake of my sanity.
THE RECEPTION IS FILLED with guests who become more intoxicated as the night goes on. Holden even has a couple of mixed drinks, but stays relatively sober. He’s currently dancing with Aria, not being able to tell her no when she nervously asked. I’m sitting at the table with Dawson, Skylar, and Bree.
“That really doesn’t make you jealous?” Bree inquires. “I mean she’s practically salivating at the mouth.”
I chuckle over the rim of my glass before taking a sip. “No. She’s basically a preschooler, and we’re engaged. I don’t think I have much to worry about.”
Skylar watches her sister and hums. “Remember when that was us? Sixteen and falling in love. Poor Aria. She has zero chance with him.” She turns back to me. “When she found out that I’m friends with him, she literally screamed into the phone.”
Bree’s eyebrows furrow. “How did she know who he is?”
“My dad is a massive hockey fan. He’s trying to play it cool, but inside he’s dying to talk his ear off about the recent draft.”
I look over at Skylar’s father, seeing him glance at Holden every few seconds. Little does he know, Holden would love to spend the entire night talking hockey with him. It’s adorable when he’s immersed in something he loves. His eyes get brighter and he smiles more. I could listen to him ramble for hours, just to see that look on his face.
“Speaking of hockey…” Dawson pulls me from my thoughts. “How are you doing with him leaving in a few weeks?”
His words hit me like a slap in the face, causing me to realize how quickly the summer is flying by. The idea of having to be at school without him weighs heavy on my heart. I’ve been doing all I can to avoid thinking about it, and today is no different.
“Nope. We’re not talking about this.” I answer simply. The three of them stare at me blankly. “What?”
Sky smiles sympathetically and reaches her hand out to grab mine. “Hun, you need to prepare yourself. It’s going to be rough, and if you’re not ready for it, it’ll be worse.”
I shake my head fiercely. “No. We’re not doing this. It’s going to be horrible no matter what I do. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Kay, you can’t just pretend it isn’t happening.” Dawson murmurs sadly.
Standing up, I take one step away from the table. “Watch me.” I reply, walking over to Holden and interrupting his dance. “Mind if I cut in?”
Aria doesn’t look happy, but she nods and takes a step back. Holden grabs my hand in his and rests his other on my back. I immediately melt against him, laying my head on his chest and breathing in his cologne.
“I can’t wait until our wedding.” He whispers. “Being able to dance with you like this, knowing you’re my wife – just thinking about it makes me giddy.”
I hum in agreement, but choose not to say anything. It isn’t that I don’t revel in the idea of marrying him. I just can’t seem to get the thought of his upcoming departure out of my head. Damn my stupid friends and the way they care.
Thankfully, Holden just holds me close as we sway back and forth to the slow beat of the song. As I tune out the world around me, I find myself wishing he’d never have to let go - that I could just stay right here forever.
WE GET BACK TO the hotel room a little after midnight, both a little buzzed from ending the night on a high note. He unzips the back of my dress and watches it fall to the floor, groaning slightly when he sees me standing there in lingerie. I give him a small smile and step closer, wrapping my arms around his neck.
He sighs. “As much as I would love to wrap myself up in you, we need to talk.”
Eying him playfully, I tilt my head to the side. “You’re leaving me for Aria, aren’t you?”
He laughs and throws his head back. “Yes baby. That’s exactly it. I’m just dying to go to prison.”
“I knew it. Fucking Campbells and their perfect DNA.”
After he’s finished chuckling, he walks us over to the bed and sits me down on his lap. “No but really. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I lie, avoiding eye contact entirely.
He places two fingers under my chin and lifts my head. “Kayleigh, your mood changed half way through the night, and you haven’t been the same since.”
“You noticed that?”
“Of course, I did. You thought I wouldn’t?”
I shrug. “I was hoping.” He doesn’t answer, instead choosing to just look at me knowingly. I exhale. “Dawson brought up you leaving, and I guess I just didn’t realize how soon it is.”
“Are you having second thoughts?”
“No.” I reply without hesitation. “This is your dream and I know we’ll be okay. I’m not going anywhere. I just get in my own head sometimes.”
His thumb starts rubbing comforting circles on my hip. “What are you worried about? Being apart?”
I nod. “Among other things.”
“Like?”
Looking back down at my hands, I mumble out my biggest insecurity. “I’m afraid you’re going to meet someone else and see that you can get so much better than me.”
“Baby.” He breathes and presses a soft kiss to my shoulder. “That will never happen for two reasons. One, I have absolutely zero interest in anyone who isn’t you. That isn’t going to change. And two, there is no one better than you.”
“Okay the first part may be true, but the second is definitely a lie.”
“Not to me it’s not.” His words come out with such sincerity. “I never thought I’d fall in love, until you stormed into my life and threw that idea to hell like it was the easiest thing in the world.”
I giggle. “You make me sound like a menace.”
“Oh, you’re the worst.” He jokes, causing me to lightly smack his chest. He bites his lip to contain his bright smile and I need to resist the urge to poke one of his dimples. “How about April 11th?”
“Huh?”
“Marry me on April 11th.”
My eyes widen. “Holden, that’s like eight months away. We don’t have anything planned. This stuff takes time.”
He entirely unaffected. “So? It’ll give you something to distract yourself, and it makes you mine that much sooner.”
“I already am yours.”
“You know what I mean.”
The pleading look on his face is enough to tell me that I don’t stand a chance in denying him. It took Skylar and Dawson over a year to plan their wedding, so I can only imagine what I’m in for, but he’s worth it. I lean forward and place a quick kiss to Holden’s lips.
“Okay.” I answer. “April 11th.”
The grin that stretches across his face makes all the stress in the world seem completely insignificant.
Chapter 12
His fingers dig into my waist, squeezing tightly as his body pins me against the wall. Our tongues dance together in a fight for dominance. I pull on his hair and relish in the groan that leaves his mou
th. Feeling his length harden in his jeans, my hips arch forward to grind against him.
“Fuck, I need you.” Holden whispers.
I smile into the kiss. “Then have me.”
He moves his hands down to my ass and lifts me with ease. I wrap my legs around him as he pulls me away from the wall. He walks over to our bed and lays me down before climbing on top of me. His hand instantly begins sliding up my shirt.
“You’re so perfect.”
I hum, shutting him up by pushing my tongue past his lips. He reaches underneath me and unhooks my bra with ease, freeing my breasts. I lift myself just enough to pull both articles of clothing over my head, leaving the top of me completely exposed.
Once I lie back down, he takes one nipple between his fingertips, teasing it while he sucks the other into his mouth. I moan at the contact and raise my hips to find some friction, but he pushes me back down.
“Patience, baby.” The feeling of his breath against where his mouth just was makes me squirm.
“I don’t have patience. I want you.”
He chuckles softly. “And you’ll have me, in time.”
Since we got back to our apartment over a week ago, we haven’t been able to keep our hands off each other. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s leaving soon, or that we’re finally not surrounded by people every minute of the day. Regardless of the reasoning, I’m not complaining.
He kisses down my stomach as he unbuttons my pants and slides them off my legs, along with my panties. After tossing them on the floor, he ghosts his mouth up my thigh – sucking marks all over my skin. He blows softly on my sex and my entire body stiffens.
“Holden, please.”
He moans. “I love when you beg for me. It’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”
“I’ll do anything you want, just please.”
With one light graze of his tongue over my clit, I practically scream. My fingers lace into his hair while my other hand grips the bedsheet. I can see the smug grin on his face at my reaction. To be honest, he can be as conceited as he wants, as long as he doesn’t stop.
Seamless Forever (Sleepless November Saga Book 3) Page 8
