“You’re probably right. We should all be so innovative.” She smooths back a flyaway piece of hair. Glancing over my shoulder, she smiles. “Speaking of my former classmates and their innovativeness…”
I don’t even need her to tell me he’s there. It’s like all those years of orbiting one another made it so we can sense the other. Sometimes I wonder if our subconsciousness knew we’d be together long before it happened.
“I read the article about Haulin’ the other day,” Delaney says. “And saw that you made the Most Successful Under Twenty list. Ben Rowland, entrepreneur. I never would’ve guessed.”
“Too bad you dumped me, right?” He’s smiling at Delaney but his eyes are on me. “You look amazing.”
“I don’t know.” I shift nervously. I’m in the navy bridesmaid dress with the wrap top tied in a halter around my neck. My arms are exposed. My choice, supported by both Norah and my mom, but now that I’m about to walk down the aisle in front of hundreds of guests, I’m reconsidering.
Ben and I stand before the mirror, the mood adjusting slightly. Delaney senses it and makes an excuse, saying she’ll meet us out front in a few minutes.
“I do know,” he says, reaching for me. His hand runs down my arm, thumb caressing a scar. “These don’t define you.”
My heart skips a beat as his closeness. It always does. “I know.”
“Trust me,” he says, slipping an arm around my waist, “no one is going to be looking at your arms anyway.”
“I know, I know. They’ll be focused on the bride.” Anxiety is a selfish, self-absorbed beast.
He laughs and gives my neck a soft kiss. “They better be.”
My whole body flushes. Possessive Ben is adorable. It goes against his easy going nature, but there’s something about me that brings it out in him. But it goes both ways, he brings out new things in me, too. For the first time in my life I’m not letting the anxiety and depression win. I’m fighting back. There’s a lot to live for; including the way his skin feels against mine. I tilt my chin up, more than willing to mess up my wedding makeup for a kiss—
A knock on the door interrupts us.
“Time to line up,” Felicia the wedding planner says. She’s got a clipboard clutched in her hands and a pen tucked behind her ear.
“Thanks,” Ben says, not paying her the slightest bit of attention.
“We’re coming.” I remove his hand from my hip and interlace our fingers.
The wedding is being held outside, but a small tent has been set up for the bride and bridesmaids. Ben gives me a quick kiss on the cheek as Felicia pushes him toward the front. The other groomsmen are waiting for him. I watch as he gives Gabe a hug and positions himself next to him—he’s the best man and I’m—
“Liv! Get over here!” Norah whisper shouts. “You’re my maid of honor, which means you’re supposed to be, like, right by my side.”
I roll my eyes and Delaney laughs. Once I’m close, I’m struck with how beautiful my sister is. Her dress is perfect, not too fancy—not too plain. It has a scoop neck (“like a T-shirt!” she’d declared) and fine beading along the bodice. I’m struck all of a sudden that this is really happening. She’s moving on with her life.
She pushes back the flap of the tent, and I get a view of the guys. They’re both in deep navy suits that match our dresses. They’re handsome and my stomach flutters, seeing my man up there. Gabe has a look of pure nerves on his face while Ben quietly whispers in his ear.
“You don’t think he’s making it worse, do you?” Norah asks.
“It’s Ben.”
“That’s what I’m worried about.”
“Places!” Felicia says, dragging Norah away from the flap. Everyone moves into position. Delaney first, me in the middle, then Norah. The music starts and Delaney walks down the aisle. Everyone turns to look and the nerves kick up in my stomach again. I can do this. They’re not looking at me. I can do this.
“Liv?” Norah says, as Delaney makes her slow walk to the front.
“Yeah?” I turn to face her.
“Thanks for being here today. I couldn’t do this without you.” A tear threatens to spill from the corner of her eye. “I need you. We all do, got it?”
I nod. “Got it.”
She takes my hand and squeezes it, just as Felicia whispers that it’s my turn. I move into position and look down the long stretch of grass. All eyes turn to me, and I see family and friends in the rows of seats. My mother and father. Gabe's and Ben’s parents. I see Maya and Melina. There are a few celebrities dotting the crowd, people that work with Gabe and Norah on the movies. My nerves flare and my heart hammers and I wonder if I can take the first step. I look down at the ground.
A hand touches my shoulder. “You’ve got this.”
I lift my chin and focus forward, seeking the one face I know can get me through this. It’s not hard to find his white-blond hair or piercing eyes. I zero in on his smile and step forward, knowing that I’m surrounded by people that care about me, people that support me, and once I get to the other side I can be with my favorite one of all.
Afterword
Anna Catherine Field is a fan of first love, toe-curling kisses and swoony romance. Not only does she like to read young adult romance, but she enjoys writing them as well. She lives with two dogs, two kids and a man-sized adult with a comic book collection big enough to require its own room. You can find her on Facebook at Anna Catherine Field. And join her on the Sweet and Clean Reader Group.
Also by Anna Catherine Field
Love in Ocean Grove Series
Finley and the Foster Brother
Lucy and the Love Pact
Bea and the Bad Boy
Norah and the Nerd
Olivia and the Older Boy
Olivia and the Older Boy: Young Adult Sweet Romance (Love in Ocean Grove Book 5) Page 16
