by Abby Brooks
Max pulls me into him. “You don’t mean that.”
“I know.”
“Here’s what we’ll do. Text Dakota back. Tell her we just ran out to get breakfast for everyone and we’ll be back soon.”
Max heads up to the counter to place a to-go order while I send the text. He’s so smart. If I mentioned anything about needing some space this morning, that would be like trying to put out a fire by pouring gasoline on it. Mom’s certain to be hanging over Dakota’s shoulder, waiting for me to reply. If I even imply that I’m upset about last night, Maya will never hear the end of it. Even though it’s not Maya’s fault.
We gather our things and pile back in the car. I take a moment to be grateful for the serenity of the simple family moment the three of us had this morning because we are about to walk into a giant family explosion.
Chapter Eight
The moment we walk in the door, Mom sweeps me into a huge, tear-soaked hug.
“I am so glad to see you. I thought you all ran away and decided to hide from us after Maya’s outburst last night.”
I extricate myself from her embrace. “Mom. Maya didn’t have an outburst last night…” I know now’s not the time to bring up anything remotely honest, but I do want to start laying the groundwork for when the time is right.
Maya shakes her head and gives me a wry smile. “It’s okay, Chelsea. I was really out of line last night. I don’t know got into me.” She shrugs and her eyes have that look in them that means she’s shoving all of her actual thoughts and feelings far, far away. “I’m feeling much better after a good night’s sleep.”
The hope I had for her dies a little. Either she’s decided not to make a big deal about the pressure our parents put on her the day before my wedding, or she’s decided to go back to dealing with that long, straight line. To just putting one foot in front of the other without recognizing how unhappy she is.
I stare at her for a second, trying to see if I can figure out what’s going on behind that big, fake London smile. But of course, she’s just as good at hiding what she’s really feeling as I am. Whatever. It doesn’t matter which of the two things she’s chosen. I’m still going to make it my mission to help her find some happiness.
We all spend the morning walking on egg shells around each other, smiling too big and laughing too loudly. But after a few hours, everyone settles down and things feel almost normal again. It’s an easy day, and I choose to spend it out on the beach with Max and Charlie. We build sandcastles and find shells and watch as the ocean laps up around our ankles and drags the sand away from around our feet.
Our wedding rehearsal is this evening and I giggle through the whole thing. Not because I think it’s funny, but just because I can’t contain my joy. My laughter is contagious and before I know it, my whole family is just as happy as I am. Even Maya. I think.
Afterwards, we pile into two cars and head to Moore Good Eats for our rehearsal dinner. I watch the sun set over the ocean as we drive out there, trying to drink as much of it in as I can before we leave tomorrow evening. I can’t believe the wedding is tomorrow. I can’t believe that in less than twenty-four hours, I’ll be Chelsea Santoro. I hate to admit it, but it’s almost a relief not to be a London anymore. I love my family, but maybe, just maybe, the Santoro family will be a little healthier and happier than the Londons.
The restaurant is absolutely perfect. Warm and inviting. Simple and sophisticated. We check in with the hostess and as she’s looking up our reservation, a tall man with sandy hair and a warm smile walks up to greet us.
“I assume you’re the London and Santoro party?” His voice is low. Subtle and quiet.
“None other,” I say, smiling widely.
The man dips his chin in greeting. “I’m Harry Moore, the owner. I just wanted to take a moment and personally welcome you to Moore Good Eats.” Assuming the dark-haired man we met this morning at the café was also a Moore brother, I have to say that I understand why they’re so popular here in Bliss. They all have a certain magnetism about them. Not anything like my Max, of course, but it’s still there. An undeniable charisma and charm. No wonder they’re akin to royalty here in Bliss.
Harry instructs the hostess to show us back to the special occasion room while he puts a hand on Max’s arm. “May I speak with you for a moment?”
Max agrees and the rest of us follow the hostess while I peer over my shoulder to see Max and Harry, heads close, speaking in low tones. The look on Max’s face is incredulous and then we pass through the doorway and I lose sight of him.
“What was that about?” I ask in Max’s ear when he joins us a few seconds later, pulling out his chair to sit down next to me.
“You won’t believe it if I tell you.”
“Try me.”
He glances around the table at the family and finds them all totally engrossed in conversation or scouring the menu for dinner options. He leans in very close.
“He told me he knows how intense these family things get and that if you and I end up needing a private moment, there’s a place out on the deck where no one will see us after the sun sets.”
“He didn’t,” I say, shocked.
“He did.”
“Do you think he meant it like that? Like, do you think he just told us we can go have sex on his deck?”
“I do.” Max nods his head.
I sit up, eyes wide. “No way.”
Max shrugs and flares his hands. “I mean, I’m not going to lie. I appreciate the information and knowing we have permission is going to take some of the pressure off...” He winks at me.
“Are you saying you think we’ll end up needing that private moment?”
He looks around the table. Mom’s busy insulting Dakota and Dad already has Maya’s jaw dropped in shock over something he’s just said. Dominic looks lost as to how to help and Charlie’s just quietly studying his menu, oblivious to it all. Then he brings his eyes to me, lets them linger on my breasts as he runs his hands up my thigh under the table. “There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that we’ll be taking advantage of that private moment.”
Chapter Nine
The next day, I spend the morning getting ready for my wedding. It’s not the big fancy affair I imagined as a little girl. I’m doing my own hair instead of hiring a hairdresser. My dress is tasteful and something I’ll wear again rather than something inspired by too many Disney princess movies. Something that will spend the rest of its life in my closet.
But, simple or not, I’m laughing with my sisters as we do our hair and makeup in the master bathroom at the house. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the morning of my wedding.
Wait.
I take that back.
I can most definitely think of a better way to spend the morning of my wedding. I could be in bed, making babies with Max. But seeing as how we’ve done that already today…
“Where did you and Max disappear to last night?” asks Dakota, interrupting my thoughts.
I blush, partly because I was busy thinking of Max naked and partly because of Dakota’s question. “What do you mean?” I ask, trying to look like someone who did not have sex on the deck at her own rehearsal dinner last night.
Maya sets her curling iron down with a light thunk. “You are one hell of a bad liar.”
“I’m not lying.” And I’m not. At least not yet. I’m just not actually answering the question Dakota asked me.
“You guys didn’t have bathroom sex, did you?” Dakota wrinkles her nose, but there’s a gleam in her eyes that makes me want to circle back to that question. None of us Londons are very good liars.
I lean into the mirror to check my eyeliner. “I most certainly did not have bathroom sex.” I consider leaving it right there, but what the hell? It’s my wedding day. Why not be a little shocking? “We had sex on the deck overlooking the ocean.”
The look on my sisters’ faces is so totally epic I wish I had a picture of it.
“No way,” breathes May
a.
“Maybe we actually are related.” There’s that look on Dakota’s face again. Impish. Secretive. And totally ready to spill the beans on a secret that’s been in her head for too long.
“What makes you say that?” I ask sweetly.
Dakota’s got her mouth open as she sweeps on mascara. She closes her mouth but doesn’t look our way. “Oh, nothing,” she says to her reflection.
“Not buying it.” Maya grabs Dakota by the shoulders and spins her around. “Not even a little.”
Dakota smiles and bites her lip. “Ever heard of the mile-high club?” She tilts her head to the side. “You’re looking at a card carrying member.”
We laugh our way through the rest of getting ready and before I know it, it’s time to get married. Max is already out on the beach with Charlie, Dominic, and my mom. Dakota and Maya walk out of the house ahead of me and dad offers me his elbow.
“I love you, Moo,” he says as we reach the door. I try not to flinch, but I do anyway.
He pauses, pulling me back into the house.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I didn’t realize that nickname hurt your feelings. When I look at you, I still my baby girl, all chubby cheeks and massive smiles, pigtails streaming behind you as you run up to me for a hug. That’s my Moo. My daughter. My little girl. That’s what Moo means to me.”
I look up at my father and, as if his words weren’t enough, the look in his eyes brings tears to my own. There’s so much love. So much pride. So much tenderness. I remember him sweeping me up into his arms when I was little, singing silly songs and chasing me around the yard.
“I just want to be good enough for you,” I say, choking on the raw truth of the words, the root of all my insecurities, a need so strong, it’s shaped me into the woman I am.
“Oh, sweet Chelsea. You’ve been more than I can ever ask for since the moment you arrived in this world.”
He kisses me on the forehead and smiles down at me, tears glimmering in his eyes. And then, without another word, he walks me outside, down the beach and gives my hands to Max.
“Take care of my daughter,” he says, his voice low and gruff with emotion.
Max smiles at him and gives a curt nod of his head. “With all that I am. With all that I have. For all the rest of my years.”
* * *
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Also by Abby Brooks
The Moore Brothers Series
Blown Away (Ian and Juliet)
Carried Away (James and Ellie)
Swept Away (Harry and Willow)
Break Away (Lilah and Cole)
Love Is…
Love Is Crazy (Dakota & Dominic)
What Happened in Vegas (Dakota & Dominic’s Wedding)
Love Is Beautiful (Chelsea & Max)
