by Everly, Nora
“Come on, darling. Just look at what we’ve got so far,” Mom said, pushing the wedding binder closer to me on the table. “Please, you won’t be mad once you see what we’ve planned so far.”
I sniffed and looked away. I took a sip of my iced tea and gave them all a good bitch face. Except for Holly, I smiled at her. She shook her head at me and grinned.
“We haven’t chosen the cake yet, or the food. That’s what you really care about anyway. Am I right?” Rose said knowingly, and Holly laughed—the traitor.
Okay, yes, she was right. I wanted to pick the cake and go cake taste testing. That was the most fun part of planning a wedding. I’d never done that before, and I had always wanted to. I wanted to eat a bunch of tiny cakes, damn it. Some girls dream of the dress. I dreamed of the cake.
“We made an appointment at the bakery tomorrow,” Violet said as a peace offering.
I perked up. “Fine. Tell me what you’ve got so far.” I decided to stop being mad. Cake went a long way when it came to earning forgiveness from me.
“Yay!” Rose yelled. “It will be very Midsummer Night’s Dream—very enchanted forest. You’ll love it.”
Oooh, pretty, pretty. I had to admit; they knew what I liked.
Mom chimed in, “I’ve ordered a ton of lilies of the valley and baby’s breath. All the flowers will be white. We’re going to practice making flower crowns later!” she cried. “I bought white twinkle lights and flameless candles and mason jars—”
Violet interrupted, “It will be over there.” She pointed to the edge of the property, near the forest before the trees started to get thick. “We’ll wrap the trees in white organza and lights and hang mason jars full of flowers. Oh, and evergreen wreaths wrapped with twinkle lights will be strung up in the trees.”
“But I get to pick the cake and the food, right?” I said.
Mom nodded. “Do you want to pick your dress and shoes too?” she asked.
“No, you guys can do that.”
They all looked at each other smugly.
Whatever.
I sat back and relaxed. I was going to have a beautiful wedding.
And it would be delicious.
* * *
I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my mother’s bedroom. I couldn’t look away from my own reflection—I looked like a fairy princess. This was not bragging. I had nothing to do with it. I didn’t even look like myself.
Mom had hired a hairstylist to fix my hair. She pulled it back and twisted it around the sides of my head to coil in thick spirally curls down my back with lily of the valley flowers, little crystals, and tiny evergreen spikes woven throughout.
My makeup was like something out of a movie—or Instagram. I’d tried to memorize what the makeup artist was doing, so I could do it myself, but it was impossible. I would never have enough skills to do what she did. Is this what having on fleek eyebrows was like? I didn’t even have to suck in my cheeks to see my cheekbones. I pursed my lips at myself in the mirror and was even tempted to take a selfie. Gah! Amazing.
And my dress? The only word for it was ethereal. I was glad I hadn’t chosen my own dress, because if I did, it wouldn’t look this good. I turned side to side in the mirror. This fabric was shimmery and floated around my body, it even had a little train in the back. I remembered Violet’s voice on the phone with Rose when I was trying it on for the first time. “It’s satin under tulle. It has a sweetheart neckline and spaghetti straps, floral embroidery and tiny crystal beads. It’s beautiful on her. It’s white, it’s sexy, it’s sweet, it’s perfect. This is the one. We’re getting it.” Then she snapped my picture and texted it to Rose. She’d been right, it was perfect for me. It was more than what I looked like though that kept me staring. I was happy. It shone through all the makeup. It shone through the satin and flowers, the hairdo, the dress, and the party to come.
And I had a surprise for Luke. They say pregnant women glowed. Well, I was glowing like a mother. I hoped I could make it through the ceremony without puking. I hoped my morning sickness (bullcrap, call it constant sickness) would go away, so I could eat cake. I really wanted that cake.
“Lily, it’s time,” Rose popped her head in the room to inform me. She wore a pink dress, similar in style to mine, except hers was knee length and didn’t have all the fancy added to it. Holly’s was pink too. Violet’s was lavender, of course.
It had been a long battle between Rose and Violet as to who would be the maid of honor. I’d almost been tempted to pick Holly, but she said she didn’t want to get in the middle. Violet said she deserved it for her subtle matchmaking machinations. Rose insisted she deserved it because we were twins. Eventually, Rose decided that being my identical twin outranked everything else, and she didn’t need to be the maid of honor for everyone to know I loved her most—insert my eye roll here. They’d been fighting for the sake of fighting. Violet and Rose were good at that. At least it was entertaining.
Rose opened the door all the way and came inside. Holly and Violet were behind her, full of smiles, but Violet dabbed her eyes with a hankie.
“No crying, Violet. If you cry, I’ll cry. Look at my face. There is no way I can fix this if I mess it up.”
Violet took a shaky breath, and her eyes cleared. “I’m just so happy for you, and only five percent jealous,” she said and hugged me.
“I’m one hundred percent jealous,” Rose said, then joined the hug.
“I’m not jealous at all,” Holly added, then joined in.
We had a fancy-dress sister group hug for a minute, then we headed out to do this thing.
Luke
I waited for her. Under an arch made of flowers and lights, I waited as my heart overflowed with love.
I could finally breathe and feel my chest expand to let more than just air inside.
Liam stood at my side, and Cade. They were standing up for me on this day, just like they always had been. Only now, I could see it, now I knew I was worth it and could turn around and give it back. My eyes had opened. I was finally, truly home.
Liam slapped my shoulder as we heard the music start. “I’m happy for you, man,” he whispered. I smiled at him and knew he would be okay. There was no way I would have it any other way.
We watched as Lily’s nephew Mark led Dahlia to her seat in the front. She winked at me, and I smiled back. Holly was next, followed by Rose, then Violet. They took their places on the other side of the arch.
Everyone oohed and ahhed as Dylan, in his little tuxedo, walked down the aisle with the rings on a pillow. He hugged me, then stood between me and Liam.
But everyone collectively lost their shit when Madison and Mara began pulling Calla down the aisle in a little white wagon. They were all dressed in the fluffiest pink dresses I’d ever seen, wearing crowns made of flowers, and throwing white rose petals side to side. Mara had to keep pulling the petals away from Calla, who was more interested in putting them in her mouth. After they reached us, Violet went to the wagon and carried Calla up to stand in her place, then Mara and Maddie stood in front of Rose and Holly.
It seemed like I had been waiting for her forever, and now I was finally finished marking time. She would be mine again. Forever this time.
The music changed, and I lost my breath as I saw her and Ben step forward. With each step she took toward me, I breathed again.
The vows we took went by in a blur, even though I meant every word.
Then, finally, we were dancing. I could hold her in my arms, and I didn’t have to let her go.
She lifted her head from my chest and pulled my head to hers. “We’re having a baby,” she whispered in my ear.
My eyes filled with tears, and they fell straight down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop it even if I wanted to. I lifted her straight up with my hands under her arms and kissed her belly, where our child grew. She giggled. I lowered her a bit with my arms around her hips but still held her aloft.
I twirled us around in a circle. The train of her dress
floated around us. I was so happy right now, twirling her around was all I could think to do.
“Oh, God. Don’t spin again, Luke.” Lily gulped.
I set her down gently and cradled her face. “What do you need?” I whispered.
“Just you. And something slow and steady. Don’t bust any more fancy moves,” she teased.
I took her hand in one of mine and her waist with the other.
“Hop up,” I said.
She laughed and stood on my feet. I began to execute a perfect—very slow—side to side step. Her head rested on my chest, and I felt her sigh against me.
Violet came up to us with Calla and handed her to me. “Does all of what I just now saw mean what I think it does?” she asked.
I nodded, and her eyes filled with tears. “I’m so happy for you right now. This is as it should be. Finally.” She cried and hugged us both.
Dylan came running over. “You’re going to be a big brother again,” Lily told him, and he beamed.
She held his hand, and he held mine. Lily wrapped her other arm around my waist and kissed Calla’s sweet little cheek.
Then we all held each other and danced as the news circled around the room and the cheering started.
*The End*
Read on for a bonus!
Luke and Lily’s first kiss.
First Kiss
Age 16
Luke’s heart beat wildly in his chest as he felt Lily’s soft lips brush tentatively against his. Featherlight and soft as butterfly wings. It felt like a dream, a fantasy. A fantasy he’d had since he knew what kissing was.
Time stood still, then changed into slow motion. An eternity of breathless anticipation passed by before Luke finally pressed his lips firmly onto hers. He slipped his tongue inside her sweet mouth and pulled her into his body as he slowly, finally claimed her.
The world stood still. Everything ceased to exist. There was only Lily. The girl he had loved forever was finally his. Her arms wound around his neck, and her fingers ran through his hair, pulling him closer. Her small, soft body pressed against his, surrounding him with her sweet scent.
His heartbeat pounded in his ears. Pleasure and a sense of belonging ran through every cell of his body as she kissed him back. Desire like fire spread through his system. He lost his breath and felt himself begin to tremble.
His fingers drove into the hair at the nape of her neck, urging her closer as he slanted his lips over hers, kissing her deeper. He felt her trembling now too.
God, he had wanted this for so long. He craved her, ached for her.
He wanted to give her everything.
All that he was, all that he had.
And he would. Always.
He started to pull back, and she gripped his shoulders, pulling him back to her.
“Luke, don’t stop kissing me.”
He pulled his mouth away from hers. “Lily, if I don’t stop now, I won’t be able to.”
“Maybe I don’t want to stop,” she breathed against his lips.
“I haven’t even taken you on a real date yet. We can’t skip all the important parts. What will we tell our children someday?”
“Then ask me,” she demanded.
“Lily, can I take you out?”
She beamed up at him. “Yes,” she answered simply.
Because it was simple. What was meant to be would be. He hoped he never had to spend a day without her beautiful smile to light up his life.
Are you curious about what went on between Rose and Trevor?
Read on for a sneak peek of Chapter 1 of Heart Words
Sneak Peak: Heart Words
Book Two in the Sweetbriar Hearts Series
Rose
I sipped my hazelnut latte and smiled gratefully at my older sister. Violet always provided good coffee—she also provided unwanted advice and nosy observations—but I decided to ignore those today and focus on the positive aspects of having her as a volunteer in my classroom. If the first day of school was hectic, the first day of kindergarten was utter insanity. Nervous children barely out of toddlerhood, combined with teary eyed, emotional parents made for an intense morning. Volunteers were necessary, volunteers who provided coffee were invaluable.
“Are you ready, Violet?” I asked after taking another sip.
“Yep, but the real question is, are you ready?” She peered at me over the top of her coffee cup, eyebrows standing at attention and green eyes twinkling. She expected the scoop, but I wasn’t ready to give it up. “Madison is going to be in your class this year which means Trevor will be here any minute to drop her off.” Madison, the adorable daughter of my—he wasn’t even my ex—Trevor was my almost. He never owned my heart, yet he broke it all the same.
Trevor Hale, the delicious new detective on my police chief father’s force. I wanted him from the second I saw him, over a year ago, standing in my sister’s living room looking gorgeous and irresistible. For a while he wanted me too. But it didn’t last. Nothing ever lasted for me. Something about me was forgettable. Easily replaceable Rose. Well, no more of that. I had made a sacred vow to myself to find a man who wanted me as much as I wanted him. No more complicated, messy relationships and no more settling for second place.
“Earth to Rose …” Violet teased.
I took another sip of my latte and smiled at her. “I’m ready. You know the first day of school is always my favorite.” She looked at me skeptically as I smoothed down my navy-blue, red-apple printed shirtwaist dress. I tapped my red T-strapped flats on the floor, and flashed my matching red manicure at her, making her laugh. I could go over the top with my school attire. My goal in life since I was a child was to be just like Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus. She always wore dresses inspired by her lessons and made learning fun. Seeing a child become inspired in my classroom meant everything to me. I refused to allow the thought of seeing Trevor this morning throw me for a loop. This was my world, and I had work to do.
“We have about ten minutes ‘til game time. Just enough time for you to spill it about what went on between you and Trevor,” she said as she sipped her coffee and walked the room, making sure everything was in its place. Every year Violet helped me set up my classroom. This year we did it up with a black chalkboard and neon rainbow theme. Violet owned a hugely successful coffee shop in town called Violet’s. But before becoming the coffee guru of Sweetbriar, Oregon, she was an educational assistant. She keeps herself on the volunteer list and usually spends the first week or two of school with me. Kindergarteners were like kittens for the first few weeks, all hyper and easily distracted. Herding cats was a multi-person job.
“Nothing happened.” I lied as I checked my makeup in the mirror hanging behind my desk. I fluffed my long, curly red hair and applied more lip gloss. I wasn’t usually primper, but I was nervous as all heck. The closer it got to start time, the more fidgety I became. I didn’t usually get nervous on the first day of school. In fact, my classroom was the only place that I felt confident. Every other aspect of my life was kind of a disaster. And now, because of Trevor and our almost thing together, I was pretty much a nervous wreck in the one place that made me feel good about myself.
Damn it. Sexy Trevor. Get out of my brain.
“Oh, come on, you met him at Lily’s, right? And then you had a secret affair with him. Is that it? Did he move here to be with you? Come on, I won’t tell anyone?” She waggled her eyebrows at me. Lily was our sister, and my identical twin. Trevor was her late husband’s partner on the police force. I did meet him at her old house, Violet was half right.
“I don’t want to talk about this Violet. Now is not the time.” I insisted and continued with my excessive primping.
Violet’s voice, greeting a student snapped me out of my vain reverie. Whipping around, I hastily stashed my lip gloss in my desk and hurried to join her at the door to say hello to the little early bird. I’d met most of the students at back to school night last week, but not this little cutie.
“Good morni
ng, my name is Miss Barrett. What’s your name?” I asked.
“I’m Anna.” She answered distractedly as she stared at me. “Your hair is just like Merida’s. From Brave. She’s my favorite princess.” I tried my best to tame my curls, but they had a mind of their own. I kept my hair long because the longer it was, the easier it was to take care of. The weight of it hanging down my back kept me from looking like a frizzy red Q-tip.
“Well, thank you. I like that movie too.” I looked up from cute little Anna and shook Anna’s mother’s hand. “Would you like to go to your table and write your name, then match it to your name on the wall and put it in the slot?” Anna looked intrigued. All the tables had a label with each student’s name, blank slips of paper, and baskets full of crayons. Violet called them over to Anna’s table.
The second she turned from me to go to her table Trevor popped right back into my brain, just like a freaking whack-a-mole. I’d like to whack him out of my mind, but ever since I saw him at my mom’s Sunday dinner with Lily and the kids, I couldn’t get him out of my thoughts. That day, I took one look at him, turned around and rushed out of the house. I had been actively avoiding him ever since. He hadn’t attended back to school night with his kids, his mother had brought them which at the time was a relief. But now, I wished I’d seen him and gotten it over with. The anticipation was killing me.
My younger brother Jude came through the door next, which distracted me enough to allow me to whack Trevor back into his hole in my brain. Jude was with Bella, the daughter of one of his good friends. Poor Harper had to work this morning and couldn’t bring Bella herself. Little Bella was crying, Jude was doing his best to console her, but it wasn’t working. “I’m trying Rose, but she just wants Harper.”
