Page 31 of The Wedding Engagement

Liv took a moment to absorb the fact that the Holland unit of three had rapidly expanded to five over the course of a few months. And she loved it.

“Where are you at with the wedding planning?” Tara asked.

“The big things are done,” Sam replied, glancing at Maya. “Wedding venue sorted. Reception booked. Registrar booked.”

“We’ve still got a lot to do with all the other stuff, though,” Maya said. “Band, photographer, cake, flowers…”

“What about your dress, Maya?” Tara asked. “And the outfits for Liv and Elise?”

“I wanted to ask you about that,” Maya replied. “I’ve got an appointment booked at the place I want to buy our dresses. They’ll be off-the-rack because time’s too short for fittings and all that jazz. But anyway, I thought you and my mum could come too?”

Liv eyed the look of delight on her mother’s face with a smile. “I would absolutely love that,” Tara said. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

Maya flopped her hand down in an “It’s nothing” gesture. “Wouldn’t be the same without you, Mama Holland.”

Tara’s eyes shone and Liv’s heart was fit to burst. She squeezed Maya’s knee, catching her eye and mouthing,I love you. Maya mouthed,I love you too, and made a heart shape with her fingers.

Sam caught them, a smile playing on his face. “You’d better not be trying to steal my fiancée, sis.”

Liv shrugged, sipping her tea. “She was mine way before she was yours, dude.”

Maya nodded in a solemn manner. “Olivia is correct, Samuel.” Sam leaned in to nuzzle Maya’s neck, making her let out an involuntary squeal. “Hey, that tickles.”

Sam pulled Maya into his chest so that she was nestled under his chin as he addressed Liv. “How’re the plans coming along for our trip?”

“Awesome, thank you, dear brother.” She peered at him over the top of her glasses. “No fishing for details, now.”

He shook his head, flashing her a grin. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I love surprises.”

Maya played with Sam’s fingers. “I like good surprises. Like, surprise! Here’s a cool present. Not—surprise! Here’s a massive bill you forgot to pay.”

Liv pursed her lips. “Arran and I are hardly going to organize you shitty surprises, now, are we?”

“Good point,” Maya said, giving her a wink.

“By the way,” Sam said, “how’s Arran doing? I’ve been a bit worried about him helping organize stuff for our wedding when this time last year, I was helping him with his. He says he’s fine when I ask him, but then he can hardly say, ‘No, my fucking heart is breaking, you insensitive piece of shit.’ ”

Angus snorted with laughter across the table and Tara gave Sam a wry smile that clearly read “Language, Samuel.”

“Sorry, Mother,” he said, turning back to Liv. “Anyway. You guys are tight these days, so I figured he might’ve told you something.”

Liv cleared her throat. “Yeah, we’re good friends.” She put an extra emphasis on the wordfriendsas she shot Maya a look. “And I’ve asked him about it. Don’t worry, he’s cool. He’s so happy for you guys it eclipses any residual sadness.”

Sam sighed. “I love that dude.” He glanced down at Maya. “If things ever go south for us, I’m definitely coupling up with Arran.”

Maya frowned. “I don’t think Nico would be very happy about that.”

“Hmm, good point,” Sam replied, rubbing his beard. “We might need to make it a house for three. Golden Girls–style.”

“Golden Guys,” Angus commented. “Can I join in and be Sophia?”

“Sure thing,” Sam said, raising his mug to Angus and receiving a clink in return.

Tara shook her head. “It must have been so tough for Arran. Poor boy.”

“Yeah.” Sam tugged Maya a little closer. “He was in a bad wayfor a while. To be honest I’ve avoided Jess ever since, I was so mad with her.”

That comment needled a sore point in Liv’s psyche and her mouth started moving before she could bite her tongue. “What was she meant to do? Marry him knowing she didn’t love him anymore, so they could both make each other miserable till the day they died?”

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