Page 74 of If You Loved Me

Willow’s face twisted into a pained expression and I knew she was thinking about her mother and how societal influences had cost her so much. Silver lined her eyes as she patted my hand. “You deserve better than that.”

Heat hit the back of my eyes. “I know.” I forced a smile over my lips to keep them from quivering. “But I have you and Johnny and Deacon. And now Ranger. I think it’ll be okay.”

“It will.” We both half-laughed through the tears we both refused to let fall.

“Speaking of Ranger,” she said after we both wiped under our eyes. “How’re things going?”

I felt the blush rise to my cheeks as images of him from last night came to my mind. Memories of tasting him had my mouth watering. I’d wanted to go further, to let him have every bit of me. But I wanted our first time to be just about us, not him having to chase away the fear that another man created for me.

“I’m really really happy, Willow.” Tears started to well in my eyes again, but I didn’t care to wipe them away this time. “I didn’t know that falling for someone could feel like this. So…so…”

“Blissful?”

I laughed quietly. “Yeah.”

“You deserve it, Sarah. Everything that love has to offer you, you deserve every bit of it. And I’m so glad you’ve found it with someone who is worthy of having you.”

It meant the world to me that Willow understood what I was feeling. There was no judgment or concern at how fast I’d fallen for Ranger. Probably because she knew what it felt like to be head over heels for a man so much that she had waited twelve years for them to find one another again.

It made me understand that love,truelove, had no bounds. There was no time limit or restraints on what love could do. It was the best thing this world has to offer and those of us lucky enough to find it…well, we better hold on tight to it.

“Thank you,” I said to her. “But enough about me. Today isyourday and I’ve already taken up enough of it.”

“You could never take up too much, Sarah.” She hugged me over the center console before we grabbed our purses and headed into the bridal salon.

“I don’t know how, but it looks even more beautiful on you this time.” Using the tissue the seamstress handed me, I dabbed at the corners of my eyes.

Willow bunched the white fabric in her hands and turnedaway from the mirror so I could see the full front of the gown. She looked like a whimsical fairy in the best way possible. Hand-sewn silk petals graced the thin layer of chiffon. Her delicate frame was accentuated with a tight bodice and dainty straps that hung loosely off her shoulders.

“Do you think Johnny will like it?” she asked.

“Like it? He’s going to devour you the moment he gets you alone.” We both laughed.

I rose from the pink velvet sofa and grasped her hands. “You’re a vision, Willow. And it’s the perfect dress for a mountain wedding too.”

“Did I show you the archway he and Deacon made for the ceremony?”

“Yes!” A few weeks ago, she’d texted me some pictures of a wooden archway the guys had made. It was going to be covered in cabbage roses in shades of ivory and light pink. “I honestly didn’t realize how handy those two were.”

“I know. I was pretty impressed with the finished product. We’re going to put it right in front of the big oak tree behind the cabin. The one he carved our initials into.”

Warmth blossomed in my chest. “It’s going to be absolutely perfect, Willow. And this dress is going to be the icing on the cake. No pun intended.”

There was no envy clawing into my mind as I was reminded of the incredible love story my best friends had. No more longing for something I felt would never happen for me. My heart and mind felt full of gratitude that I had found something special with Ranger and even though I didn’t know where our journey would take us, being with him feltlike I’d found my person. There was nothing else more that I wanted than to be near him.

Willow giggled at my joke before the seamstress started making final adjustments to her bodice and skirt. My phone pinged loudly through the store. “Oops! I forgot to turn the ringer off.” Dishing my phone out of my purse, I glanced at the screen and my heart suddenly lurched into my throat.

Mom

Sarah Grace Williams, I cannot believe you. After all I’ve done for you, helping you find a worthy life partner, you decide to throw it all away?

Dizziness swarmed my senses as I gulped down a lungful of air. My mother obviously knew I had ended things with Jones. I knew this moment would come, but I wasn’t expecting to feel so upset by it. It felt like every time I worked through the pain of having my mother treat me with disdain, she would pop up and show me that there was still so much more to work through.

Another ping and I nearly dropped my phone trying to turn the silencer on. My hands were shaking.

You have always been an ungrateful brat. Nothing has changed.

But now you will be forced to face the consequences of your actions, Sarah.

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