Page 97 of Make My Heart Malt

ONE MONTH LATER

Dessa

We set the wedding date two weeks before Thanksgiving, planning on Seattle going to the world championship, but they lost the last game that would have taken them there. Rightfully so, Garrett was upset and frustrated they lost even though they played one of the best games they have all year. San Francisco simply outperformed them. As he prepares for the next season, we also prepare for the start of our lives together as husband and wife. Even though Garrett put the timeline in my hands and didn’t want to push me, I was ready. More than ready to be his wife. Time wasn’t going to change my feelings for him, so why wait any longer than we already have? My only request was to not have a snowy wedding, so we decided to have a small, intimate ceremony with only close family and friends at a small beach resort in Siesta Key.

As I stare at myself in the mirror in the bridal room, I run my hands over the silky-smooth fabric of my wedding dress with delicate spaghetti straps, a V-neckline, and a lace-trimmed slit that adds an element of romance. The simplicity is everything I wanted.

A knock on the door startles me, and I spin around, hoping it’s not Garrett. Luckily, it’s not.

“Hi Nana. You look so beautiful in your dress.” I wrap my arms around her in a hug.

“Dear, you’re the one who looks beautiful.”

I give her a soft smile. “What can I help you with?”

“I wanted to give you something.” She reaches into her clutch and pulls out a long black box. Holding it toward me, she lifts the top. Inside sits a gold infinity linked diamond tennis bracelet. I gasp and my hands cover my mouth.

She pulls it out and sets the box on the table next to us. “Hold out your hand.” My hand trembles as I do as she says. “Magic happens when all the pieces fall perfectly together. Garrett’s grandfather gave this to me the night we consummated our marriage. In fact, Garrett’s father was conceived that night.” She carefully clasps the bracelet to my wrist.

My eyes go wide for a brief second. I won’t break her heart by telling her we’ve already consummated many times, including once this morning. “Oh wow. This is beautiful.” I trail my fingers over the shimmering diamonds as tears prick the corners of my eyes. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

“And only the most beautiful women should wear it. I’m happy to have you as part of the family, even though it took so long.” She winks.

“Thanks Nana.” I wrap my arms around her inanother hug. I blink up at the ceiling, willing the tears not to fall so I don’t have to do my make-up again.

She pulls away and sandwiches my hand with hers. “Now go make my grandson the happiest man in the world.”

I give her a warm smile. “I will, and know he does the same for me.”

After Nana leaves, I have a few minutes before the wedding planner comes in to tell me it’s time. She escorts me out of the room and outside to a brick patio. The music starts, and Rylee and Joe walk first, followed by Melanie and Randy. The music changes, signaling it's my turn to walk down the aisle. A calming euphoria washes over me. I’m marrying the love of my life. My best friend. My everything.

At the reception, lanterns illuminate the wood patio overlooking the Gulf. The soothing sound of the waves crashing on the beach fills the air. Garrett’s arms are wrapped around my waist, and he nuzzles the crook of my neck. We sway back and forth as “My Best Friend” by Tim McGraw plays through the speakers. I glance around. Rylee is dancing with Trey, Melanie and Joe are doing the same along with Tori and Randy. My parents, Garrett’s parents, and all of our close family and friends are here. Most of them, anyway. We still haven’t heard from Tony. To us, he’s just a ghost that disappeared into the night. His parents occasionally talk to him. They’re disappointed in his actions, but he’s still their son. Garrett made it crystal clear he and Tony would never be in the same room again. Currently, Tony’s bouncing between New Mexico and Arizona working various coaching jobs, but he’s evidently unable to keep a steady one. Georgia is busy with opening her new boutique. She regrets marrying Tony but is thrilled to have made new friends. Itold her we’re adopting her so she can’t leave. Jake told me congratulations, but he wasn’t closing the bar to attend a wedding. Nora volunteered to stay in Harbor Highlands to help him so Lach could come. Instead of finding Lach on the dance floor, I spot him locking lips with a blonde woman at the bar. I nudge Garrett, and he turns his head.

“You know who she is?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “He always said he likes to keep things casual, and there’s nothing more casual than a vacation hookup.”

The night carries on with drinks and dancing next to the beach. By midnight, everyone is exhausted, including me, but I also don’t want to deplete my entire energy bucket so Garrett and I can put the powers of Nana’s bracelet to work tonight.

I glance around. “Has anyone seen Lach?”

Lach

I didn’t intend to come to Florida to hook up with someone, but when I locked eyes with the blonde bombshell at the bar, that idea was shot to shit. When I offer to buy her a drink, she slides her hands over my thighs and tells me she’d rather have some of mine. Before I can ask her what she meant, her arms wrap around my shoulders, and she kisses me. I hope she likes a whiskey sour since that’s all she’s going to taste as her tongue strokes against mine.

She inches closer to me, deepening the kiss. In all my life, I’ve never had a girl take charge like this, and I’m here for it. One hundred and twenty percent. What’s even better, tomorrow we’ll go our separate ways as if nothing happened. Nothing but a vacation memory.

She pulls away. Her pink, plump lips swollen from our kiss. “Do you want to get out of here?”

“Wait. Should we exchange names or something first?”

Her eyebrows lift. “Are names necessary?”

I shrug. “How will you know what to moan later?”

She giggles. It’s so fucking soft and sweet and it makes my dick twitch. “How about this?” She drags the tip of her finger down my chest as her long lashes flutter against her cheeks. “I’ll be Kat,” she reaches the waistband of my slacks, and her tongue peeks out, wetting her bottom lip, “and you can be Patrick.”

Fuck. She can call me Bob, Jim, Harry, or whatever the hell she wants. I clear my throat. “Now that’s established, where are we going?”

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