Page 13 of Finding Us

CHAPTERFIVE

The next dayHarper and I go shopping again, this time for her bridesmaid dress and to find a dress for Lilly. We go back to some of the same bridal shops we went to yesterday.

I let Harper pick out her dress because I always hear that bridesmaids never like the dress the bride picks out so I decided to let Harper get whatever she wants. Besides, I have no idea what she should wear. I was lucky I found a dress for myself that I liked.

After we find a dress for Harper, we search for one for Lilly. It’s more fun looking for dresses for her. They all look cute so it’s hard to decide, but we finally just pick one. I’m sure Katherine will hate it but she’d hate anything I pick so it’s no use trying to find something she’d like.

On Friday, the weather is cloudy for a change and a light drizzle is falling. Harper says she has errands to run, so she goes into town and I stay home and try to write my vows. Garret and Sean don’t want to surf in the bad weather, so Garret stays home with me and Sean takes an extra shift at the restaurant since he can’t work this weekend.

Tomorrow the four of us are going to LA for a party that Harper’s parents are hosting. At first I was worried about having Garret in a town full of paparazzi, but we’re going directly to Harper’s house in Malibu so we shouldn’t encounter any photographers.

Harper really wants me to meet her family. She talks about them all the time, especially her sisters. Even though I’ve never met her parents, I invited them to the wedding because her dad helped Garret and me get into that college on short notice. I didn’t think her parents would accept the invitation since they don’t know me, but they did, so they’re coming.

Sean already met Harper’s family when he came home with her for spring break. And Garret knows her parents because he’s seen them at charity events.

The party is on Saturday night so we’re staying overnight at Harper’s house and coming back on Sunday.

“What are you working on?” I hear Garret behind me and slam my notebook shut.

“It’s private. And don’t sneak up on me like that.”

He sits beside me on the couch. “I wasn’t sneaking up on you. I was just seeing what you’re doing.”

“I’m trying to write these stupid vows.”

“They’re not stupid. Don’t say that.” He tucks my hair behind my ear and kisses my cheek.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just frustrated because I’ve been doing this for hours and everything I write sounds stupid.”

“I’m sure that’s not true. Let me see what you have so far.” He tries to take the notebook but I keep hold of it.

“I don’t want you to see it. In fact, I don’t want you to read it even when I’m done.”

“Don’t you think we should go over the vows before the wedding?”

“Nope. I’d rather have you hear them that day for the first time.”

He puts his arm on the couch behind my head. “Hmm. Okay. So you don’t want to read mine?”

“Are you saying you’re already done?”

“I wrote them a couple days ago.”

“And that’s it? You don’t have to go back and rework them or anything?”

“No. I’m done.”

I toss my notebook aside. “Damn, that’s annoying. How did you write them so fast? Can you write mine?” He doesn’t answer, but he looks disappointed and a little sad. “I’m sorry, Garret. It’s not like I don’t want to write them. I just want them to be really good and I’m afraid I’ll screw it up.”

“I told you. Just write from the heart. Pretend it’s just you and me up there and that nobody else is listening. The vows don’t have to be very long. A few sentences. That’s it.”

I sigh. “I know. But they need to be really good sentences.”

He gets up from the couch. “I’m going to run to the store. You want anything?”

“Maybe some candy bars for our road trip tomorrow? And a bag of potato chips.”

He leans down and kisses me. “How about some fruit instead?”

---