Page 121 of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Before she tried the dress on last night, she was lying on our couch in tiny pajama shorts, a stained T-shirt, her hair messily piled on top of her head, glasses instead of contacts, and a dab of toothpaste on what she claimed was an incoming zit. She looks the complete opposite right now, and I was more than hot for her then.

‘I remember. It’s not the same as seeing the finished product, though.’

I’d avoided her pretty much the entire time she was getting ready so that I could havethismoment. I want to remember every second of this day, starting now.

‘What is this?’ she asks, her hand on the arm of my jacket.

‘Leo.’

He searched it out. Somehow he has a way of finding the most ridiculous floral print men’s suits, so I figured he was the best person to ask for a recommendation. I didn’t buy the matching slacks. The jacket seemed obnoxious enough.

‘I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I love it. It’s totally you.’ She steps out of the doorway, pressing her lips to mine, then patting my chest. ‘You’re too handsome for your own good.’

‘That’s what River tells me too.’ I wink.

She rolls her eyes playfully. I bet there will come a day that she’ll wish she didn’t choose her brother’s best friend as her partner in life but I hope it’s a long way away.

‘These are for you, gorgeous.’

‘Where exactly should I put them?’ she asks, swinging open the door, displaying the many flowers on every counter, table, and surface. I’ve brought her flowers every day for the last month. It’s all a part of the plan.

‘Our place is full of pretty things, yet none of them can compare to you.’

She bursts out a laugh, grabbing her bag. ‘You sure know how to make a girl feel good.’

‘Only you,’ I tell her as she steps onto our porch with me, locking the door behind her.

We’re partway to the venue when she reaches across the center console and grabs my hand.

‘You nervous about this?’

‘A little.’ I pull her hand to my lips, glancing over at her. She flashes me a smile. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I’ve never loved someone so much, and I know she feels the same.

‘It’ll be great, Dax. I think she really loves this guy.’

‘Yeah. Me too.’ She has no idea we’re having two different conversations.

When I pull into the lot, she doesn’t wait for me to get out of the car to open her door, probably because I’m a little frozen in place now that we’re here. Once she’s stepped out, I reach into the inside pocket of my jacket, feeling for the loose ring floating around. A ring I paid for pretty much with flower boy performances. Every. Single. Weekend. There are so many videos of me floating around YouTube it’s embarrassing.

‘Hello?’ Hols knocks on my window.

‘Sorry.’ I step out, grabbing the bouquet I made for my mom from the back seat. She didn’t want anything over the top. No roses, but nothing extravagant, either. Just like the wedding. Simple, sweet, and with only the people closest to the couple.

I take Hollyn’s hand as we walk into the venue, an ornate house on a property landscaped to the hilt. Ponds, weeping willow trees, wildflowers, twinkle lights, even a fire pit for s’mores-making under the stars.

‘Finally,’ River says, standing with his dad off to the back of the room. ‘Your new step-sister is making me feel dirty in arealgood way.’

‘Gross. Can you not violate her before I’ve had a chance to get to know her?’

He glances over at her, lifting a single shoulder. ‘Maybe?’

‘Wait a second,’ Jake says, now at River’s side. ‘Something’s different.’

The two of them stare at me, their eyes lingering on my jacket.

‘What in the hell are you wearing?’ River asks.

‘Curtain if I had to guess,’ Jake says with a smirk.

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