Page 25 of Moonlight & Matrimony
Miles: Please, no.
Mags: I hope I haunt your dreams, Miles.??
Miles: You have no idea.
“What’s up with those two?” Luca asks.
“Fuck if I know. There’s this weird sexual tension whenever they're in the same room, but nobody has any idea what happened and neither of them will talk about it.”
Ivy: Well this has been fun. See you all tomorrow.
Paige: Cara, if you’re not working the night shift, we’re dress shopping in the morning!
Cara: Count me in!
I place my phone down on the stairs beside me and shift to face Luca. Our eyes meet as the group chat continues to vibrate. “Are you sure about all of this? It’s not too late to back out.”
Luca’s gaze dips to my mouth for a moment before he looks out into the yard, finding Rylin in her happy place, her little legs propelling the swing back and forth. “I’m sure,” he says, reaching for the hand that’s picking at my thumbnail — a nervous habit I've never quite been able to break.
Luca gently intertwines our fingers, and I melt into him, my head resting on his shoulder. “I want to help you, Ivy. If you’ll let me.”
I let out a shaky breath, steading myself. “Ok,” I sigh.
Chapter 6
Ivy
? Like Real People Do - Hozier
The engine cuts off as I pull up outside of Wisteria Bridal with Paige snuggly tucked into my passenger seat, the belt barely able to reach around her protruding bump. I didn’t bother getting dressed up for this excursion, leaving my face bare and my hair twisted in a clip at the back of my head.
Unbuckling my seatbelt, I glance at Paige. “Stay right there. I’ll come around and help you out.”
“You’re worse than Cade,” she says with an exaggerated eye roll.
“Somehow I doubt that, hun.”
“You’re right. He’s been such a clinger lately. I’m surprised he’s not hiding around a corner right now,” she says.
“He knows you’re in good hands, and we’re only a text message away.” I give her hand a squeeze before exiting the driver’s side. Stopping in front of my SUV, I notice a familiar red car parked a few feet away.It couldn’t be, could it?
What would Austin be doing in Willow Valley? I shake myself out of my thoughts and by the time I glance up again, the car is gone.Stop it, Ivy. You’re being paranoid.
When I get to Paige’s door, there’s a scowl on her face. “It’s hot as fuck in here. You aren’t supposed to leave your friends in hot vehicles, Ivy,” she jokes.
“That’s the rule for pets, and you were only in there for 90 seconds at most.”
“90 seconds in the Kentucky heat while I’m the size of a whale is tantamount to torture.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Let’s get you out of there, Shamu.”
Paige gasps and clutches her chest. “That feltveryfat-phobic.”
“Hey, you’re the one who said you were the size of a whale!”
She laughs and takes both of my hands, allowing me to help her slowly slide to the edge of the seat so she can carefully place her feet onto solid ground.
“Ok. Let’s get the future Mrs. Roberts a dress! OH MY GOD,” Paige shrieks, stopping in her tracks just outside the door to the boutique.
