Page 121 of A Vine Mess
Brie, however, refused to allow anyone else to make my cake, and I was grateful for that. That, even though she’d be standing next to me along with Chloe, Amara, and Delia, someone so special to me had created the cake Liam and I wouldceremonially cut.
After we’d finished eating, and had shared a nightcap of Delatou & Danvers Lena’s Best Sangria, the wait staff—which Owen had brought in from Birdie’s—handled the cleanup while we prepared to part for the night.
Tonight marked the first time since we’d set off on our road trip a year ago that Liam and I had spent apart. I hated the thought of sleeping without him, but my sisters insisted it was tradition, and I couldn’t argue with that.
It also marked the first night in a long time that I was truly off work, leaving the reins of the flower shop to my lone employee. I’d taken over Blossom’s last fall, after Fanny settled all of her affairs in Michigan and went to Arizona for the winter, only to never come back save this weekend. I’d been royally pissed when I realized she’d given all of my inventory to Liam for our proposal, but I couldn’t stay mad for long. I was, after all, getting the love of my life and a wedding out of the deal.
The guys were spending the night at Cal and Amara’s while us girls were staying here. Tomorrow, we’d get ready at the Villa before the ceremony was held at the winery—exactly as I’d envisioned since I was a little girl.
The guys rushed outside toward Owen’s truck, piling inside, but Liam remained in the doorway with me, as unwilling to leave me as I was to let him go.
“I love you,” he murmured, bending to kiss me, one of those slow, gentle ones he knew really got me going. But now wasn’t the time or place for that, especially not when Logan rolled down the window to the truck and shouted.
“Let’s go, lovebirds! Save the kissing for tomorrow.”
“Your brother-in-law is a pain in my ass,” he grumbled againstmy lips.
“You love him.”
“I do,” he agreed. “I love all of them, but not nearly as much as I love you.”
“Well I would certainly hope not,” I teased. “After all, you’re not fucking any of them. Or are you?” I tapped my pointer to my chin contemplatively. “I’ve always thought your and Ezra’s bromance skewed a little moreromancethan bro…”
Liam pinched my sides and leaned in to nip at my neck. “Wicked girl. You know there’s only one person in the world for me.”
“She must be incredible to have snagged a catch like you.”
“Incredible doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
My cheeks heated, and I pushed him away before I could give into my urge to drag him upstairs and have my way with him.
“I love you,” he said as he bounded down the steps.
“And I love you.”
“See you tomorrow.”
I grinned. “I’ll be the one in white.”
Actually, my dress was more cream than white, and adorned with wildflowers that started on the base of the bodice and flowed all the way down the full skirt. I’d be changing into something easier to move in for the reception, but I figured since I was only getting married once, I was going full send on the dress for the ceremony.
“I can’t believe you’re getting married before me,” Amara pouted as she wove delicate purple flowers into my hair.
I snorted. “It’s literally two weeks,Princess,” I said, emphasizing Cal’s nickname for her. “I think you’ll survive.”
Amara sighed. “I suppose you’re right,” she said, stepping back to survey her work, her hand immediately falling to her stomach and the bump growing there. “As long as we get married before this little one arrives, I don’t really care when it happens.”
“But sooner rather than later,” Delia said as she approached us, holding my earrings in one hand and necklace in the other. She handed the necklace off to Chloe, who went around behind me while Delia hooked the teardrop amethysts into my ears. “You don’t want to be a cow on your wedding day.”
Amara smacked her. “Don’t call pregnant women cows, Lia. Frankly, it’s fucking rude. I can’t wait to see how big you get when you and Owen eventually have kids.”
“Seriously,” Brie snorted as she joined us as well, having just put on her dress. “Have you seen that man? He’s huge. And his brothers are just as big.”
“Aria is tall as hell too,” I reminded them. “And we’re not exactly…petite.”
Delia sighed. “Fuck. I’m going to have monster, ten-pound babies, aren’t I?”
We all devolved into laughter, but quickly sobered. I reached for the two nearest to me—Chloe and Delia—linking my hands with theirs. Around we went until we were all connected.
