Page 131 of Love Notes & Lifelines
“Oh, you silly girl. Of course I’m going to walk you down the aisle. No worries about that. And I’ll be your man of honor too, since Beck has Leo and all. Tabby wanted to do it, but she’ll need to help with the girls, so I told her I’ve got this.”
“You’re a pushy little man, you know that, Elijah?” Beck asks. His voice is full of teasing love.
“Oh, I know. Is that what you’re over there worrying your lip about?”
I nod.
“Well don’t. Not a single person on this property is going to let you go it alone. Not anymore. Got it?”
Warmth spreads through my chest. “Got it.” My smile must match Beck’s because Elijah falters, then pulls me into a hug.
“You look good, kid. Trust yourself, and us. We’ve always got you.”
I hug him tighter, fully understanding what it means to have people in your corner. “I will,” I whisper.
Beck tugs on my hand. “Come on. We’ve got a party waiting on us.”
My gaze snags on my mom, who sits watching us with a small smile on her lips. There’s no telling what she’s thinking, but I hope it’s that she’s happy for me.
Releasing Beck’s hand, I take hold of my mother’s, squeeze it gently, then kiss the thin skin of her pale cheek. “I love you.” It’s a choked whisper of a confession I shouldn’t make, but when I pull back, she’s still smiling.
“It’s nice to be loved,” she says as she pats my cheek.
It’s as good as I’m going to get from her, so I hold on to it with both hands, happy to see her like this, even knowing it won’t last forever.
Beck pats my back and says goodnight to my mom, then we meet Lucía in the hallway.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” I ask. “It’s not too late to call one of the night nurses back.”
“Thank you, but go have fun. I’ll celebrate with Laura from her window.” She holds up a book of poems my mother has had since she was a small girl. “I’ll read to her tonight.”
It feels right, but still causes a lump in my throat. “Thank you, Lucía. For everything.”
“You’re a good girl, Stella. You deserve happiness. I’m glad you’ve found someone who agrees.” She winks at Beck, then leaves us to our party.
Our rehearsal dinneris unlike anything I could have ever imagined. Somehow, I’ve slipped into Emmy’s book of fairytales and become a princess.
“Dance with me.” Beck’s gravelly tone causes goosebumps to appear along my shoulders. He presses his nose into my neck, just below my ear, inhaling deeply, and his heat instantly warms my back.
I turn in his arms then lick my lips. He follows the motion.
“You’re killing me in this dress.”
I drop my chin to my chest and peer down. It’s a pretty simple dress.
Looping his arms around my waist, he pulls me to him, and I gasp when his steely erection presses against my belly.
“Told you,” he says smugly.
Neighbors and friends sway around us, but he’s transported me into a world where it fades into the background.
Emmy runs by with a local teenager chasing her, the peals of laughter stitching up cracks in my heart.
I scan the space and locate Bella, who has happily been on Ruby duty tonight, then find Tabby and Leo at the edge of our temporary dance floor. Tabby dabs at her eyes, and Leo hasn’t torn his gaze away from her all night.
“I’ve never had this,” I admit. He arches his back to search my face. “This,” I say, waving my arms around at all our guests.
His eyes glaze over as he takes in each person. “I’m happy we can give this to the girls.” His tone is melancholy, but his desire is still making an appearance down below. It’s a heady thing, knowing I affect him this way.
