Page 132 of Lovestruck at Sundown
Me:I hope things work out between you.
Cecile:God, I’m a mess right now. I wish I could’ve been
his date to Joel’s wedding :(
Me:I’m sorry. I would’ve loved it if you were here too.
Cecile:Don’t mind me. You’re probably busy right now.
We’ll talk soon.
Me:Love you.
Cecile:Love you too.
“Everything all right?” Zara asked as she approached me with a raised brow.
“Yeah,” I replied, putting my phone away. “Just talking to Cecile.”
“Blegh!” Zara stuck out her tongue and brought her index finger to her mouth.
“Be nice.” I let out a weak laugh. Zara was very protective of her brothers, but so was I when it came to my friends.
“She hurt Tobias.” Zara crossed her arms at her chest. “And toyed around with him until she got bored.”
“That’s not what happened,” I assured her. “Cecile loved Tobias.”Still does.But it wasn’t my place to give Zara any extra details.
Zara stared at me with obstinate determination. “She hasn’t proven to besismaterial.”
I cleared my throat. “Seems like anothersishas arrived.” I jerked my chin over Zara’s shoulder, and she turned around to see Nathan arriving with his girlfriend Vivienne.
“That one is still under strict evaluation,” Zara whispered with a giggle. “You and Lily, of course, are my favorites. For now.” She winked at me. “Do you mind if I?”
“No, of course not! Go ahead.” I waved Zara off and she turned on her heel to walk toward Nathan.
“Natey! You’re looking dashing today, darling!”
Nathan looked classically handsome in his black tux, but Vivienne looked breathtaking. She was wearing a poppy red halter backless dress with a slit in the front and beautiful gold shoes with rhinestones. Her lips matched the color of her dress, and her long, light brown locks were pulled back into an elegant, tight bun, making her look like a graceful ballerina.
Wait a minute …
“Ballerina …” I gasped, failing to find someone to hold on to after the shocking realization that Vivienne was the ballerina I photographed last year. “IknewI’d seen her before.” I was talking to myself now, unable to fathom how small the world was. My curiosity about how they met was skyrocketing. Her body had changed since the last time I saw her, too. It was curvier, and overall, she looked healthier.
Happier.
After Nathan missed the exhibit where my photo was showcased among a select few of my class, I printed, framed, and gave a copy to him. It was wild to think that a portrait of a stranger he was destined to meet and fall in love with hung on one of his apartment walls the entire time.
I flicked my attention away when Nathan spotted me. He grabbed Vivienne’s hand and walked over to greet me. Her eyes didn’t look as sad as they registered in my photographs. If I had to guess, I’d say Nathan was probably one of the reasons behind that noticeable difference.
After a semi-awkward exchange of polite hellos and nice-to-see-yous, Lily and Joel approached us and greeted Nathan and Vivienne. Ruby Whitman, their wedding planner, quickly interrupted them to let them know the guests were arriving and that it was time for everyone to get ready for the ceremony.
The rest of the Sjöberg family arrived,and my knees almost gave up on me when I saw William rushing to me with that little smirk that liquefied me every single time.
He was freshly shaven, and his tanned skin glowed against the crisp white of his shirt’s collar. He was a few steps away from me, but I could already smell his mouth-watering cologne. When he reached me, a perfect, luminous smile appeared on his face. His hand took mine, and he twirled me once.
“Absolutely devastating,” he said after taking his time surveying me from head to toe. “I cannot wait to rip the delicate fabric of this dress off your body tonight,” he whispered in my ear, pulling me against his chest and kissing my cheek afterward.
“And you look …” I grabbed the flaps of his jacket and shook my head with a snort. Perfect? Exquisite? Beautiful? Handsome? Flawless in the most unfair of ways?
