Page 15 of Until You

She stepped out into the hall and closed the door softly behind her. Sebastian was dozing, but she’d bring back a bottle of water for him in case he woke up thirsty. It was nearly two hours after they’d gone up to bed, and the rest of the penthouse appeared to be dark. She headed for the curving staircase, following it down to the main level and then into the kitchen, where a dim light was shining. She stepped into the kitchen and saw Lauren rummaging around in the fridge, wearing a pair of pink panties and a large button-down shirt that clearly belonged to Theo.

“Oh!” she said when she stood from the fridge, a bottle of water in her hand. “I didn’t see you there.”

Kayla pressed a finger to her lips, trying not to laugh at Lauren’s disheveled state. Her hair was a mess, tangled around her face, her mascara smeared below her eyes, pinkish stubble burn obvious on her neck. She blushed and ducked her head back into the fridge.

“Are you thirsty?” she asked, fumbling for another bottle of water. Just then, Willa entered the kitchen, her hair a tangled mess, a visible bite mark on her neck. All three of them went still, studying each other, and then they burst out laughing in unison.

Willa shrugged, her oversized T-shirt slipping down over her shoulder. She shot Kayla a pointed but playful look. “What can I say? You and Sebastian started it.”

Kayla grimaced as she accepted a bottle of water from Lauren. “Sorry if we were loud. I was just…freaking out, and I just needed…”

“It’s okay,” said Willa, shaking her head. “I think we all just needed.”

“No kidding,” said Lauren, taking a long sip of her water. “Tonight was crazy.”

Willa moved to the fridge and opened the freezer, pulling out a container of chocolate ice cream. She pointed to one of the drawers. “Spoons are in there. We need some chocolate.”

The three of them gathered around the island, spoons in hand, eating chocolate ice cream and quietly processing everything that had happened that night.

There was something healing about chocolate. Or maybe it was the companionship. Kayla wasn’t sure. All she knew was that by the time she climbed back into bed, her heart felt as full as her stomach, her worries about the future nothing but a distant blip on the horizon.

And she knew, that no matter what happened, everything would be okay.

5

Kayla satdown in one of the pretty wooden chairs decorated with white flowers, taking in the gorgeous ceremony venue. Lauren sat down on her left, while Willa sat down on her right. Sebastian was the best man, while Theo and Max were both groomsmen, all standing up at the front with Lucian, who looked dashing in his black tux. Lauren was wearing a stunning yellow dress with white and green flowers on it, her fiery hair twisted into an updo. She was going to be performing a song at the reception, and Kayla wondered if she was nervous, or if this kind of thing was par for the course for her now that she was a semi-famous musician. Willa looked equally beautiful in her black and silver dress with purple beading, her hair curled 20s flapper-style. Kayla had decided on a deep blue dress with a high neckline and an open back, adorned with a silvery feather print and a ruffled skirt.

But as gorgeous as her friends looked, her eyes were locked on the men at the front. One man, specifically. The man whose baby she was pretty sure she was carrying.

She’d finally had the chance that morning to run to the drugstore, and she’d bought a test. She’d shoved it in the bottom of her suitcase, though. She wasn’t ready to take it. As sucky as it was to dwell in uncertainty, she had a feeling that everything would change once she took that test. And right now, she just wanted to enjoy the wedding and try not to obsess.

So far, she was doing a terrible job of that.

“Hi, hi, hi,” said Aerin Prescott-Flores as she wove her way down the row to the empty seat Willa had saved for her. “Jesus, I thought I wasn’t going to make it. We got stuck on the tarmac for over an hour and I ended up doing my makeup on the plane. I’m sure everyone thought I was a total asshole,” she said, dropping into her seat. Her light blond hair was styled in its usual sleek bob, and she was wearing an ice blue dress that hugged her curves and showed off her toned arms and legs.

They all gave her side hugs, trying not to be disruptive, but that went out the window when she waved at Lucian, drawing attention to herself, and he waved back, nodding at her with a smile on his face.

As the two oldest Prescott kids, they’d only had each other for years until Max had come along, and they’d formed an unbreakable bond, forged in the fires of basically raising their three younger siblings as best they could.

The string quartet at the front began playing, and Kayla sighed, her stomach knotting in anticipation. The venue was absolutely stunning—a hidden rooftop garden laden with white and pink roses, looking out onto St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The only thing indicating this was far from a run of the mill wedding ceremony were the huge men guarding every single entrance, eyes trained on neighboring rooftops.

One by one, the bridesmaids began making their way down the aisle, looking beautiful in their shimmering blush pink dresses, white roses dripping from their hair and bouquets. The last one, Olivia’s friend Whitney, pulled a rose covered wagon along behind her, where Cora sat, scrunching up rose petals and occasionally tossing a few on the carpet. When they reached the front, she carefully lifted Cora and handed her to the waiting nanny, then took her place with the others. Once all of the women were at the front, the music changed, and the string quartet started playing a soft, sweet version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”

Everyone stood, and Olivia appeared at the end of the aisle, her arm looped through her father’s.

“That dress is gorgeous,” whispered Lauren, and Kayla nodded. Olivia looked stunning in an off-white lace sheath dress that hugged her slender frame. The sweetheart neckline and off-the-shoulder sleeves showcased her delicate collarbones and long neck, making her look graceful and elegant, but still sexy. Her hair was down, flowing around her shoulders in loose waves.

Kayla pulled her attention from Olivia to look over at Lucian, whose gaze was locked on his bride, his eyes bright with emotion.

When Olivia and her father reached the front, her father placed her hand in Lucian’s and then hugged him tight, saying something in his ear. Lucian nodded solemnly and then bent and whispered something in Olivia’s ear. She grinned and reached up, wiping at his face.

Tears. Big, scary vigilante Lucian Prescott was shedding tears of happiness. It was something to see, something Kayla knew she’d never forget.

The ceremony began with the officiant welcoming everyone, and Kayla lost herself in her thoughts once again. Thoughts of Sebastian and the maybe-baby. Of their future and if she’d get to have her turn at a day like this. What she’d want her wedding to be like. They all swirled through her mind, a kaleidoscope of possibility and hope. Several minutes later, she was pulled from her thoughts when the vows started.

“We now come to the words Lucian and Olivia want to hear most today. The words that transform them from being engaged to being married. Lucian Gabriel Prescott, do you come here freely and give yourself without reservation to Olivia in marriage?”

Lucian nodded, his voice clear and deep, his tone serious. “I do.”

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