Page 68 of Had To Be You

“I can’t believe you’re here. Is Dad here too?”

“He is, and he can’t wait to see you. He’ll be the guy crying in his seat at the sight of you walking down the aisle looking so beautiful tonight. I’m guessing he won’t be the only one.”

I laugh. It’s just like my mom to think the whole world is as crazy about me as she and my dad are. “No, I’m pretty sure it will just be dad,” I tell her. “But that’s good enough for me.”

“I’m betting not. I’m sure that handsome man of yours who picked us up from the airport last night is going to weep like a baby at the sight of you in that dress.”

My jaw drops. What did she just say? Liam picked my parents up from the airport last night? I must be hearing things.

Lifting my eyes to meet my mom’s, I ask, “I’m sorry, what? Who picked you up?”

“Liam did. He called your dad and I and told us how happy it would make you if we came up for the wedding. He booked us two first class tickets and my gosh, did you know they give you warm nuts and steaming hot hand towels when you sit down? That’s a whole other story because we missed our first flight. Our goat yoga fundraiser ran late, and we couldn’t miss the part where they dress up the goats in party clothes and parade them around like a pageant. It’s the sweetest thing, baby. If you haven’t tried goat yoga, I highly recommend it.”

“Mom, that all sounds fantastic, but get back to the part about Liam.”

“He’s a good guy, baby, and easy on the eyes too. He’s a little serious but that’s something you can work on with him. He would really benefit from some crystal healing and a little meditation. He also has excellent taste in hotels. I told him, your dad and I would have been happy at the Reed Point Inn, but he insisted on putting us up at the Seaside. He got us a suite!” Her answer is unexpected but makes perfect sense. Liam must have arranged all of this before he found out the truth about me. He wanted to surprise me with the two people on Earth I love the most because he knew it would make me happy. My heart swells in my chest and shatters all at once for the man I love - the same man I lost.

“I better head downstairs, baby, and take my seat. The wedding is going to start soon,” my mom says, before wiping a lone tear away from my face and kissing my cheek. “I just couldn’t wait another second before seeing you.”

“I hope you have tissues, Momma, because you are going to need them. You’ve always loved love.”

“Oh baby, you’re right about that. But don’t you worry about me,” she says with a smile, then she is gone just as quickly as she came, leaving me rooted in place, too stunned to move. And then it’s time for us all to go, and panic sets in, replacing the overwhelming surge of happiness that just engulfed me. I will be seeing Liam in just a few minutes.

Carrying the train of Olivia’s dress, I follow her and the rest of the bridal party downstairs to the living room where we are out of sight of guests who have taken their seats in the backyard garden. Olivia is greeted by her dad in a warm embrace, allowing me the opportunity to sneak a peek at the ceremony outside. It’s a perfect warm day, rows and rows of white and gold chairs are lined up just past the pool, and there’s an altar made up of hundreds of peonies in a giant arch.

I spot Liam next to Parker, waiting in their places under the arch of flowers. He’s leaning into his brother’s shoulder, whispering something into his ear that causes Parker to throw his head back and laugh. Seeing him gets my heart racing and my libido roaring.

He looks incredibly handsome, like he belongs on a cover of a magazine. His charcoal suit hints at the muscles underneath, his dark hair is perfectly styled and his five-o’clock shadow is trimmed neatly just the way I like it. The sight of him makes my skin heat all over and emotions hit me like a freight train. Love. Regret.

I force myself to tear my gaze away and walk back to where the rest of the bridal party is lining up.

I hand Olivia her bouquet.

I find my spot in line.

I try to remember to breathe.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Liam

“You realize after today your balls are going to shrivel up and fall off, right?” I tease, leaning into Parker’s ear, his head falling back in laughter. The two of us are standing in front of our family and friends at the altar alongside Miles and Dylan, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

“Is that so? From all the incredible sex I’ll be getting on my honeymoon?” he says, then adding - because it’s Parker and he can never leave well enough alone - “My future wife can never get enough of me. It’s like my dick has cast a spell on her.”

“Not the time or place, Parks. I swear Grandma just heard that,” I say, nodding my head towards where she sits next to our dad in the front row.

“It’s always the time or place when my dick is begging for more.”

I roll my eyes at him but straighten my spine when the officiant takes her place, signalling that it’s time to get the show on the road. I look to my right at my younger brother who has now pulled himself together. He looks like the happiest man on the planet, finding that real love that some people spend their entire life looking for. I know he is more than ready to make Olivia his wife. He has always known it was Olivia and I’m envious. It goes without saying that I’m happy as hell for my brother today. There’s no doubt he’s found his soulmate. Olivia and Parker were always meant to be together, but I have to admit that for some fucked up reason I am equally excited to see Ellie in her dress today.

I know I shouldn’t want to see her. I realize I should still be madder than hell at her. But it’s Ellie, my vice, and when I think of her I forget everything else.

The music starts, the glass doors open to the house and I watch everyone in attendance stand to their feet. Heads turn to see the first bridesmaid, my sister Jules, as she steps out over the threshold. Kate follows closely behind her and then I take a sharp breath, knowing who will be next.

It feels like slow motion. I can feel Parker’s eyes shift to me, knowing the effect the next bridesmaid will have on me. I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment then open them up to see her.

Ellie walks down the aisle in a pale blue gown that ends at the floor and dips at her cleavage, hugging her curves in all the right places. With every step she takes, I’m reminded of what’s under that dress and what her body does to me.

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