Page 53 of Make Me Swoon

“What’s wrong, dear?” Fred asks, not bothering to look up from his phone.

The cynical part of me wonders if he’s texting his mistress.

“I just have so much to get done today. I don’t know how I’m going to get it all done!” she wails and I barely restrain from rolling my eyes.

“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. This is why we have the wedding planner and Lyla here,” my mother soothes her, and my eyes snap up at that.

That’swhy I’m here? Guess that’s good to know.

I can’t say that I’m surprised to hear that she didn’t really want me here to catch up with me.

My phone buzzes again and I discreetly pull it out to check as Heidi continues with her dramatics.

Teller:Miss you, Lyla. The Mystery Cabin isn’t the same without you here.

Teller: Stan says hi.

I smileas I read his messages. I can picture him in the gift shop, Stan trying to read the screen over his shoulder as he types out the words.

Lyla:Miss you guys too! Chicago isn’t that great.

Teller: Come back. Stan says that he’ll give you a raise!

Teller: Okay, no he didn’t and he wants me to make sure that you know I was joking.

I giggleat that and the sound of joy in this house must be so unusual because it catches everyone’s attention.

Lyla:Got it!

I tuckmy phone back into my pocket and continue to eat my breakfast. My mom is frowning at me and Heidi is glaring across the table. Fred is still busy with his phone, the newspaper folded in front of him.

“We’ll get started on the to-do list now,” my mom says, nodding to me and I shove the last piece of bacon into my mouth before I stand to follow her.

Ruby, the overworked wedding planner, is standing in the foyer, clipboard in hand, and my mom nods toward her before she turns and heads back to the kitchen table.

I sigh, making my way over to Ruby.

“What can I help with?” I ask and she gives me a grateful smile.

I spend the rest of the morning and afternoon picking up decorations, setting up tables at the venue for tonight, and making sure that everything is ready for the rehearsal dinner. I make it back to the pool house just in time to rinse off and change into my dress for tonight.

It’s a poofy pink monstrosity and I pull it out, frowning at my reflection. I wonder what Hudson would say if he saw me in this. I want to take a picture of myself and send it to him, but I know that I can’t.

I remember what he said about me being awesome and just needing to see it myself. I thought that I would be happy with family or on this trip, but now I doubt that. I was happy in Destiny Falls with Hudson and my friends.

Did I make a mistake?

I told Hudson that when you love someone, you do what’s best for them, you want what’s best for them. I still believe that.

My mom is selfish in love. She married for all of the wrong reasons and she’s just as miserable today as I remembered her from when I was a kid.

She always has to get her way, always has to be right, and I don’t want to be like her. I don’t want to win in love if it means that someone else loses.

“We’re waiting on you, Lyla,” my mom snaps as she pokes her head into the pool house.

“I’m coming.”

“Please try to remember that tonight is your sister’s night. We don’t need any of your hysterics or fits,” she tells me, and my fingernails dig into my palms.

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