Page 133 of Butter My Biscuit

Harrison

I want to see you.

Reading it makes my heart pound harder, but I ignore his message.

The small orchestra sets up, and I speak with the officiant, and that’s the final check before we get started. While I’m walking with Beckett on the day of the wedding, tonight, I’ll be standing back and making sure everything runs smoothly. When I see Stephanie is in place, I give the thumbs-up, and the orchestra plays. It’s not the same music that will be used for the ceremony. I pat Beckett’s shoulder, and he leads the group, and I avoid Harrison’s gaze that’s locked in on me.

Everyone walks down, and then Stephanie and her dad step up. They’re next.

“Ready?” I ask, looking at the bouquet. “Oh good, glad Remi found you.”

Stephanie breaks away and hugs me. “Thank you so much for everything. It’s gorgeous in here. Because of you, I think Daddy is going to turn this into an official event center.”

I glance at her dad. “Oh, wow, that’s incredible. Hopefully, there will be many more happy ceremonies hosted in here,” I say.

The song she’s walking out to for the practice round begins, and I meet her eyes. “It’s time.”

She nods, looking forward, then makes her way out there. I don’t watch or listen; instead, I disappear.

I take the elevator to the top floor, and then I push open the door that leads to the top of the building. The sun has already set, and the streetlights make downtown glow. All of Valentine can be seen from up here. Several blocks of cars line the street, and the back parking lot is full.

I place my hands on my head and look up to count the stars in the sky, taking in the cool spring air, even though it burns my lungs. The music eventually starts downstairs, and I can hear it on the roof. That means the engagement party has officially begun.

Everything is so well organized that it will run like a well-oiled machine whether I’m down there or not.

The door clicks closed behind me, and I turn and glance over my shoulder to see him. I bring my attention upward, wanting to get lost in the Milky Way.

“I’ve been searching for you all night.” He walks forward and stands beside me with his hands tucked in his pockets.

“Found me.” I have to avoid his eyes while the electricity buzzes between us. I let my arms drop down to my sides, trying to steady my racing heart. “You smell like old memories.”

He smirks. “You do too. But anyway, I got you something.” He reaches into his pocket and then gently turns me around.

Harrison stands behind me, his warm fingertips sliding against the back of my neck, moving my short hair out of the way. A cold locket presses against my chest as he clasps a necklace. His fingertips cause prickles on my skin, and goose bumps line my arms. My torturous heart upticks as I undo the clasps and look inside the locket. There’s a picture of us together in the tree house. And I remember that summer like it was yesterday. We were sixteen and stupid.

I swallow hard.

“So you don’t forget us,” he says, leaning over my shoulder to take a peek.

His touch, his breath, his voice … are intoxicating, a true poison, and if I don’t find a way to walk away, I might actually die this time.

“I’ll never,” I tell him. “Nothing can erase the memories.” I close the locket and place a kiss on it.

“Gracie,” he says, his voice lowering. The rasp nearly brings me to my fucking knees as he turns me around.

I meet his gaze, searching his face.

“I—”

“There you are,” I hear from behind us.

Stephanie.

He turns, and the smile meets his voice. “Babe.”

I meet her eyes, and she grins.

“You two almost done? We have tons of pictures to take!”

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