Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
I looked pretty today. I didn’t know if it was the dress, the professional hair and makeup, or simply the fact that I was marrying Boone, but I had a glow that was impossible to miss. I was so happy, so in love with the man I was about to marry, most of what I saw in the mirror reflected love. Hope. The future.
“You’re beautiful,” Mom whispered, coming to stand beside me.
“Thank you.”
“The most beautiful bride ever,” Grandma G said, her eyes filling with tears of happiness as she stood on my other side.
“I hope he knows how lucky he is,” Dad grunted, watching us through the mirror.
I turned to him. “Dad, you promised.”
He held up his hands as if surrendering. “Yeah, yeah, I know. I just mean, I want you to be happy.” He paused, blowing out a breath and staring up at the ceiling for a few seconds before focusing on me. “You’re my only daughter, my only child. When we couldn’t have any more, I vowed I would do everything in my power to make sure you had a good life. The best life. I guess, in retrospect, maybe I went a little overboard. Because I couldn’t stand the thought of you being unhappy. Or someone hurting you. I thought I could prevent that just by being in control. I was wrong, but I hope you know how much I love you.”
“I’m so happy, Daddy,” I whispered, walking over to him. “He makes me happier than I ever imagined I could be. I promise.”
He held out his arms and wrapped me in a huge hug. The same kind of hugs we’d share when I was a little girl, when he’d made me feel so safe.
We’d grown apart over the years, but somehow, now that I lived in Nashville, we’d gotten closer. We had lunch or breakfast when he was in town with the team. He made time for me when I went home to St. Louis to see Grandma G. We texted more regularly. For the first time in more than a decade, Dad and I had a relationship.
He still grumbled and complained now and then about Boone moving me “halfway across the country” to Nashville, even though it was only a six-hour drive, but he’d given his blessing when Boone had asked for my hand in marriage. I’d told him it was ridiculous and unnecessary—I was a grown woman who didn’t need my father’s permission—but Boone had insisted it was symbolically important.
To my surprise, it had gone a long way toward repairing their relationship. They talked once in a while now too, so we were making progress.
“Is everyone ready?” Sheridan stuck her head in the door. “It’s time.”
“We’re going,” Mom said, kissing me on the cheek before heading for the door.
Grandma G squeezed my arm as she passed me, giving me a wink as she disappeared after my mother.
“The girls are ready,” Sheridan stage-whispered. “Can I tell them to start?”
I nodded.
Boone and I had settled into our new life here in Nashville, but the Mavericks were still very much a part of our extended family. Sheridan, Hadley, and Sariah had drawn straws to see who would be my matron of honor because I hadn’t been able to choose, Annalise was the flower girl, and though Andy was Boone’s best man, he had Sawyer, Nash, Wes, and Lars in the wedding party. Joey was the ring bearer and Emma was also in the wedding party, so we’d somehow incorporated friends, family, and extended family into the wedding, which made us happy.
Despite my protests, this wound up being another massive event. It had been impossible to pare it down. Between the friends we’d made on the team here in Nashville, the Mavericks, our families, and my colleagues at my new job at Vanderbilt, the guest list had grown exponentially. Instead of just our families and a small group of close friends, over three hundred people were out in the church waiting for me to walk down the aisle, and I couldn’t help but laugh as I thought about the last time I’d almost done this.
There would be no almost this time, though.
I loved Boone with everything I was.
“Ready, honey?” Dad asked, extending his arm.
“I am.”
We walked into the anteroom, waiting for Annalise to walk ahead of me.
She was so excited and her eyes widened when she saw me.
“Jolie! You look prettier—”
“Shh.” Dad put his finger to his lips. “It’s your turn to go, sweetheart.”
“I’m ready!” Her voice was no quieter, but her exuberance made me smile.
I watched as she tossed flowers in every direction, grinning at everyone she passed, whether she knew them or not.
Dad took a step forward and I realized this was it.
Holy shit.
I was getting married.
For a moment, I froze. A million memories of last year whiplashing through my mind, but then my gaze landed on Boone. In his white tuxedo, surrounded by his brother and teammates, he’d never looked as handsome as he did right now. When his eyes found mine, even from across the massive room, there was no denying the spark.