Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Just as quickly as the fantasy entered my mind, reality came along to shatter it.
Was I insane?
It had been two fucking days.
We’d known each other forever, sure. We’d had some good sex. And being open about my attraction to her was like a deep breath of spring air after being cooped up all winter.
But Maddie wasn’t going to leave her home and job in Ohio for me—she wanted Elliott to have stability and familiarity. She wanted his father to play a role in his life. And she loved what she did and where she worked. She wasn’t going to give all that up to move back to Bellamy Creek, even if her dickhead ex would allow it.
For what?
The charm of small-town life aside, I’d be taking care of my father well into the foreseeable future. I couldn’t ask her to shoulder that burden with me. It wouldn’t be fair.
She’d be welcome to visit me whenever she wanted, and my bedroom door would always be open.
Anything beyond that was impossible.
Thirteen
Maddie
On Tuesday afternoon, I met Bianca and Blair at Main Street Bridal, where Cheyenne was having her final fitting. We sat on a pink velvet settee and sighed as we watched Cheyenne come out of the dressing room and make her way to the three-paneled mirror.
Her dress was white lace over champagne satin and fell to the floor in a simple A-line shape. The neckline had a deep V, as did the back, and the short flutter sleeves showed off her graceful arms. It was a formal gown but had a slightly Bohemian feel to it too.
She stepped onto the podium and smiled at us in the mirror. “Well? What do you think?”
“Oh, Chey,” breathed Blair, putting a hand over her heart. “I’m going to cry.”
“No crying.” Cheyenne’s smile grew even wider. “This is a happy occasion. I waited my whole life for it.”
“These are tears of happiness, okay?” Blair dug a tissue from her purse. “Just let me.”
“It’s really beautiful, Cheyenne.” Bianca stood and went over to admire the sleeves more closely. “The lace is exquisite.”
“I agree,” I said, catching her eye in the mirror and giving her a smile. “Stunning. The champagne color beneath is perfect with your hair.”
“You don’t think it’s too fancy for a backyard wedding?”
“Not at all,” I assured her. “It’s just right.”
“Cole is going to lose his mind.” Blair dabbed at her eyes.
“You should see Mariah’s dress. It’s so pretty.” Cheyenne laughed. “Hard to tell who’s more excited about this wedding, her or me.”
“Well, it’s been a long time coming,” said Bianca, clasping her hands beneath her chin. “And I cannot wait to watch you two say your vows.”
The seamstress approached, fussed over Cheyenne for a moment and pronounced the gown a perfect fit.
“Thank you,” said the bride-to-be, stepping off the podium. “Now let’s look for you,” she said to me, a gleam in her eye. “We need to find something that will bring Beckett to his knees.”
Laughing, I rose to my feet. “I’m all for that.”
The girls helped me find a few dresses to try on, and I ended up falling in love with a flowing maxi dress in a pretty shade of dusty blue that reminded me of Beckett’s eyes, with a deep plunging V in the front and dramatic low back with crisscross straps. The skirt fell to the floor in soft, rippling folds, and I imagined how they might swish and swirl. Would Beckett ask me to dance?
“That’s the one,” Bianca said.
“I agree.” Blair nodded. “It’s perfect.”
Even though it was slightly too long, the seamstress assured me she could hem it in time. She brought me a pair of strappy nude satin sandals in my size, and I took off my flats and slipped the heels on my bare feet.
“Much better,” she said, kneeling down to pin the hem.
“You think it’s okay?” I asked the girls, who stood behind me.
“I think it’s gorgeous,” Blair said confidently. “And you’ll look divine next to Beckett. The guys are wearing navy suits, right?”
“Yes,” answered Cheyenne with a smile. “My colors are navy, peach, and champagne. You’ll fit right in.”
“I will be in the background,” I told her with a laugh. “But those colors sound so beautiful.”
“I can’t wait,” she sighed.
“How many people are coming?” I asked.
“We invited about a hundred, and we have eighty-three who responded yes.” She crossed her fingers. “Hopefully the weather cooperates. The reception is under a tent, but the ceremony will be out in the open, and I don’t want anyone to melt in the heat. Or get rained on.”
“It’s going to be perfect,” I said.
“At least you won’t have a blizzard,” added Blair. “I don’t know what I was thinking, choosing December for a wedding in northern Michigan.”
“You were thinking you didn’t want to wait to marry the love of your life.” Bianca nudged her friend’s shoulder.