“Your Nan is a wise woman.”
I nod, but a tear slips free. “She is.”
“Oh, honey.” She pulls me into her chest. I feel so impossibly vulnerable as I sink into her loving embrace. “Oh, you beautiful, beautiful young woman.” She pulls back to kiss my forehead. “I’m so happy he found you.”
This time when the tear falls, it’s full of guilt and leaching shame.
I’m a terrible person for fooling all these beautiful people.
I’m a terrible person for fooling my foolish heart into thinking I could come out of this unscathed.
Now, I’ll pay the piper.
39
ALL THE CRAZY, MADDENING, CLIFF JUMPING, FUR LOVING PARTS OF YOU
LILAH
I’m drowning my emotions in bubbly when I feel Briggs’ hot breath on the side of my temple, his arms coming around my middle to pull me into the sturdy wall of his chest.
My whole world feels as though it’s spinning wildly out of control, but here he is sturdy as ever.
“You look tired.” How can a voice be soft and rough at the same time? And why do I love it so much?
“I am.”
“Mom can see everyone out,” he tells me.
I shake my head. “That is inappropriate. I’m fine.”
Briggs presses a quick kiss to my neck before he releases me to move to the stage. He takes the mic, and my jaw falls open in horror as he says, “It’s been great having you all. I want to say a big thank you to those of you who came out to celebrate with us. To those of you who need a ride, I’ve arranged drivers to take youwhere you need to go. To those of you who’ve pulled your campers to spend the night, I’m glad you’ve decided to stay.” His eyes come to me as he finishes, “My beautiful fiancée is exhausted, as you can imagine.” He winks and I turn bright red as the remaining crowd chuckles. “I can’t get her to bed with me until you all decide to retire for the night, so I’m going to ask that you do that so I can finally get my woman alone.”
“Oh, my gawd.” I drop my head into my hand. There’s not enough bubbly to drown the humiliation I feel right now. “I’m going to kill him,” I hiss as Dakota comes to stand beside me with Madelyn at his side.
“Told you the guy loves you.”
“He just threw me under the bus!”
“I think it’s sweet.” Madelyn lets her brows jump. “He wants to be alone with you.”
Nash moves in close, and I don’t miss the way his eyes land on Madelyn. They’ve been doing that all night long. She’s been pretending that he doesn’t exist all night long.
“Leave it to Briggs to say what needs to be said.” He winks at me. “But Dakota’s right. He loves you. I knew that when he let you bring the second cat home.”
“It’s a cute cat,” I defend.
“At this rate, his house will soon be a zoo.”
I shrug. “I like zoos.”
Briggs rejoins us after making his way through the crowd, accepting final congratulations on the engagement and goodbyes. Even Jim Santiago made anappearance tonight. It was a short appearance, but it was still an appearance.
I force a smile I’m sure looks like a grimace. “I can’t believe you just kicked everyone out.”
“It’s almost one in the morning anyway.” Briggs pulls me into his side. “I’m too old for this, and so is poor Mrs. Opal. May had absolutely no intention of leaving until the party was done. Now it’s done.”
“May needs gossip for tomorrow’s visit to The Tasty Rise,” Madelyn jokes, though we all know it’s true.
