“I’m falling in love with you,” he whispered in answer as he dropped a feather light kiss onto her hair.
He didn’t know if she felt the same way, or if she could give up her entire career for these feelings, if he could even ever allow himself to ask her to do something like that. All he knew was that holding Eliana in his arms, her head curled into his chest, her hand splayed across his stomach, was the best feeling he’d ever had.
He relaxed into the couch, and despite the emotional turmoil of the day, fell into the most peaceful sleep he’d had in a long time.
Chapter 30
“You are the gull, Jo, strong and wild, fond of the storm and the wind, flying far out to sea, and happy all alone.” —Louisa May Alcott
Elianapulleduptothe Southern Florida Wildlife Conservation Center for Julia’s wedding rehearsal. The wind blew wildly, which broke up the sweltering heat they’d been experiencing all week, thank goodness.
She understood the timing of her sister wanting to get married so quickly, but did it have to be in the middle of summer? The wind also blew the scent of all the animals toward the parking lot. Yep. It definitely smelled like animal refuse. But if this was what Julia wanted, this was what they were going to give her, dang it.
And if this last-minute change kept Eliana so busy it distracted her from things Asher confessed whenhe thought she was sleeping? That he wasfallingin love with her?
Maybe he’d been talking about Louisa May Alcott.Right, Eliana. He was confessing his love to your turtle.
Eliana got out of her car with a single-minded determination to put any and all confessions of love—regardless of the subject of said confession—out of her mind, and make this the best wedding rehearsal in the history of wedding rehearsals. Her parents pulled into the parking lot beside her, and they got out, followed by Cameron, who wore his yellow swim trunks. They were all casual today—Eliana in jean cut-offs and a peach tank-top—but Cameron had also slung his goggles around his neck and was holding a towel.
She glanced at her parents questioningly.
“We usually go swimming on Fridays,” her mom explained. “And he’s not happy we’re here instead—since we usually come here on Tuesdays.”
“Ah.” Eliana nodded in understanding. Cameron thrived on routine and didn’t always do well when their schedule changed. But since life couldn’t always be predictable, like moving a wedding location the week of, for example, he sometimes had to roll with the punches.
Even if his willingness to roll was about the same as a square wheel’s.
She took Cameron’s free hand in hers—she was one of the few people he’d still hold hands with, which made her feel unaccountably happy and superior, she’d admit—and walked with him into the conservation center.
“We’re going to do the wedding rehearsal, and then I’ll take you swimming tonight at The Palms.” She glanced up at the sky with a frown. Was a storm coming in?
No. Only good thoughts.
“Pool,” he said.
“Yep, we’ll go to the pool. After this.”
He scowled, clearly not happy with her answer, and yanked his hand away from her, then went to go stand by Kai, Logan’s best man. He leaned against the railing in the exact same pose as Kai, who gave him a nod in hello.
“Don’t take it personal,” Dad said as he walked past her. “Kai’s just cooler than you.”
“Rude,” she said with a laugh.
“He’s cooler than all of us,” Mom said. “Do the kids say cool anymore?” she asked Eliana. “I heard ‘on fleek’ on the radio the other day.”
Dad shook his head. “That show we were watching, they kept saying slay. ‘That dress slays.’”
“Oh right.” Mom turned to Eliana. “Kai slays.”
“Yeah, he does,” Leo, Logan’s nephew said, as he, his sister, and his mom approached them.
Logan’s sister, Willow, was gorgeous, as always. She didn’t look like she was working full-time as a nurse while raising two kids on her own, but rather like she’d walked straight off the runway and into the elephant enclosure. Eliana might be tempted to be insanely jealous of her, but she was so nice and down to earth, it was impossible to do anything but really like her. At least in the few times Eliana had met her.
Kai lit up when he saw them and walked toward their group. Eliana took the opportunity to escape and find Julia. She and Logan were talking to someone on speakerphone, and Eliana slowed down as she approached, but Julia waved her close.
“No, we’re at the Southern Florida Wildlife Conservation Center. Not the zoo,” Logan bit off. “You went thirty minutes in the wrong direction.”
“The officiator went to the wrong place,” Julia whispered to Eliana. “At least he did it today and not tomorrow.”
