Chloe made a sort of aha sound. “And if you’re like Presley, who also had a controlling father, who also hadn’t had a healthy romantic partnership before, you tend to snap defensively before seeing the true motivation behind something that was done out of love.”
“Because you’re used to having someone try to control you,” Presley said, raising her hand as if to own it. “I completely understand your reaction, Magnolia.”
I leaned my head on her shoulder. “It doesn’t make it okay though. I screwed up everything.”
“You didn’t,” Presley insisted. “You’re entitled to your feelings.”
“I made him feel terrible.”
“Maybe some quieter communication would’ve been more effective, but you’re human,” Chloe said with a half smile. “And, hey, communication is important. Now he knows that helping you behind your back might not land right.”
“What if he doesn’t want to be with me anymore?” I asked in a high-pitched voice.
“He will,” Presley said.
I wasn’t sure he would, and honestly I wasn’t sure I could blame him if he didn’t. “You don’t know that. He acted out of kindness and caring. I reacted with anger and frustration.”
“He knows you’re under a lot of stress right now, right?” Chloe pointed out.
I massaged my temples, wondering how I could ever make this up to him. “He’s under just as much if not more. Probably more.”
“So he should understand you weren’t at your best,” Presley insisted. “If you apologize and he doesn’t accept it, he’s not the guy I thought he was.”
“I think he is, and he will,” Chloe said quietly. “That night you guys were at Humble’s together, I watched the way he was with you. Caring, loving, happy to have you at his side.”
“I wasn’t being irrational or easily triggered that night,” I said before blowing my nose again.
“All you can do is apologize,” Presley said, “but I’d advise going big.”
“Oh, for sure.” Chloe pulled one leg up and faced me. “You’re going to need to grovel.”
Something about that made me laugh. “Is there one step beyond a grovel? Because I need to do that.”
“Do you want us to help you come up with something?” Presley asked.
I took in a slow, shaky breath as I thought about how I could ever convince Luke to give me another chance. “I’ve got the start of an idea,” I said. “And tonight is supposed to be about you, Presley, Ms. Bride to Be.”
“You were there for me in my time of need,” Presley said, undoubtedly referring to the night not that long ago when West had broken her heart.
“And you’ve been here for me in a big way now, but I’ll ponder my grovel when I can’t sleep later tonight.” I clasped both girls’ hands in mine. “Thank you for letting me vent and for understanding me, even when I mess up spectacularly.”
“Happens to the best of us,” Chloe said. “Someday maybe I’ll tell you how I screwed up with Holden.”
“But you got the guy in the end,” I said, taking hope from that.
“I got the guy in the end.” Her contentment and love shone on her face.
“And you’re marrying the love of your life in two days,” I said to Presley, whose face also lit up. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, and you’re my number one client, so I officially pronounce it wedding time.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Luke
A half hour before West and Presley’s wedding, I couldn’t begin to sort out the shitstorm in my head.
The last two days had put me through a goddamn wringer. The last two months actually, but now that it was Christmas Eve, everything was culminating at once, both good and bad.
The barn was finished on time, and with a functioning furnace, thank all the fucking things, just in the nick of time. We’d finally gotten a working unit installed last night after the rehearsal, and now, twenty-four hours later, the temperature inside was right where we wanted it to be.
