“Oh, wow.” Brook gaped as she looked out through the large window of my bedroom at the beach house. “He lookstight.”
Ford, dressed in a black tux to match Ashton’s, was reading from an index card as he paced in front of the driftwood arbor that was wrapped in tulle and pale pink roses to match our bouquets.
Anna’s hand went to her heart. It made me tear up more. Everything made me tear up apparently.
Mom smoothed the veil and smiled. “You’re going to mess up your mascara.”
Anna and Brooklyn, each in their purple bridesmaid’s dresses, reached for my hands.
“Girl, why are you crying? This isyourday.” Brooklyn said.
“It is my day,” I repeated with a determined exhale.
Brooklyn raised her hands to the roof. “Your day to run your hands all over Ashton’s hot, naked body for the first time.”
Mom yelped. I snickered. Anna gagged.
“And,” Brook said. “You get to do it in a beach house overlooking the Atlantic. Maybe I should change my wedding venue.”
Ashton had rented a quaint cottage a quarter mile down the beach where we’d spend the next three days together. He said getting one right on the water, last minute, had cost three times what it would in September after school was back in session. But it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
“Mom.” Charlie bounded into the room wearing a flower crown and a matching purple dress. “Jenny says it’s time for the first look and the rest of us need to get into place.” Then she motioned for everyone to follow her. Mom hurried out of the room.
Brooklyn gripped my shoulders, facing me. “This is it, Tal. Last chance to change your mind.”
I rolled my eyes but smiled. “I’m not going to back out twenty minutes before the wedding. I love him.”
“Are you sure?” Her expression was somber. “I’m not sure I’d want the job of being Anna’s aunt.”
I shook with laughter.
Anna smacked her on the arm. “Shut up and stop trying to weird me out.”
“Weird or not.” Brooklyn made duck lips. “In an hour, you’re going to be calling her Aunt Tally.”
I shuddered. “No. Don’t you dare.”
“No worries,” Anna said. “That will never happen.” Shegave me a side hug. “Blue on the other hand? It’s all he’s talked about for the last month.”
“Anna! Brooklyn! Places!” Jenny called. They jogged out of the room.
I laughed and turned to give myself one more glance in the mirror. I’d never looked this pretty in my entire life. My dress was the stuff dreams were made of. The bottom was an all-tulle skirt. But from the waist up, I was covered in appliquéd flowers. Well, the front was. The back dipped down, open to my waist. It was sexy but tasteful. My updo reminded me of something out of a Jane Austen novel. And it was encircled by a flower crown, similar to Charlie’s but with tulle woven throughout.
A knock sounded on the door. I shook out my hands and picked up my bouquet.
Ashton slipped into the room and I was unprepared. For the moment. For how handsome he was in his classic black tux. For the fierce expression of intense love on his face.
“Tally,” he said in a reverent whisper, as if he couldn’t quite form words. He ran a hand through his hair as his gaze scanned me head to toe and back again. Then, in three large strides, he was in front of me, pulling me against him.
I pressed my hands against his chest, keeping him at bay. “You’ll crush your boutonniere.” I reached for his hands instead.
“Right.” His mouth crooked into an adorable half grin. “You’re so pretty. Way too pretty to be marrying me.”
“That is not true.” I trapped his face in my hands. “Don’t ever talk about my almost-husband like that again. Do you hear me?”
His expression went solemn and I realized his hands were shaking. “You still want to do this?”
“Ash,” I said softly. “Are you having second thoughts?”
