“Hi, Walker,” Owen says as he grabs his water bottle.
“Looking good out there,” Walker calls as he watches us, grinning.
I look down at Owen, then back at the court, the town, the life we’ve built piece by piece.
This isn’t pretend. It has never been.
And before that reception night is over, she’s gonna know it too.
Chapter 16
Poppy
No Horse To Ride by Luke Grimes
This is the biggest day of my life, and I’m nervous.It’s almost time for us to meet at City Hall and get married. I stand in front of the mirror at Boots & Bangs and smooth my hands down the front of my dress, still in disbelief that it’s me looking back in the mirror.
Cami, Violet, Maggie, and Mack helped me change into my dress. It looks like it belongs in a fairy tale. It’s what dreams are made of, a long, bustling skirt and a laced top with long sleeves covered in lace. It makes my boobs look fantastic with amazing cleavage. This is the dress that I tried on with them that made me feel like a beautiful princess. My white heels have red bottoms, a little secret splash of bold that feels just like me. I have no idea what kind of shoes they are, but Violet surprised me with them, and they fit me like a glove and feel like the best shoes I’ve ever worn. Butter soft. So pretty, I’ll keep them where I can see them to remember this day. Maggie drapes a fakewhite fur stole around my shoulders earlier, fussing until it sat just right.
Cami places light blue teardrop pearl earrings in my ears that belonged to her grandma Wilder for something borrowed and blue. “So many people here with all of us today watching in spirit. I know Grandma Wilder would have loved you both together.”
“Don’t make me cry,” I tell her, pulling her in for a hug. She leans back and looks at me with her long hair curled around her shoulders, looking stunning as ever.
“Thanks for becoming my sister,” she says, smiling back tears.
“I’ve always been your sister,” I tell her proudly.
I’m wearing lingerie too. The light pink set Violet insisted on. Ollie probably won’t see it and might not even know I have it on. But I do. I’ve never felt prettier. He says he won’t take it there with me unless we’re real. I want that so badly, but I have no idea how to tell him.
We’re still finding our footing and still learning how to say what we mean without getting scared. He still looks at me sometimes like he’s waiting for me to change my mind. Like he can’t quite believe I want him the way he wants me.
I love Ollie, and I’m nervous. I don’t know how to say it so he’ll believe it. But I do want this to be real.
The stylists from Boots & Bangs move around me, curling and pinning, brushing and blending. Soft music plays. The mirror fogs slightly from hairspray and nerves. When they step back, I finally really look at myself.
My hair is half pulled up and braided around my crown, with loose tendrils around my face. My blond hair curls into lovely waves around my shoulders and down my back.
I’ve never felt more beautiful in my entire life. And there’s one person that I always thought would be here on the day I gotmarried. My mom. And that stings. But I won’t cry and ruin my makeup, I remind myself.
Maggie stands behind me, her hands clasped together. When our eyes meet in the mirror, hers shine with tears.
“Oh, Poppy,” she says softly.
I turn toward her. “What?”
She steps closer and cups my cheek. “I know your momma has to be looking down at you right now. So proud of you. Of the beautiful woman you’ve become. I love you so much, sugar.”
My throat tightens instantly, and she knew why I was upset. Every girl dreams about their wedding day and pictures their mom there. I’ve always known that my mom wouldn’t be there, and today that became real, and I hate it even more.
“I wish she were here,” I whisper, my lip quivering and my nose starting to run with emotion.
“I know,” Maggie says. She pulls me into a warm, solid hug. “But she’s with you. Always has been.”
I breathe her in and let myself have the moment. The ache, love, and missing her.
When we finally head to City Hall, my heart starts beating faster with every step. I keep my stole pulled close, my heels clicking softly against the floor. Maggie squeezes my hand once before letting go.
They’re already there.Owen is the first person I see.He’s in a tux that fits him perfectly, black and crisp and handsome. He spots me, and his face lights up. He pulls at his collar like it’s strangling him, clearly not a fan.
