‘Okay you two, enjoy your evening.’ My mother takes charge of the phone. Her tone is genuine and sincere.
Finally, she seems to have accepted Teagan and I are over, and that I’m moving on. This is turning out to be an epic month.
‘Thanks.’ And not just for the phone call. Or for minding my daughter. It’s ‘thank you for accepting Ava and inviting her to dinner’.
‘Send us a picture tomorrow when you’re all dolled up for the wedding of the year.’ Mam waves and blows a kiss.
Phoebe’s face fills the screen again. ‘Love you, Daddy!’ she shouts. ‘And you too, Ava.’
I freeze at the enormity of what my daughter just said to my girlfriend, the weight of it trouncing me like a ten-tonne truck.
Seconds pass before we both reply unanimously, ‘Love you too.’
I end the call and throw the phone on the table. ‘Yeah so, I don’t think Christmas morning is going to be a problem. Or any other morning for that matter.’
ChapterThirty-Seven
AVA
Tuesday 19th December
Soft flickering candles create an enchanting glow throughout the chapel. Evergreen garlands with twinkling lights drape gracefully along the altar and the pews are dressed in plush white cushions. The place is packed with our family, friends, and Nate’s Hollywood buddies, dressed to kill.
Not one of them looks as sharp as my date.
My eyes shamelessly roam over Cillian’s broad frame. His sharply cut tuxedo emphasises the shape of his strong shoulders and narrow waist. His full lips are pressed into a studious line, one that I’d love to lick until it lifts. His dark brown hair is tousled to perfection, mostly by my own hands as I dragged my fingers through it not half an hour earlier.
Those silver eyes flick to mine and sparkle, like he can read my mind. Like he’s replaying the same decadent memories as I am.
His throat bobs as if he’s going to say something, but the organ sounds throughout the quaint old building. I slip my palm into his, watching earnestly as my soon-to-be sister-in-law walks up the aisle. Holly looks stunning in a simple silk dress. It’s not hard to see how she captured my brother’s heart.
When she reaches the altar, her father places her hand in Nate’s. Emotion bubbles inside my chest. Water fills my eyes. Thank God for waterproof mascara. I’m a sucker for a Happy Ever After, and watching my brother get his will have me blubbering like a baby if I’m not careful.
I barely register the priest’s words, watching Holly, wondering what it feels like to be up there, praying that one day it’ll be me in a white dress surrounded by my friends and family.
Cillian’s thumb brushes over the back of my hand with an attentiveness which makes me think he’s still reading my mind. That one day it could be me and him up there, no matter what his previous views were.
We are ‘more’.
So, hopefully we’ll achieve more together.
The priest finally says, ‘you may kiss the bride’ and my big brother leans down to kiss his wife. The crowd erupts, clapping, whistling, and cheering. My mother and father are the loudest from the pew in front of us.
‘That’s the stuff!’ My father yells as Nate’s mouth parts Holly’s in a kiss that’s a little X-rated for a church.
My face aches from grinning so hard but I can’t hold back my tears for another second. Cillian wraps his strong arms around me, cradling me against his chest. His face finally cracks open with a smile almost as wide as my own.
‘You’re such a romantic,’ he murmurs into my ear.
‘I never denied it.’ I pull a tissue from my pocket and dab my eyes carefully so as not to smudge my make-up.
‘It was a beautiful ceremony.’ Cillian admits.
‘There might be hope for you yet.’ My palm roams over his chest, appreciating the smooth taut muscle beneath, but what I’m really searching for is the spot over his heart.
‘Hope is the one thing you’ve given me since you walked into that bar four weeks ago.’ He presses a kiss to my temple, nodding at Holly and Nate as they dance down the aisle together. ‘So, who knows …’
His words sink into my soul.
