***
Olivia and Ryan paint a perfect picture kissing in the frame of the arbor Pete and I built for their big day. It felt good to work with my hands like that again. Pete and I even discussed using it for small venue weddings in the future while we built it. Blue Lake’s sunset tonight glows around the happy couple and takes my mind to places I never dreamed of—me standing just like that with a gray-eyed, chestnut-haired girl, looking at me like I am the key to her happiness. I catch her eye as the small crowd claps. Hers brim with unshed tears and as her lips curve, one glistening stream runs down the apple of her cheek. Pressure builds behind my own eyes. I clear my throat and stand with the other guests and begin moving chairs to the tables we set up in the courtyard.
Once everyone takes their seats, Ever steps up to the bride and groom table and taps a butter knife to her champagne flute. As the hush falls, Ever begins to speak, her voice shaky with unshed tears. “Via, Ryan, you know Mom wanted to be here. Since she couldn’t, she sent you these.” She hands an envelope to Via who whips it open and produces two plane tickets. “She’s in Hawaii now and wants you to join her before she leaves to the next destination.” Via holds the two tickets above her head, dangling them for the guests to see, and it’s met with appropriateoohsandahhsand applause.
Allie and Ashley couldn’t attend at the last minute due to a fire at one of his locations. They also sent an invitation to bring the newlyweds to Malibu for a weekend of their choice. The pressure is back behind my eyes as Everly hugs her sister, then Ryan, and tells the group to raise their glasses. These sisters amaze me with their ability to roll with life and take it as it comes, happiness dripping off them. Chase stands as Everly returns to her seat beside me. I drop my arm across her shoulders and press my nose behind her ear. Her scent dries up the misty affection behind my eyes and replaces it with a swirling heat in my belly.
Dropping my lips to her ear, I whisper, “I’m just going to check with Pete, see if he needs anything.” I ignore the question in her eyes and smile, taping a light kiss on her lips. “I’ll be right back.” She nods with a soft smile and turns her gaze back to the happy couple and Chase’s speech. The guy is being nice enough, polite, helpful. Everyone is on their best behavior. I tell myself that stepping away in the middle of his speechisthe polite thing to do. Glaring daggers at him while he talks is unnecessary, but something I’m not sure I can avoid. It takes every coping trick I know to keep the feral tendencies caged at the thought of someone hurting my girl. I can’t think too much about where those tendencies come from. When I do, I don’t feel worthy of someone like her—or anything good.
Chapter 15
Everly
Tears prick my eyes watching my sister kiss her husband. The day went perfectly. The sun is just starting to dip into the lake, and it couldn’t be a more spectacular end to the day if we special-ordered it. I take another longing look at them as they sway to music on the makeshift dance floor we constructed. And by we, I mean Julian.
Via pulls me aside before the last song and hugs me so tight. “Thank you, sister. Everything was perfect.” She wipes a lone tear from her cheek.
“It was all Julian.” I give him all the credit because he really did the heavy lifting—literally and figuratively. My heart swells just thinking about it.
Ryan sneaks his arms around her and nuzzles into her neck. “Can I have the last dance, wife?”
“You can have them all.” Olivia beams at me, fresh tears sparkling in her eyes. She squeezes my hand she was holding and lets Ryan lead her back to the makeshift dance floor.
Turning, I walk quietly to the beach and slip off my sandals when I hit the sand. Yes, the events of the day went perfectly, but the day itself was kind of weird.
Chase was on his best behavior. Not only that, he also showed up sans Kendall. Via didn’t bring them up at all, so I didn’t ask. It was her day, hers and Ryan’s, and we could all get along for their sake. But for some reason, Kendall isn’t here. And Chase is oddly quiet—like he’s trying to blend into the background. He and Julian didn’t speak unless necessary, but when they did, Chase was all humble respect. Like when we moved the ceremony chairs to the tables.
“Hey, Julian, let me get those for you.” Without being asked, he took it upon himself to move all the chairs while Julian helped Pete bring the food out.
“Great. Thanks, Chase. Ev, would you help me?” Even Julian is a little weird today. Strangely quiet and distant but keeping me close. He’s all smiles and forehead kisses like nothing is wrong. He’s the epitome of smitten boyfriend as far as anyone is concerned. And he’s getting all the accolades for setting up the perfect day on such a crunched timeline. As he should. I can tell he’s acting a little off—keyed up and hovering.
I just need a couple minutes alone to ponder all the weirdness. I may have smiled, laughed and happy cried my way through the day, but my nervous system isn’t so easily indulged. By the end of the day, I just need to take a breath. It’s all so fucking weird. Did I already say that? Blue sunsets never disappoint or fail to settle me though. Tonight’s is using all the colors. It’s so painfully beautiful, it brings tears to my eyes. I draw in a deep breath, but the exhale comes out shaky.
“Everly?”
His voice drops my stomach. I irritatingly flinch, and the hairs on my arms stand up despite the warm evening air.
Chase places a hand softly on my shoulder and immediately apologizes for startling me. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t.” I say it too quickly, too forcefully. I try again. “I just didn’t hear you. Thought I was alone.”
“Sorry. I can go.” Apology Chase is weird too. He half turns to go before I stop him.
“No, it’s fine. Did you need something?” Uber Polite Me is weirder, especially when it comes to Chase. I tilt my head toward him and meet his eyes, almost opaque in the sunlight.
“Yeah, I wanted to talk to . . . to apologize. To you.” Yeah, super weird. But also humble and looking much younger in his sincerity.
“Okay.” I drag out the last syllable, then take a deep silent breath and wait.
“Kendall and I broke up.” At my raised eyebrows, he rushes on. “That’s not what I came down here to say.”
I nod as if to say I’m listening.
“I’m . . . Can we sit down? And talk?” He motions to a couple nearby beach loungers with an umbrella between.
I nod again, trying to calm my racing thoughts and heartbeat.
“Thank you.” Again, the sincerity.
