I watch the scene play out as she rips into Lachlan, who tells her it’s being fitted because it was too big on me. I shoot him a look.Nice save, asshole.At least, he looks apologetic about it. I assume she knows about the situation if she asked him and not me. Lach has been telling everyone that the wedding will be intimate, “just us,” which is technically true. I’ve always thought of an intimate wedding as romantic. This is everything but. I push that aside. If I get sad, I’ll get angry, and I can’t let myself get angry again. Especially here.
“You must be Lyla.” I hear behind me, and turn to see a tall man walking over.
It’s obvious who he is. Lachlan is a younger copy-paste version of him. And damn, if this is what he’s going to look like in twenty-plus years, I’ll take it.
“You must be Henry,” I return, offering my hand for him to shake.
He does but also pulls me into a warm embrace, which startles me. I’ve only heard negative things about this man. How he was cold and didn’t pay attention to his kids, so this is unexpected. He’s smiling wide, a real smile that reaches his green eyes, when we pull away. Okay, now I’m really confused.
“You’re as beautiful as Val said you were.”
“Thank you.” I give him a polite smile. “Your home is. . .” I start searching for positive words and come up short.
“Too much,” he offers.
I laugh lightly. “Yeah.”
“Hopefully, you’ll give us some grandkids to fill it and make it livelier,” he says, still smiling.
“Yeah, I don’t think this place is very kid-friendly.” I look around at the museum we’re standing inside of.
“We’ll have to get rid of a few things.” He pats my shoulder lightly, smiles, and says, “Welcome to the family.”
I smile politely, wondering if I should say the same to him. I don’t. That would be a bitchy thing to do in his own house. Lach says hello to his father and places his hand on my lower back to lead me away.
“I know it’s a lot, but you’re doing great,” he says low, near my ear.
I can’t even hide my shiver. He digs the tips of his fingers lightly into my flesh and I shoot him a warning look. He grins that sexy grin of his, and I swear, my knees go a little weak at the sight of it.
“Lach, a moment of your time, please,” his father says, making us turn around.
Lachlan looks at me.
“Go,” I say. “I’ll be fine.”
“You sure?” He searches my eyes.
“I’m sure.” I smile at him. “If all else fails, I’ll take myself to the lost and found.”
He brings his mouth to my ear again. “I better be the only one to find you.”
My heart skips when he pulls away, and I see that dark look in his eyes that holds promises he can’t make good on in front of an audience. My pulse races as neither one of us looks away. I get the immense urge to tell him that I love him, but I won’t. Not here. Not yet. I have to make sure he’s not going to flip on me again. He kisses my forehead and walks to his father, who’s been watching us the entire time.
As I walk away, I take my phone out of my clutch and check it. I’d set it on airplane mode before I started getting ready and I forgot to unclick it. Sure enough, I have texts from Marissa, Prescott, Wade, and Cooper. I start going through them and responding accordingly.
Marissa: wtf you haven’t updated me
Marissa: what’s going on??
I’ll answer hers when I’m done with the rest.
Prescott: mar told me everything. I can be there tomorrow but lmk if you need me sooner
Me: i’m fine. Really. Everything is fine. Not getting married in Fairview but i’ll keep you posted
Pres: but you still are getting married?
Me: yeah
