When we hang up, the quiet of my room settles around me again, soft and still in a way it hasn’t been all evening. I stare at the phone for a second, letting the sound of his voice linger in the air. It’s like something inside my chest finally loosens.
We’re good. We’re really good.
I step into the bathroom, flip on the light, and twist the shower knob until steam starts to fog the mirror. My fingers slip into my hair, pulling it out of its low ponytail, and the weight of it falling over my shoulders feels like relief all on its own.
The tension drains out of me with the same slow ease as the room fills with heat. My shoulders drop. My breathing steadies.
It’s like my whole body finally admits,Okay, you can calm down now.
Mason and I are okay. We talked, we cleared the air, we’re back on the same page. And that’s all I needed.
* * *
By the time I pull into the church parking lot the next evening, my stomach is a mess of nerves and butterflies. Not about marrying Mason, but about everything else. The wedding itself, the plans, the schedule I want to follow, whether the little oneswill cooperate to walk down the aisle tomorrow. I keep telling myself it’s just the rehearsal. But after tonight, it’s thereal thing.
Mason is waiting for me outside the doors. He greets me with a kiss and a gentle hug, his nerves not really noticeable.
I follow him inside and the noise hits me like a wave. Emma and Cora are running down the aisle like it’s a racetrack. Wesley and Leonard are carrying chairs from the fellowship hall to the sanctuary. Ella’s holding Hallie, talking to Maureen and Addison. Karissa’s sitting beside Sierra in a pew, each of them have a nursing cover over themselves.
Before long we are all in our spots, music playing, and the girls walk down the aisle. Now it’s just me and Dad, adjusting the way we loop our arms together before we have to start.
We start down the aisle, everyone giggling as Cora decides to sit on the floor at Karissa’s feet. Emma throws her petals all in one giant clump right at Mason’s feet, which makes everyone laugh so hard. It’s chaos, pure and simple, but it’s my new family.
Mason’s eyes stay on me the whole time, like I’m the only person in the room. By the time I reach him, the nerves dull and the excitement rises.
The pastor goes over the ceremony order—who stands where, when the music will start, how slow we’re supposed to walk. Jesse and Cody crack a few inside jokes that everyone else seems to find hilarious. I have no idea what they mean, but I laugh anyway, because apparently that’s what you do when you marry into this circus.
When we’re dismissed to the fellowship hall for dinner, it’s chaos again. Everyone talking and laughing, kids running around, and I’m answering seventeen hundred questions about decorations, timing, flowers, and photos. My brain feels like it’s being tossed in a blender.
By the time I finish my plate, I’m one question away from faking a medical emergency. Mason barely notices. He’s calm, happy, and laughing. Which is fine, it’s good. I’m glad he’s not stressed.
I slip into the bathroom for a minute of quiet though. I need to breathe and let my brain thaw. I stare at myself in the mirror and think,Okay. You’re fine. Tomorrow’s the big day and then this will all be over.
The second I open the door to go back, I freeze. Becausethey’rethere. All three of them. Ella. Karissa. Addison.
They’re lined up shoulder to shoulder, like some kind of bridal SWAT team, staring at me with matching game-day faces.
“Oh.” I blink. “Hi?”
Ella crosses her arms like she got elected leader. “We came to offer advice.”
“Advice?” I repeat carefully, because this feels like a trap.
“Or answer questions,” Addison adds, all soft and sweet, like that makes this less terrifying.
“Questions?” I echo, already bracing myself.
Karissa bounces once on her toes, and then blurts, atfull volume…
“About SEX!”
The wallpaper shakes. My soul leaves my body. I am dead. Ella and Addison both whip toward her like she just fired a gun.
“Karissa!” they hiss at the same time, elbowing her so hard she folds over and slaps a hand over her mouth.
Behind her fingers she whispers, “Sorry!”
My face is so hot I could light up the emergency exit sign.
