“Don’t thank me. It means just as much to me as it does you.”
My emotions take over me again as more tears well in my eyes. “Dad. Stop.”
“Sorry, I…” I choke on the words, before clearing my throat. “I just need a minute and I promise I’ll be good.”
“Thank you. Like Hayley said, I cannot mess up my makeup. There’s not long to go.”
“Five minutes, actually.” I hear Keeley’s velvety voice and I turn so fast, my neck twinges. Not that it bothers me. I’m distracted, once again rendered speechless, only this time by the incredible beauty standing in front of me. She’s more breathtaking than I ever could have imagined, her eyes alight with infectious joy, her soft pink lips pulled into a radiant smile. I’m sure the champagne-colored dress clings to her beautifully and her hair is styled to perfection, but I’m too caught up in the captivating energy she just brought into the room and the warmth filling me.
“Don’t look so shocked.” Keeley laughs, flashing me a pointed grin as she seemingly covers for me, snapping me out of whatever the fuck that was.
“How can it only be five minutes?” I ask with fake wonder, spinning back to Paige when she laughs from behind me.
“You sound more nervous than I do.”
“Not nervous.” I shake my head. “I’m not ready to lose you just yet.”
“What do they say? Don’t look at it like losing a daughter; look at it like gaining a son.”
Someone snorts to stifle a laugh, and I know without looking that it’s Keeley, making me huff out a laugh of my own.
“Very true. Lucky me.” Paige smiles knowingly, likely thinking I’m joking about Easton. And I am in a sense, just not the way she’s thinking.
“It’s time to line up.” A woman with a headset waves to get our attention, and the room falls quiet until she’s gone.
“I guess that’s our cue. Are you ready, Kid?” I’m still not sureI’mready, but I put on a front, ignoring my racing heart as Paige smiles back at me.
“Sure am, Daddio. Let’s do this.”
Let’s do this.Here we go.
Chapter Thirty-Four
KEELEY
If I thought I’d expelled all my emotions during Paige and Easton’s rehearsal dinner, I was sorely mistaken.
I’ve almost cried three freaking times today, and Paige hasn’t even walked down the aisle.
First was when she glided out of the bedroom in her dress, looking like an ethereal being with the glow of the sun beaming through the window behind her. Next was when Isaac popped in to visit, and his eyes started to water as he told his “mom” she was beautiful.
Then my goddamn brother had to go and get emotional when he saw Isaac walking down the aisle with our mom, taking his role as the ring bearer very seriously.
Easton’s like a brick wall when it comes to emotions, so it’s impossiblenotto react when he does.
Now, I’m waiting in anticipation for Paige to walk in with Sal, his expression from earlier still fresh in my mind.
My body heats as I picture the longing in his eyes and the bob of his Adam’s apple. He wasn’t staring at me with attractionor lust. It was something else. Something I’ve never experienced before, and it felt bigger than it should be between us.
He’s lucky I was the only one who could see his face. Hell, we were both lucky because we would have had a lot of explaining to do.
My stomach flutters just thinking about it, and I close my eyes to recover, taking a moment to compose myself.I can do this.
I can get through today without obsessing over a man. Idon’tobsess over men. It’s not my thing.
The music changes and my breath hitches involuntarily. I shake off my reaction until Paige and Sal step into view, and my world stops as nausea consumes me.
I’m falling in love with my best friend’s dad, and he’s about to become family.
