Page 60 of Searching for Love

Seeing her best friend and her brother stroll into the place where they would be married the following day had tears rolling down her cheeks.

She rushed to hug them both and ended up making Hannah cry as well.

“I’m sorry,” she kept saying as she laughed and tried to wipe the tears from her friend’s eyes before she ruined her makeup.

“It’s too late. We’re both ruined.” Hannah laughed. “Bathroom break,” she told Wyatt, who nodded as he rolled his eyes.

Avery reached over and slugged him on the shoulder. “Go tell everyone inside we need a moment.” She shoved her brother, took Hannah’s hand, and led her around the side to the bathrooms.

“Sisters,” she said once they were inside, and hugged Hannah again.

“Sisters. Finally.” Hannah hugged her back.

Once their makeup was back in place, they strolled into the barn arm-in-arm.

Wyatt immediately took Hannah from her, and Avery stepped up to do her maid of honor duties. She’d be there, as promised, first thing in the morning to help oversee the final details of all the decorations and to deliver the bridesmaids’ dresses and shoes, and the gifts that she had helped Hannah put together for her other bridesmaids. Hannah wouldn’t let Avery see her gift, but she had an idea of what she would be getting.

For her part, Avery had put a lot of time and money into plotting out the most amazing, unique gift ever. She had wanted something that both Wyatt and Hannah could enjoy for years to come.

Her gift wouldn’t technically arrive until the morning, but she’d made a point to have everything in order.

Watching the happy couple walk through their rehearsal had her mind turning to her possibilities. Lucas.

In the short months they’d known one another, she’d grown closer to him than anyone before. The way he took care of his mother and sister told her what kind of man he was. The man he would always be.

She’d seen his temper towards his father. But he’d turn it off when she or his mother or sister got near him. Avery knew that it was so he didn’t scare them. He cared so much that he could instantly shift his feelings so as not to hurt theirs.

The amount of control it took him impressed her. She hated Diego for what he’d done to the family. She’d only seen him that one time, but Lucas had urged her to run or call the police if she ever ran into him again. What she wanted to do was use some of those self-defense skills Reece had taught her.

After the rehearsal, everyone headed to the Golden Oar. The entire outside deck had been booked for the private dinner.

She sat next to Hannah and her brother with the rest of the family and ate dinner, looking out at the Pacific Ocean while the sun sank. The moment the string lights overhead flickered on and Hannah was done with dinner, she grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

“Well, this has been fun, but me and the other bridesmaids”—she nodded towards Brook and Kate—“are going to kidnap the bride.” She glanced over to Reece and Tom. “I suggest you men take my brother and do whatever you’re going to do to him.” She winked at Wyatt before tugging on Hannah’s arm. She was pulled to a stop when Hannah leaned in and placed a very passionate kiss on her brother’s lips. The entire group cheered and egged them on until Avery tugged once more on Hannah’s arm and broke them free.

“Where are we going?” Hannah asked after the four of them were crammed into Avery’s car.

“It’s a surprise,” she said, laughing.

“I’m tired,” Hannah started. “And I have to be up⁠—”

“Don’t start with me,” Avery said in a firm voice. “We are going to party like it’s the last night of your single life.”

Hannah and her other friends laughed.