Page 35 of Honey, I'm Home

She places her hand on mine, making me stop. “You were actually going to do all that. For me? Why? And does this cutout of me still exist? I don’t know if I can sleep in that house if I know there’s a paper copy of me hiding somewhere.”

I carefully hang the dress back up, and circle around the front of her. Before I answer, I take her face between my hands and press my mouth to hers. I use that kiss to pour all my feelings into her. “You should know by now the way I feel about you; it's not some fleeting thing. We decided as a hive that we couldn't pressure you into leaving Ben, not if he made you happy even some of the time. And does it still exist? Darling, I fucked the life out of that thing in a weekend.”

When her eyes get huge at this reveal, I play back what I just said and smack my forehead in frustration.

That weekend was supposed to never be discussed again, and there are more than a few reasons Arbor made us all promise that. I’mdefinitelynot supposed to scare her off this close to the official ceremony.

I try to laugh the whole thing off like I’m completely joking and then clear my throat and turn to more serious matters. “As you know now, we were keeping an eye on you to make sure that you were safe and well. Beyond that, we didn't want to interfere with your life unless you made it clear you wanted us to.”

“You guys really did a number on me at my birthday. It feels so silly to keep bringing that up, to still be holding onto a grudge that old, but I don't know if I can help it.”

“And you have every right to hate us for that. I hate myself for it. Trust me. That's the biggest regret I have in my life. But back to now. The guys talked me down from showing up at your placebecause by then it had been several days, and your ex ended up not going after all.”

Aster nods. “He wouldn't have had a good time; the food poisoning he caught was no joke.”

I stifle a smile. Badly. “Yes, real shame, that.”

Her mouth drops open and she stares at me, wide-eyed. Then she starts cracking up. “How the hell did you do that?”

“A gentleman never tells, darling. Anyway. The dress became superfluous, but I decided to keep it just in case. I had already spent too many hours at that point envisioning you in it, and I had a sneaking suspicion that it might come in handy one day. I know it's nottechnicallya wedding dress, but—”

“Put it on me. My mom's dress has had its day in the sun; this one's been waiting just for me.”

My hands shake as I help her out of her mom’s dress, carefully zipping it back into a protective garment bag before helping her into my pick.

I know it’s the right choice when she looks in the mirror and tears immediately start flowing out of her eyes. “Aster…you’re such a beautiful bride. I know we’re already mated, but damn. This is…I don’t even have words. Your whole countenance just changed and it’s breathtaking.”

I wasn’t even supposed to be in here with her, but obviously the ‘NO GROOMS ALLOWED’ sign didn’t apply to Hawthorne. I knew my girl needed me, and thank fate I came.

“You…Hawthorne, it’s perfect. I think…I think I’m getting married in this dress.”

I kiss her on the side of her neck, mindful of all the makeup she spent so long applying. “You’re not supposed to cry; we haven’t even got your veil on yet.”

“I don’t have a veil. Oh—Dev was serious, then?”

I nod, pulling out the box we carefully placed on the wardrobe and figured she’d have seen right away. We weren’t even trying to hide this.

“Good thing I shoved your aunt out of here and took over then, isn’t it?”

She sucks in a breath when I pull the delicate material from its silk bed, the netting thoughtfully hand-painted with dozens of barely-there honeybees in pearl white, tasteful sparkles applied between them to elevate the entire thing.

“Dev did so much research and spent hours on this thing—do you like it?”

She’s got her short hair smoothed out perfectly around her face, and it’s the work of only a moment to slide the comb of the veil onto the back of her head and secure it.

Her fingers are unsteady as she uses them to cover her mouth. “It’s so pretty. This…this is real, isn’t it? What we’re about to do?”

I step next to her and offer my arm, pressing a kiss to her hand when she rewards me with it. “You feel like getting hitched today, Aster Pepperling-Hawthorne?”

She throws her head back and laughs as we move to the door and our future, her eyes sparkling. “I don’t think that’s how hyphenating works, but nice try.”

She takes a deep breath before I hand her off to her father so he can walk her down the aisle. “You changed your dress,” he notes with a smile.

Aster is all ready to defend her choice, but her dad holds up his hand. “Your mom told me I could put an extension on the house for a mancave if you walked down the aisle in that hideousdress. My mother pressured yours into purchasing it for our wedding, simply so my mother would be better dressed. I’ll get my mancave another way; this gown suits you perfectly.”

Aster starts cracking up at the story, and I dab the tears of joy away with a handkerchief, preserving her makeup. “Lets get married, shall we?”

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