Page 18 of Slow Hands Cowboy

It meant so much to her.

Like a choreographed dance, the photographer managed to maneuver her father out of the photo-taking area, and brought her mother in without the two of them interacting.

Addison’s heart sank.

The way that her mom felt a little bit like a stranger, the way that she felt uncomfortable, made her sad.

“You look beautiful,” her mom said, patting her on the cheek.

“Thanks. So do you.”

They posed together, and Addison’s heart hurt. She wanted to say something to her mom, something to help them connect, something to… something.

But she didn’t know what, and then it was time to end the photo-taking, because it was time to start the wedding.

And her thoughts were still consumed with the way she felt about her parents, the way that everything was coming together, but also that relationship with her mom that felt so… Fractured.

But all that really mattered was that she made it to this day.

It was the most important thing. The absolutely most important thing.

Lila Grayson was acting as the timekeeper for the wedding. She was the one who was making sure they made their moves at the right moments in the music, that everyone was where they were supposed to be. She wasn’t very personable, but she was exact, and everything that she did seemed to go off without a hitch.

There was a wall, draped with ivy, that served as a partition between the bridal party and the guests, and the groom. The groomsmen were there, arms linked already with her bridesmaids, ready to walk out upon Lila’s cue.

She hadn’t even seen the whole venue for the ceremony today, so that would be a surprise reveal for her when she came around the corner and saw her groom for the first time.

She wondered how all the flowers looked.

That was a strange thought.

Thinking about the flowers instead of Alan.

She was trying to accept that her brain was just in a strange place, and she needed to not overthink that.

It was just how she was feeling at the moment.

The music was a lovely, slow classical piece but with a country twist, a lap steel arrangement that made it feel western but elevated, just like everything else.

The bridesmaids began to walk out along with the groomsmen, and she held her breath, waiting for her cue.

Waiting for the music to shift.

The processional for the bridal party ended, and Lila gestured toward her, just as the country version of the bridal march began to play. Addison emerged from behind the ivy wall, like a fairytale princess arriving at the ball, arms linked with her dad, as she caught sight of her groom for the first time.

Their eyes met and held. He was handsome in his tux, dark hair swept back off his forehead. She would wake up and see his face every day. She would go to sleep next to him every night.

Something like panic made her stomach squeeze tight and she searched his eyes, trying to find certainty.

She didn’t.

There was something there in his gaze that made her stomach shiver.

She took a deep breath and kept moving toward him, and then she saw his head begin to tilt, saw him look away.

He wasn’t looking at her.

He was looking at the ground, his breathing coming quick and sharp.