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“What did she say?”
“Just that she knows you’re making me sneak around with you and that I need to stop before she tells Reece.”
“I told her that we’d be telling Reece and no one else would be. She didn’t like that and called me a few choice words before I stomped on her foot and went back into the room.” She kisses me on the neck before settling back against my chest. “The thing is I really don’t know why she’s being like she is. She’s my sister. Sisters are suppose to stand together not be a bitch.”
Unable to keep the laughter bubbling inside me at bay, I let it out much to Mara’s disgust. “Sorry babe.” I chuckle. “I know it isn’t funny—this situation with Sarah,” I explain, “but you calling her a bitch, tickled me.”
She rolls her eyes. “We better go and join the others so we don’t screw up tomorrow.”
“In a minute. I want to hold you in my arms a bit longer before I have to act as though you don’t belong with me.” I kiss the top of her head. “It kills me seeing Phoenix and Reece happily wrapped around their girls when I can’t even hold your hand in front of them,” I admit. The next thing I hear is her sniffling against me. Is she crying?
“Mara?”
She shakes her head but stays buried in my chest.
“Mara, babe. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
I finally get her to lift her head and it crushes me when I see the tears on her face.
“It hurts me as well,” she whispers, “and now I’m not even sure I can go out there and pretend my feelings for you are platonic.”
More tears escape her eyes and run towards my waiting thumbs, but I can’t bear this anymore so I lean in and start using my lips to catch them all before placing a tender kiss to each corner of her mouth.
“Hold me. Hold me tight and never let me go.”
Pulling her back in to my arms, I do what she asks, although I am going to have to let her go. But for now I can comfort my girl, and in the process comfort me.
“Everyone is looking for you two,” Phoenix says from behind me.
Mara tightens her grip around my waist.
“Give us a minute.”
“That’s all you’ve got. If I hadn’t overheard Reece telling Callie he was coming looking for you, he’d be the one standing here, although I don’t think much standing would be taking place.”
He’s right.
“I hear you.” I kiss Mara on the forehead and gaze into her eyes. “Will you be okay?”
She nods and tries to offer me a smile, but it ends up being more like a wince than anything else.
“We can do this. Only a couple more days.”
“I guess.” Stepping out of my arms, she walks over to Phoenix and gives him a surprise hug, whispering, “Thank you,” into his ear.
“I’m just going to clean up so I’ll meet you there,” Mara says heading back inside.
She looks a lot better now than she did earlier, which is a relief. I just hope she holds it together long enough to get through tonight’s rehearsal before the big day tomorrow afternoon.
Phoenix stands beside me but stays silent—lost in his own thoughts. Then after about five minutes, he says, “No matter what you’ve told me before about how she makes you feel, I found it hard to believe because of her age, but seeing you together like this and how much it was hurting you to see her in tears, I truly believe you’re in love with her,” Phoenix finishes on a smug grin.
“I’m not going to deny it because it’s true.”
“What’s true?” Mara asks obviously catching the tail end of my statement.
“Me and you.” I slide my hand into hers. “C’mon, lets go before they send out another search party.”
Chapter Nineteen
