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The next morning comes quickly. The three of us are a little hungover when Lilith shows up with the babies and breakfast sandwiches. She hands Elle in her car seat to Con and Nora to me before walking over to Levi. She’s already dressed in her blush pink dress, her hair loosely curled and pinned up. Her makeup is natural and subdued, fitting the “woodland fairy” theme Ivy’s been talking about for months.
The three of us are wearing matching dove gray Tom Ford suits with white shirts and pink ties. No jackets, which surprised me. Ivy’s always been about fashion, so I assumed we’d basically be dealing with a black-tie bridezilla. She’s actually turned out to be incredibly mellow about everything, going with the flow and keeping things casual. Maybe it has to do with the location of the wedding and the fact that they’re keeping it almost as small as Con and Lilith’s wedding was.
Lilith looks over her shoulder at us. “I’m going to steal Levi away for a few minutes. You two good with the girls?”
“Yes,” Con says as he bounces Elle up and down gently.
I look down at Nora who is studying me with intensity. She’s so quiet all the time, always observing. Whereas Elle is always screaming about something. They’ve already changed so much, and they’re only a few weeks old. For a second, I wonder what Claire and my kids would look like if we could have them. Would they have dark hair and green eyes? Or would my red hair somehow fight its way to dominance?
“Griff?” Con says. “Earth to Griff.”
“Sorry, I was distracted by how much they’re already changing.”
“Yeah,” his face relaxes, and he smiles down at Elle, “they’re so perfect.” He stares down at them in wonder for another minute before he looks back at me. “Can you do me a favor today?”
“Sure, anything.”
“Can you keep a close eye on Claire? She has been acting really cagey lately, and she’s not spending much time at home. When she does come over, she’s really skittish about holding the girls. Something is going on, but she won’t tell me what it is. It’s driving me fucking crazy.”
“Sure, no problem.” I swallow down the bile that tries to rise. He’s concerned about her, and I know exactly what’s going on. Hell, I’m the reason she doesn’t spend much time at home.
“Are you okay?” He looks at me with clearer eyes than he has in a long time. “You haven’t been around much either lately. Is there something going on with you?”
“No, I’m fine. I’ve just been busy with work and doing a couple personal favors for a friend.”
Con nods. “Understood. But you know if you need anything I’m here, right?”
“Yeah, man.”
“Good. I can’t handle problems on multiple fronts. If I’m not taking care of the girls, I’m snooping around Claire’s place to find clues.”
I give him a serious side-eye.
“Fuck off, you’d do the same thing. Don’t act like you wouldn’t.”
“Claire will be pissed when she finds out.”
“She won’t find out. You’re the only one who knows. I go in after I do the three-a.m. feeding with the twins.”
“You creep around her apartment while she’s sleeping? Don’t you think that might be a step too far?”
“Probably,” he says with a shrug, “but I don’t give a fuck.”
I don’t say anything because I’m thinking about how bad it could have been if he’d walked in one of the few nights I’ve slept over at her place and snuck out early in the morning. It’s clear now that we have to tell them, if not everything, then at least about our relationship. It’s not like it’s just sex between us. It’s so much deeper than that. I love her.
Lilith and Levi come back into the room, his arm is around her shoulders, and they both look like they’ve been crying.
“Christ, is this a wedding or a funeral?” Con holds Elle out for Levi. “Here, hold a baby, it’ll help.”
“I can’t help being all up in my feels. I’m marrying my best friend today. And Hoodrat is going to dance with me in place of my mom.”
“I have to get out of here before I ruin my makeup anymore,” Lilith says fanning her eyes. “I can’t fix this if I fuck it all up with tears,” she points at her face.
Before I know it, Levi is off on the dock doing the first look with Ivy, and Lilith and Con are off taking care of the babies, leaving me alone in the cabin with Claire. She’s put her hair up in a loose and almost messy style bun with loose pieces framing her face. Her makeup is natural and light, making her emerald eyes pop.
“You look beautiful,” I say, pulling her into my arms and trying to give her a kiss.
