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59 Miranda
WE PULLED INTO the driveway of the beach house. The sun glittered around us as a gentle breeze blew like a sweet promise of a glorious and perfect day. Every bride getting married today would be pleased, and I was happy for them.
I sat frozen in my seat, unable to move because I knew Will would be inside. The fact that I didn’t have time to talk would probably make matters worse, but I only had ten minutes tops to spare. It wouldn’t be nearly enough time to hash things out. Though I didn’t know what more needed to be said after last night.
Nonetheless, not staying to talk would hurt Will, and I never wanted to hurt him. Even after everything he’d done.
Lily cleared her throat.
I flitted my eyes her way. Her green depths were sad and her expertly shaped brow arched.
I nodded. “Ready.”
Dread filled me as we approached the door. What I felt wasn’t about seeing Will. It was about having Lily with me. I feared what she might say or do when faced to face with him.
I turned the doorknob, holding my breath, and walked into the house. From the entry, I spotted Will on the sofa. A brief look of relief crossed his face, then it quickly diminished when Lily appeared. In an instant, his demeanor changed. A mix of sadness, anger, and frustration swept over his face.
“I’m just here to change, then we’ll leave.”
I left Lily at the front door and went to the bedroom. I didn’t hear any talking, which relieved me, but it also made me sad. They used to talk, shoot the breeze and joke around. I hated how everything had changed because of Will’s infidelity.
Something must be wrong with me. Why had it taken me so long to accept Will had been unfaithful? Tate and Lily had written him off months ago, yet I had held on with a death grip, believing Will loved me and would never betray me. But he had.
I entered our walk-in closet, eyeing my favorite light-gray midi wrap dress. It would be perfect with my teardrop diamond earrings. The dress’s color complimented the colors in the wedding—another one of my quirky personality traits, needing to coordinate with the color palette of the event. The Colby-Asher wedding colors were charcoal, ivory, and red—elegant and classic.
While in the closet, I debated bringing a change of clothes with me in case I didn’t come back later. Then in the next breath, I decided against it. Will and I needed to figure this out once and for all.
Will cleared his throat as I pulled the dress over my head. I whirled around and found him standing in the doorway, watching me. I quickly tugged the skirt down and brushed it smooth over my thighs.
“Hey.” I cringed at the awkward tone in my voice as I tied the wrap.
“You’re not even going to talk to me?” The grief in his eyes tore at my heart, but I needed to stay the course. I couldn’t let him sway me with his charm, which was a nearly impossible challenge since he owned my heart. I’d do just about anything for him.
Except share him with another woman and risk losing my baby.
“I have the Colby-Asher wedding today. You know that.” I diverted my gaze away from his handsome face. If I didn’t, I might get lost in his alluring eyes.
“Yes, I know, but Tessa can handle it along with Lily and Tate. Stay here so we can figure this out.” He stepped in front of me and brushed a section of hair behind my ear.
Those damn pregnancy hormones stirred to life, making me tingle all over. He ran his finger over my teardrop earring. They were the second part of his Valentine’s gift to me, signifying his love and devotion.
“Stay with me,” he breathed, lowering his head and placing a kiss below my earlobe, then another down the curve of my jaw. He continued dotting kisses to the corner of my mouth, melting me, and yes, he made me wet. So wet. God, he knew how to turn me on every time.
I pressed my hand to his chest, stopping him before he claimed my lips, which wasn’t an easy thing to do. “You know I have to be there. I’m the wedding coordinator. It’s my job.” That wasn’t at all what I wanted to say. I wanted to say,yes, yes, yes, I’ll stay.
He stepped back, drinking me in. “I figured you’d say that. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. We’ll talk tonight, unless you’re going to be closing another deal withCori?”
The second her name left my lips, I regretted it. My blood pressure skyrocketed as Will’s shoulders slumped. A devastated expression marred his attractive face.
“I have to go.” I moved past him, and to my relief, he didn’t try to stop me.
Lily remained in the entry. When she saw me coming down the hallway, she opened the door and I walked right out—without saying goodbye to Will.
The ceremony was beautiful and emotional. I cried as always but pushed through it despite my own love story coming to an end and stayed focused. Plus, having Tessa shadow me helped to keep my aching heart under wraps.
I may not have made it through the day without Tessa and Viv’s extra hands and brilliant minds. Having them here had allowed me to catch my breath and sit a bit, which I needed more than usual. Oddly, Tessa would come to my aid right away when I sat down. She’d question if I’d eaten or drank anything. I still didn’t know much about her, other than she kept to herself, had a daughter, and was a private person. I liked her well enough. I just wished she didn’t hover over me.
