AllFreeNovel
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When I get out of the shower, I smother my legs and arms in body butter before sliding into the dress she’s asked me to wear. I rearrange my hair, pulling it up on my head and allowing tendrils to fall around my face. After slipping into a pair of heels, I make my way downstairs.
My phone buzzes, and I smile when I see who’s messaging me.
Dawn:Hey, Queen. Just checking in.
Tracey:I’m good. Busy being Deja’s guinea pig for her photography project.
Dawn:My god-daughter is talented. Super proud of her.
Dawn:Still avoiding Liam?
Tracey:Not avoiding him. Just taking a minute, you know?
Dawn:The thing with Jake was tough, but you shouldn’t let what happened ruin
you for any future relationships. You know I never liked him, but I loved you —
still do, BTW — and that’s why I supported your relationship with him.
Dawn:Now, I’m free to tell you this truth. Liam may have been in your life for a
relatively short time, but I think he gets you, and he knows both you and Deja
come together in a pretty package.
Dawn:He loves you, babe, and you love him. It’s a foregone conclusion that you
guys belong with each other.
Tracey:And now that I can finally get a word in edgewise… *laughing emoji*
Tracey:But seriously… I know you’ve been telling me that for ages. Thank you for always being
there. I’ll give you a call tomorrow so we can make plans to meet up. *heart emoji*
Dawn:*heart emoji*
The backyard is lit with little lights strung from the trees as the sun sets in the background. Music is playing softly, and flower petals and candles are scattered along the grass. I laugh as I make my way to the swing, knowing Deja is nothing if not elaborate.
“This is lovely,” I say as Deja appears from around the corner of the shed with a smile on her face. She lifts her camera and takes a picture of me. “I feel like I should have a glass of wine for this shoot too.”
Deja grins and walks over to me, pulling on my arm. “Come on, I want a picture of you at the table.”
She leads me to a small table on the patio, brushing the wrinkles out of a white tablecloth. There are two plates on the table, a couple of wine glasses, and more flower petals scattered.
“This is starting to feel oddly romantic.” My tone is teasing as I pluck a rose from the flower arrangement in the middle of the table and tuck it into Deja’s hair. “I’m sorry, honey, but I’m afraid I don’t quite feel the same.”
Deja laughs and shakes her head, taking a step back and lifting the camera again as I sit down at the table.
“Actually,” a deep voice says, “I may have asked Deja to help me set all of this up. We spent all day planning and decorating, believe it or not.”
My heart catches in my throat as Liam appears, his hair falling softly as he stands tall in a dress shirt and slacks. He smiles at me, but there is a nervous quality in his smoldering eyes. He sits down across from me as Deja disappears into the house.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, my hands shaking as I place them in my lap.
Ignoring my question, Liam says, “Know this song?”
Feeling a bit confused, I say, “Aerosmith’sI Don’t Want to Miss a Thing?”
