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“I’ll make coffee.” I stood to make my way to the kitchen as Milo craned his neck to me, mouthing “thank you,” and Holly shoved him in the bathroom.
“You know, Holly,” I said as I prepped the coffee maker, deciding extra bold coffee was called for today. “The wedding isn’t until four. We have plenty of time to get ready and make sure your dad’s not stinky.”
Holly shrugged her shoulders and climbed up on one of the bar stools. “I know, but he takes forever getting dressed, longer than Mommy does.”
“Speaking of your mother, when is she coming to get you?”
“Soon, then I’m meeting Madeline at the salon to get our hair and nails done.”
I puffed out my bottom lip and nodded. “So, you get a spa day, and I get the stinky dad?”
“I amnotstinky.” Milo appeared from the bathroom.
“Dad!” Holly scolded him, pointing toward the bathroom. “Get in the shower!”
Milo slumped his shoulders and looked at his daughter. “I think Maddy would marry me no matter what I smelled like.”
“Shower!” Holly and I bellowed together, followed by a chuckle from Holly.
Once Milo was in the bathroom and we could hear the shower running, Holly seemed happy with herself. “I need to call my mama.” She jumped off the chair.
I poured my mug of coffee and then raised it to her as she began to head back into her room.
“Oh, and Uncle Clay?” She spun and smiled at me. “When you get married, I’ll make sure you shower, too.”
I raised my mug to her again, a small chuckle leaving my throat. “Sounds like a plan.”
Giving me a smile, she left, leaving me to sip my coffee in semi-silence. I had a small bag packed by the edge of the couch, my suitcase filled and ready to go once the wedding was over. This was my last day here with Milo. After the wedding, it was a week at Madeline’s and then. . . my parents. Steps were happening to ensure the future I wanted would form. I just needed that final piece to want it too, and I wouldn’t know if she did untilafter the wedding.
Chapter Forty
-Ophelia-
Click, click, click.
Carter circled Madeline one last time before he slunk out of the room to give her some privacy, promising a peek before we left the hotel. Madeline took a deep breath once he was gone and went to stand in front of the full-length mirror. Her dress fit like a glove as she studied herself in the full-body mirror for the millionth time. She ran her hands down her stomach and rested them at her hips, her nails freshly done with the French tip manicure we had all gotten. Holly enjoyed her spa day more than anyone, relishing in the fact she was in the wedding, and that her daddy was marrying his best friend. With every mention of Milo, Madeline's cheeks would blush and a small lustful smile would spread across her face, but now, as she looked at herself, all those memories came flooding back.
“Thinking about your first date?” I asked, coming up to add some more flowers to her hair. “I remember you took forever getting ready. You tried on so many dresses, settling with that plain boring one.”
“Hey.” Madeline turned her head to look at me, a small strand of her auburn hair falling in her face. I reached up and tucked it behind her ear. “He remembered that dress, you know. If it wasn’t for that date, we wouldn’t be here now, would we?”
I tilted my chin to my shoulder, a sense of pride flowing through. “I’ll take credit for that, thank you very much.”
“You and Jamie. She’s the one that put that bug in my ear.”
“Damn straight, I did. Proud of it too. I dare say, Maddy, you have amazing friends.” Jamie rested her elbow on my shoulder.
Madeline gave a soft laugh as she turned back to the mirror. She rubbed her lips together and let out a sigh. “I’m marrying my best friend today.” She smiled, biting her bottom lip.
“Don’t mess up your lipstick.” Jamie lightly tapped her shoulder, smiling when Madeline let her lip flop back down.
Jamie shook her head and reached for the basket carrying all the flowers. “We’re heading out soon, right? Wedding’s at four?”
Madeline nodded. “What time is it?”
I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “3:30.”
She inhaled, turning away from the mirror. “Okay.”
