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“Well,” Sori says with a laugh as she models the first dress. “If your wedding planner screws things up too badly, one of my best friends could help.”
“What other best friends do you have?” I glare at her. “You’re supposed to be my best friend in this craziness.” I wave at the other women. “I mean, you’ve even pushed Ridley out of the whole ‘being with me in the delivery room’ situation that she wanted to avoid.”
“No… you’re family.” Sori waves away my question while she checks herself out in the oversized mirror. “That doesn’t count. Besides, the woman I’m thinking of is amazing. If Emmett and I had actually had a wedding, she would have been the one to plan it.”
Emma Hayes and Marie Blane walk in together, and I smile even though I am not getting up from my seat.
“The party is definitely here.” Marie, one of Cole’s childhood friends, laughs hysterically while lifting two massive bottles of wine.
“This is awesome,” Sori squeals. “I raided Emmett’s wine collection for you guys too.”
“Rub it in,” I say maliciously. “I’ll just pick the ugliest dresses you can possibly imagine.”
“No, you won’t.” Kennedy presses a kiss to my forehead and hands me a bottle of apple cider. “Drink up, momma. We’ll be back.”
All of them go behind the curtain to try on their dresses, and I smile when Cole and Emmett walk in with Linc right behind them.
“Hey, love.”
He leans down and kisses me on the lips, making sure to rub my stomach, where our baby is growing every day.
“You guys are just in time for the show,” I tell them, then laugh out loud when Sean and Miles walk in behind them.
“Getting fitted for tuxes,” Cole explains with a smile. “Thought the guys would appreciate the little bit of laughter at the chaos you’ve gotta be putting the ladies through.”
Good. He’s smiling, which means that he can’t yell at me for what I’m about to do.
“I know you won’t let me see Joel.”
I know it’s a bad idea, but hopefully us being in public will keep Cole from flat-out saying no, for the fiftieth time.
“But I need to pass along Cassie’s message. Please. He can’t do anything to me and he won’t even have a chance. You can go with me.”
He sighs, and I know he’s tired of hearing about it. Nonstop, since they arrested Joel, I’ve asked to see him. Dad, Cole, and everyone else in the world refuses to let it happen, though.
“What is it?” Cole squeezes my fingers gently, waiting for my answer. “I’ll take you to see him if you tell me what the message is that’s so important. The one that you hallucinated while you were having surgery. You know, when he almost killed you.”
Don’t murder your fiancé.
Don’t murder your fiancé.
The chanting in my head works because Cole just told me that he’d take me to see him. “I did die. And I did see her. Because how else would I know that she thinks you’re hot?” There. He doesn’t have an answer for that. “I need to tell him Cassie says not to drop the soap, please.”
Sean and Miles both dissolve into a fit of laughter. Linc snorts and Emmett just rolls his eyes.
“How did I know it would be something like that?” Cole rubs his temple with his free hand. “Yes, Casper. I will take you to deliver the message. As long as you promise not to go to the jail to deliver it yourself. You have to wait for me to take you.”
“Deal.” I smile and settle back into my chair, happy as a clam when Sean and Miles both sit on my other side.
“You know,” Miles says quietly. “You could have gone at any time and given him the message. Why are you waiting for my baby brother’s permission? You don’t need it.”
Over the last month, I’ve met both of Cole’s brothers. They are just as protective and cocky as their brother, at least where I’m concerned.
“One day, I think you’re going to learn for yourself what it means to love someone so much that you’d do anything for their peace of mind.” I pat his hand gently. “I love your brother. And it would hurt him to know that I went to see Joel without him. He’d feel like he wasn’t keeping me safe. Like even by being near Joel, I could get hurt.” When he opens his mouth to say something, I shake my head. “I don’t know what I’d do if I ever found Cole the way that he found me. It would destroy me. So, giving him this peace of mind is theleastI can do for him.”
There’s nothing to say to that, so we just sit for a few seconds until the sound of voices comes closer.
When the curtain opens and all my bridesmaids walk out wearing dresses that they each picked, I watch the way every single man with Cole stares at a different woman.
In that moment I know ours isn’t the only love story in the making. And I’m so happy that the man by my side is going to be a part of my life.
“Forever,” Cole whispers as he wraps his fingers around mine.
Somehow, just like always, he manages to read my mind and give me exactly what I need in the moment.I tilt my head to the side and pretend to consider exactly what he said. Then I wink and blow him a kiss.
“Good game, champ.”
* * *
