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I can’t speak. The mind keeps emotions alive long after the moment has died. We spent a summer in love, and when everything died, including our baby, my mind kept Price alive. It fed my imagination just enough to keep one tiny ember burning in my heart.
My lips part to speak.
“Time’s up.” Steph and the girls breeze into the bedroom, bringing a fresh floral scent from the bouquets in their hands.
Price stands, straightening his jacket and tie.
My heart flutters out of control, and the words on the tip of my tongue vanish like waking from a dream.
He smiles, sliding my wispy bangs away from my eyes. “In our next life,” he whispers.
“Do you have the rings?” Steph asks Price while she fixes Winnie’s barrette.
He turns. “I do.”
The second he disappears, I silently gasp.
“Are you okay?” Steph snaps her fingers at the girls. “All three of you, on the bed. Hands to yourselves. And stop picking at the flowers.” She turns back toward me. “You look like you saw a ghost.”
I shake my head. “It’s all the powder you put on my face.”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. Here, let’s gloss your lips one last time. And stop picking at your nails.”
I fist my hands at my side and give her a guilty smile while she swipes the lip gloss wand over my lips.
“I still can’t believe Koen asked Price to attend your wedding. I don’t know what kind of witchery you use on men to make them fall in love with youandeach other, but it’s impressive.” She recaps the lip gloss. “It’s time. Are you ready to say ‘I do’?” Avery jumps off the bed and hands me my bouquet.
I smile at her and nod to my sister. “Take me to my prince.”
“Follow me, girls,” she says. “Do it just like we practiced yesterday. Avery, hold Winnie’s hand the whole time.”
“I will.”
Steph and the girls take a left to head to the backyard when we step out the front door.
My dad greets me with a smile and offers his arm in his black suit. “Cold feet?”
I walk several steps and turn the corner, immediately making eye contact with Koen, and the rest of the world fades away.
Those blue eyes alight just for me.
The black three-piece suit and gold tie.
Sexy, wavy hair.
And that smile …
“No cold feet,” I say, gently squeezing my dad’s arm as he walks me toward my groom while a friend of his mom’s plays Paul Hankinson’s wedding version of Taylor Swift’s “Lover” on a keyboard.
It’s just our family and a few close friends, but I don’t see anyone but Koen.
Six months ago, I didn’t know he existed. Now, I feel like we only exist for each other.
“Love you.” Dad kisses my cheek. Then he sets my hand in Koen’s and says, “Take care of my girl.”
Koen nods. “Always.”
Price is right over my shoulder, but I can’t spare a single glance. And that’s how I know there will be no island for us. My heart knows it.
