Terms + Conditions (Strangers #3)

Chapter Thirty-Three

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

THEN

September 2019

AS I STEP UP to the altar staged in front of the fountain, the adrenaline works double time, coursing through my system. I wonder if this is how everyone feels when they’re about to get married or if it’s just me…I think it’s just me. Elizabeth has been so calm and collected throughout this entire weekend. I don’t know how she does it. Years of training, I guess?

From what she told me of her mother, Ethel Cain was kind and loving, but could be just as cold as Brina when she deemed necessary. She liked things a certain way. And she liked Elizabeth a certain way, but it was rare for her to show that side. I suppose going from her mother to Brina wasn’t too big of a jump, except living with Brina, she was missing the love and support she was used to. Instead, the Villa children were expected to be a certain way regardless of anything else.

Through the trees of Forsyth Park, I can see Nina talking to someone on the pathway leading to the main stretch—Elizabeth—and my heart beats faster, if that’s even possible. One more turn, and I’ll be face-to-face with my soon-to-be wife. Wife. That sounds weird to say.

The wedding march starts, and my heart lurches out of my chest. This is it. It’s happening…

My breath hitches when they turn the corner. Elizabeth looks breathtaking. Warm, honey curls flow down her back and shoulders; a veil rests gently on top of them. Long sheer sleeves cover her arms, and the V-neck is classy but gives the dress a certain edge. The white material hugs her curves in all the right places, leading into a small train flowing behind her with each step. I meet her brown eyes, and there’s a small uptick in the corner of her mouth.

Holy shit, we’re going to do this…

A hand squeezes my shoulder, but when I glance back at Nick, he’s staring ahead…at Nina. His gaze never leaves her, not even when she and Elizabeth reach the altar, and she gives me a stern glance.

“I know where you live, Joshua,” Nina warns, earning a laugh from the crowd.

“Love you too, Nin,” I say and kiss her cheek, taking Elizabeth’s hand.

I know I’m not supposed to, but I kiss her temple and she takes a centering breath.

“You look beautiful,” I whisper and meet her gaze. The fire I’m used to isn’t there, replaced by a level of uncertainty I’ve only seen twice since we started this whole arrangement. “You ready?”

The real question is, does she want to do this? If she told me no, I’d happily walk back down that aisle and help her escape. Help us both escape. Fuck the repercussions.

When I snuck down the hallway to her room this morning, Elizabeth opened the door with a weary smile and said, “Bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, y’know.”

“Something tells me you can’t get rid of me that easily,” I joked.

I expected some kind of smart-ass remark in return but got nothing. Stepping inside her room, I bent down to look her in the eye. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she quipped and tried to pull away, but my grip on her arms held steady. She refused to look at me. “Josh—”

“What is it, Sugar?” When I said it, she tried to hide the small tug on her lips at the nickname. Gripping her chin, I forced her to look at me. “Baby, what’s going on?”

Elizabeth took a shaky breath and closed her eyes. When she reopened them, they were glassy. “They’re not here.”

Her parents.

I sigh, I should’ve known this was coming. Despite why we’re here, it would be normal for anyone to be upset that their parents couldn’t be around for their wedding day.

“I always dreamed of this day.” Elizabeth sniffled and wiped her cheek. “And it’s everything I always wanted, but they’re not here.” It didn’t help that her adoptive parents weren’t here either. Ric had stuck to his guns and refused to show up. Everyone else thought he got stuck at work, and I’m sure part of that excuse was true, but it wasn’t the whole reason.

Her bottom lip quivered as she tried to hold back tears. I did the only thing I could and pulled her into my arms. I kissed the top of her head and felt the warm tears soak into my T-shirt, her fingers clutching the same fabric.

“It’s okay, Sugar,” I whispered against her hair, tightening my hold around her. We stayed locked in a tight embrace even after her quiet sobs had subsided. A knock on her door broke the trance. Nina’s voice on the other side of the door called out to Elizabeth. They had to leave for breakfast before Elizabeth’s hair and makeup team arrived.

“We’re in this together,” I said and kissed her forehead.

Elizabeth didn’t say anything; she grabbed her purse and left to join the girls. I waited a few beats before leaving to find Nick and Finn.

Despite it all, standing here at the altar, if Elizabeth tells me no right now, I will happily walk right back down the aisle and find a way out of this mess.

Elizabeth takes a deep breath and there’s a new level of certainty when she says, “Yes.” She nods like she’s trying to reassure herself and me. I take my own deep breath and intertwine our hands, leading her to the final step toward the beginning of our new lives.