Chapter Thirty-Seven
MADDIE
My winter recital went off without a hitch. Liam was there watching me along with my sisters, Mason, and Hunter. I worked hard all semester, and now I have to study for finals before Christmas break.
Today is finally Sophie and Mason’s wedding day, and I’m overjoyed by all the excitement.
I love weddings more than any of my sisters and can’t believe it’s finally here.
It’s been a year since Mason proposed, and four months ago they picked a date.
Since then, Sophie has busted her ass to get everything together to make sure the ceremony and reception are flawless.
Sophie made us meet in the dressing quarters early so we could have champagne beforehand.
Though my mother scolded us because she doesn’t approve of drinking, Sophie didn’t care, and I don’t blame her.
This is her special day, and she should be allowed to do whatever the hell she wants, even if that means a slight buzz.
So we could all be picture-perfect, Sophie hired a hairdresser and makeup artist to pamper us. We’ve been sitting around goofing off and have nearly emptied the whole bottle of bubbly between the three of us, but she brought a backup.
“Are you nervous?” I ask Sophie as she looks out the window with her fluffy bride robe wrapped around her body.
“Hell no,” she says. “I’ve been dreaming of marrying Mason for way too long. I’m more than ready.”
Mom comes in and out of the room, chatting with our family that arrived early, then returning to check on us. She’s running around like a chicken with her head cut off, but she lives for moments like this. We’re her baby girls, and she likes to feel needed.
I’ll be the last one who’s not married, and while I’m not upset about it because I don’t want to rush anything, I hope I’m not waiting a decade for a proposal. Though it took Liam four years to admit he liked me, he’s the only one I want to be with for the rest of my life.
Sophie wanted the wedding to be small and intimate and only invited close friends and family. Mom and Dad wanted to give an open invitation to the entire church, but Sophie put her foot down and refused. They had no choice but to agree.
An hour before the wedding starts, I slip on my dress and leave Lennon and Sophie as a few of our aunts and cousins walk in. The first person I want to find is Liam, but I’m stopped by Serena and the baby. I pull Marcus into my arms and want to capture the most adorable little boy in the world.
“Oh my goodness, Serena. He’s getting so big, and he’s such a cutie.”
“Thank you.” She beams. “I’m so happy to be able to be here for Mason and Sophie. This place is beautiful.”
“Isn’t it?” I look up at the high ceilings that remind me of a cathedral. The space is what wedding dreams are made of.
Marcus grows fussy so I hand him back to Serena before he starts crying. He’s only five months and probably wants to eat or be changed, and I can’t help with either of those.
“You make being a mom look easy,” I tell her, when he suddenly calms down in her arms.
She playfully rolls her eyes and laughs. “I kinda had to figure it all out, didn’t I?” Serena shrugs, but honestly, she’s an inspiration. Before she got pregnant, she was working a million hours a week as a lawyer, and although that’s still her job, she now balances it with being a single mom.
“You’re doing a great job. Marcus looks healthy and happy.” I rub the pad of my finger along his chubby cheek as he sucks his fingers.
Serena looks like she’s going to cry as I give her a reassuring smile and tell her I’ll see her later.
I walk down the hallway to the guys’ dressing room, but before I can knock, someone grabs my hand and tugs away. I almost shriek before Liam who plants a wet kiss on my lips. He tastes like whiskey and mints.
“Have you been drinking?” I giggle.
“Have you?” Liam grins wide. “You taste like champagne. And you look fucking gorgeous. Damn, how’d I get so lucky?” He wraps my hands around his waist and pulls me in closer.
“That’s a very good question, and now you just might get lucky later. Keep the tux on when we get back to the cabin so I can rip it off with my teeth.”
“It’s a rental, so no ripping.” He chuckles. “What’d you tell your parents?”
“What you told me to tell them a few weeks ago. That I’d be fucking my boyfriend all weekend and staying with him.”
He stills and his mouth falls open. “You did not.”
I shrug and pretend to walk away, but he gently loops his arm around my waist and stops me.
“Mads, I haven’t seen your dad yet. He’ll strangle me with his bare hands, send me to hell, and then I won’t be able to be Mason’s best man.”
Grinning, I stand on my tiptoes and kiss his scruffy jaw. “I told them I was staying with one of Sophie’s friends this weekend. Which technically, you are, so I didn’t lie.”
“And they didn’t ask you which one?” He furrows his brows as if he doesn’t believe it’s this easy to get away with this.
“No. They know not to press me because I’ll tell them to mind their own business and stay out of mine.
Plus, my sisters have done so many worse things, at this point, they wouldn’t be shocked by anything.
I’ve basically got a Get Out of Jail Free card from the sister who got pregnant before she was married and the other who lived with her boyfriend before marriage. So I pretty much can do no evil.”
“You’re terrible,” he quips.
“Because you made me that way,” I tease.
Shaking his head, he chuckles. “Oh hell no. You were like this from the moment I met you. I did zero corruption. In fact, you corrupted me.”
“Mm-hmm.” I smirk. “You sure about that?”
He lifts his hand and shows an inch with his fingers. “Okay, I might be slightly guilty.”
“Liam,” I hear my father say from behind.
Liam’s eyes widen and squares his shoulders. “Mr. Corrigan, hello.” He holds out his hand, then shakes my father’s. “How are you, sir?”
“Fantastic.” Dad lets go of him, then gives me a hug. “Madelyn, darling. You look beautiful,” he chokes out. “My girls are so grown and it makes me feel old.”
“Old? You don’t look a day over forty, Daddy,” I say.
“Thanks, sweetie.” He grins. “Must be all those essential oils your mother makes me use.”
We’re interrupted by Lennon and Hunter, so Liam and I excuse ourselves.
“Do they know we’re dating?” Liam finally asks as he leads me down a private hallway that has a window with the perfect view of the lake.
I bite my lip and shake my head. “I haven’t broken the news to them yet.
After the whole wife announcement at Lennon’s house this past summer, and all the things my mother said about how in love you two looked, it seemed awkward to bring up.
Plus, they know we all live together. Sophie already mentioned that.
Funny enough though, they think Sophie and I share a room, like we’re kids again. ”
There’s something in Liam’s expression that I can’t quite place, and it seems as if I hurt his feelings. I don’t want my parents to judge him based on his past because Liam is the love of my life. I want them to accept him as easily as they accepted Hunter or Mason.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just don’t know how I should act if they’re clueless.” He releases a breath and forces a smile.
“Fine, I’ll tell them right now if that’s what you want. I think we should wait, you know, so they can’t corner you and ask you a million questions.”
Grabbing my hand, Liam pulls me back. “No, that’s not what I want. I understand timing is everything. But I don’t care what they or anyone says, you’re mine.”
“I’m always yours, baby,” I tell him, stealing a kiss.
“What time is it?” he asks, and I realize I need to go back to the dressing room.
“I need to get back to Soph.”
“You should. Love you.” We kiss again, and I pour myself into him.
“Love you too.” I wink before walking away.
By the time I get back to the room, Sophie’s slipping on her dress and Mom and Lennon are helping with the buttons in the back. The photographer is busy taking photos, and once Sophie’s all dressed, I stand in front of her, and we exchange a big hug.
“You look so gorgeous!” I beam. “Mason’s gonna pass out in shock,” I tease, wiping the corners of my eyes.
“Don’t you dare cry,” she says. “If you start, then I’ll start, and we don’t want to ruin our makeup.”
“I know. I’m just so happy for you guys.”
Lennon pats Sophie on the shoulder and my mother and her step to the side, grinning proudly. “You’re all ready to go,” Lennon announces.
“Okay, can we get the four of you together,” the photographer asks, and we happily pose. The camera clicks a few times, and when she’s done, she shows us some of the shots she’s gotten so far. Already they look so good, and I can’t wait to see them all.
“Sophie, I have my partner bringing Mason so we can get a few before the wedding shots, but I’ll make sure he doesn’t see you yet.”
“Oh my God, I love pictures like that!” I exclaim. “There are so many creative ones on Pinterest.”
“Then you’re gonna adore what we have planned,” she replies, and Sophie follows the photographer.
“Guess we should start getting lined up then?” Lennon asks as soon as our father walks in.
My heart is racing thinking about the ceremony, and I can only imagine how Sophie feels right now.
The photographer positions Sophie against the door and tells her to wrap her hand around the door, and when Mason gets closer, she directs him to the other side of the door so he can’t see Sophie.
It’s such a cute pose, and I can’t wait to see the shots.
Once they’re done, I tell the soon-to-be-married couple we’ll see them at the altar before we make our way to the back of the church.