Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Sienna
I can’t stop staring at Milo.
Just three hours ago, we were close to ripping each other’s clothes off—I’d been grinding against him like I was starving, his hands gripping my waist, both of us breathless and desperate… then reality pulled us back, and we rushed to rejoin the rehearsal dinner.
Now he’s sitting across the pavilion, looking unfairly handsome in the flickering light. Every time our eyes meet, something electric passes between us. He gives me that small, almost-smile that makes my stomach flip, and I have to look away before I do something stupid, like visibly swoon.
Aria nudges my shoulder, pulling me back to reality. “Earth to Sienna. You still with us?”
I blink and smile. “Sorry. Just… distracted. What did you say?”
She raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but lets it go for now. “We’re talking centerpieces—tall glass vases or low succulents? I’m spiraling.”
“Low succulents,” I answer automatically. “Easier for people to see each other across the table.”
“Good point,” she sighs, still looking stressed. “I just… everything feels like it’s hanging by a thread. It’s two days before the wedding, and I’m convinced it’s all going to fall apart. Like the cake—”
“Don’t even get me started on the cake,” Claire groans from beside her, wine glass at her lips. “We spent the whole day tasting them, remember? We even went for thirds on the red velvet—your favorite, might I add.”
“I know, I know—”
“Don’t tell me you’re changing your mind about your cake flavor two days before the wedding.” I nudge her shoulder teasingly.
Aria leans forward and bangs her forehead against the table, letting out a dramatic groan. “I’m panicking, okay? What if everything goes wrong—”
“It won’t—”
“You don’t know that, Sienna. What if Ethan—”
“Don’t even finish that sentence—”
“But—”
I cup my hands over her face, gently squeezing her cheeks together until her lips pout like a fish. “Do I need to slap some sense into you?”
She begrudgingly shakes her head, eyes wide and comical. “No…”
“Are you going to stop worrying about the wedding and just live in the moment?”
She nods, cheeks still squished. “Yes…”
“Because if you don’t—”
“I will,” she mumbles, letting out a heavy breath as I let go. “I’m sorry. I’m just worried and scared and… fuck, I’ve been planning this day for as long as I can remember. I just want it to be perfect.”
Her voice cracks on the last word, and my heart softens. I wrap an arm around her shoulders and pull her into a side hug, resting my cheek against her hair.
“It’s already perfect, Aria,” I say softly. “Because it’s you and Ethan. The rest is just details. Even if the cake is the wrong flavor, the succulents fall over, or the candles set the tablecloths on fire… it’ll still be the best day. Because you two are crazy about each other.”
Aria lets out a watery laugh and leans into me. “You’re my favorite sister ever, you know that?”
“I’m your only sister.”
“Still counts.”
I smile at her and glance across the room at Milo. He’s talking with Ethan and Jax, but every few minutes his eyes find mine. Each time, the corner of his mouth lifts in that tiny, secret smile just for me. My stomach flips every time.
I glance down at the heels again, my heart doing a little flip. One day at a time, I remind myself, echoing his words from earlier. Maybe, just maybe, I’m ready to try.
A little while later, when the group has loosened up and spread out across the pavilion, Aria grabs my hand and tugs me away.
“Come with me for a second,” she whispers, her eyes sparkling. “Quick sister break before Ethan starts showing everyone photos of our trip to Rhodes… again.”
She leads me down a short wooden path lined with fairy lights until we reach the edge of the beach. The sound of the waves is louder here. There’s a small wooden bench, and she sits, pulling me down beside her.
Aria turns to me immediately, grinning. “Okay. Tell me the truth—how shocked were you when Milo gave you the heels?”
I let out a breathless laugh, still a little dazed. I lift my right foot into the air and watch the crystals sparkle in the moonlight.
“Shocked doesn’t even cover it,” I admit. “I cried. Do you know how long I’ve been dreaming of these? I wanted them so badly, but I kept talking myself out of them because… well, you know me. What’s the point of owning something beautiful when I never stay anywhere long enough?”
Aria’s grin turns smug. “I knew you’d lose it. When he asked me about them, I almost squealed. He was so serious about getting the exact ones. It was really sweet watching him try to act casual about it.”
“He had them flown in from the mainland,” I say, still in disbelief. “Just because I mentioned them once… jokingly. Who does that?”
“Apparently, Milo does,” she replies with a soft laugh, nudging my shoulder. “I’m happy for you. You deserve someone who pays that kind of attention.”
I bite my lower lip, running my thumb over the delicate crystal strap. “I still can’t believe he did it. It’s too much… but I love them so much. How am I ever going to repay him?”
Before Aria can respond, we hear footsteps. Ethan appears seconds later, looking slightly tipsy and very happy.
“There’s my beautiful fiancé,” he grins as he spots us. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“Here I am,” she smiles up at him, already leaning back into his arms as he wraps them around her from behind. “Why were you looking for me?”
“Because I missed you,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to her temple. “And because I wanted to kiss you.”
My eyes roll before I can stop them. “Gross. Is this my cue to leave… again?”
Ethan just smiles at me, completely unbothered, until his gaze drops to my feet. His eyes widen comically. “Oh my God,” he gasps, pointing. “The crazy fucker actually did it.”
“What?” I ask, blinking.
“The shoes!” He rounds the bench and steps in front of us, staring at my feet. “Those are the ones he was asking us about. Holy shit. He really had them flown in? That man is so beyond whipped it’s actually insane.”
My chest tightens at his words.
Aria laughs and swats Ethan’s arm. “It’s cute, isn’t it?”
“Oh, it’s cute,” Ethan agrees, still grinning like an idiot. “Cute and terrifying. I’ve known Milo for years. He doesn’t do grand gestures. He barely does small ones. And yet here he is, chartering a flight for Sienna’s shoes like it’s nothing.”
I look down at the sparkling heels, suddenly feeling shy. “They’re just shoes…”
Ethan snorts. “Just shoes he had flown across the ocean because you mentioned them once. Totally normal behavior, right?”
I bite my lip, heat rising to my cheeks. “Are you jealous he didn’t fly you any shoes in?”
Ethan scoffs. “Why would I be jealous?”
“I don’t know,” I shrug, reaching out to gently pat his arm. “You’re sounding very jealous right now, Ethan.”
He blinks. “I’m not jealous.”
“It’s okay to be jealous,” I assure him sweetly, still caressing his arm. “They’re a few sizes too small for you, but I’m sure you’ll be able to squeeze into them if you try. I’m not opposed to sharing. Maybe we could take turns? I can wear them tonight, and you can borrow them tomorrow—”
“You’re so annoying,” he grumbles, shoving my hand off him with a dramatic grunt.
Aria laughs hysterically beside me. “Come on,” she says, standing and grabbing Ethan’s hand.
“Let’s go back before everyone starts wondering where we disappeared to.
” She glances back at me with a warm, knowing smile.
“We’ll finish this talk later, okay? But seriously…
those shoes look amazing on you. And so does the man who got them for you. ”
She winks before pulling a still-protesting Ethan back toward the pavilion, leaving me alone with only the sound of the waves and my racing heart.
Minutes pass before I finally stand, smoothing my dress, and head back toward the lights and laughter, toward him.
When I reach the pavilion, Milo is already in view, as if he were waiting for me, holding two glasses. He straightens when he sees me, his eyes lighting up in a way that makes my heart skip a beat.
“Hey, there you are,” he says with a smile, handing me a cocktail. “I thought you might’ve run away.”
I take the glass, stepping close enough that our fingers brush. I look up at him, the man who keeps surprising me in the best possible way, and feel something click into place in my chest.
“No,” I say softly, smiling. “I’m done running.”
The double meaning behind the words hit harder than they should.