Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Aurora
“I’m gonna look like scar face at my wedding.” Bree looks in the mirror, her smile from earlier fading. “I don’t think makeup will cover this up?” She drags her finger over her forehead, just above the space the stitches were. “Like Frankenstein’s bride. I may as well paint my face white and wear black eyeshadow and lipstick.”
Luna is the first to laugh and though I’m not sure it is appropriate it seems to do the trick. “Could you imagine the look on Daxton’s face when you appear at the end of the isle, slowly walking his way. He’d lose his shit.” She has tears in her eye as she holds her stomach from laughter. “Seriously,” she quickly regains her composure, “you are gorgeous.”
Bree turns around facing us, allowing us to feel the full effect of her in her dress. Today is the final fitting. After the last alterations have been made, it couldn’t be more flawless; it fits her to perfection.
“You look beautiful,” I say, tears filling my eyes. Her and I have shared so much in our lives, the good, the bad and the truly ugly. Yet, here we are. We are together, we are happy and we are alive. I see the pain in her eyes as well as Jace and even Zac whenever the accident is brought up.
I’d suffered a tremendous amount of blood loss, and both of us a significant trauma. I didn’t get to feel that fear, but they did.
“How are all your dresses?” Bree asks clearing her throat doing her best to keep this day from turning into a hormone driven diva breakout.
“We haven’t tried them on yet, we all wanted to see you in yours first,” Presley has been a little more quiet than usual and I still needed to find some time to sit down with her and get to the bottom of that. She is never quiet.
We had the night at Luna’s then the wreck and several weeks of recovery. Rearranging the wedding and everything that went along with it, it’s been hectic.
“Okay, well, come on now,” Bree waves her hand. “Let’s get those dresses on ladies.” Something passes between Bree and I as we both lock eyes with one another and tears pool. We both understand how close we came to not having this day. How close we were to not having any of these memories to hold on to.
Only moments later I am standing in a dressing room, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The still angry looking red skin where I’d been cut. A shard of metal from the crumbled door, I remember none of it. Which I guess is a good thing. But the still healing wound and later scar will be a constant reminder of that day.
I stare at the mirror, lost in thought until I hear a knock on the door.
“Need any help?” Luna asks making my body jump in response.
“Nope,” I hurry into action. “I’ll be right out.” I’m careful to remove the delicate deep red dress off the hanger, loving the way the soft silk feel of the material glides through my fingers. The minute I saw the color I fell in love with it. The same red of our dresses match the guys’ bowties, and Bree’s bouquet.
Allowing the material to slide over my body, I use my hands to smooth the material and smile with the way it hugs my every curve.
When I step out of the dressing room, Presley hands me my shoes, silver strappy stilettos and I slide my feet into them and join everyone else. We all stand side by side, looking at ourselves, smiles so big my cheeks ache.
“We are so hot,” Luna declares. “Like dangerously hot.”
Her words trigger laughter from us all, but she isn’t lying, we do look amazing.
“Thank you all for sharing this with me,” Bree’s says her voice laced with emotions. “There isn’t any other group I’d rather build these memories with.”
We share a few tears, some more jokes about looking so damn good, before we dry our eyes and get back into our street clothes.
After an enjoyable lunch at a local café, Presley heads home to relieve the sitter. Bree, Luna and I climb into Luna’s car and she drives us back to the shop.
The three of us are lost in conversation as we enter the front and I stop, making one of them run into the back of me. But I’m in awe, watching Jace, holding Piper to his chest. Music is playing I assume from his phone as he dances and sings to her. She is staring up at him, enthralled by him.
Luna and Bree both move around me and they too stop, watching as he continues to sway and sing to her like no one is watching.
“Well, if he wasn’t like a brother to me, I’d be a little turned on at the moment.”
Bree laughs, I smile, and it’s then Jace turns around to see us all standing there.
“Hey.” The dimple in his cheek appears, and my pulse quickens.
He is so gorgeous, take my breath away beautiful, and he knows it.
“Little lady and I are having ourselves a dance party,” Jace explains as Bree moves closer to gather her daughter. “Dax got a last minute touchup and I was free. I could never say no to some Piper time. She is my girl,” he passes her off and looks at me. “Sorry babe,” he offers me a wink.
Bree decides to take Piper upstairs for her nap and Luna goes home since she has nothing going on for the day. Leaving Jace and I alone in the lobby, my body still feeling a little heated.
“How was your day?” He takes a few steps toward me, reaching out to hook his hand through mine.
“It was good,” hooking our joined hands around my back he pulls me closer. His lips hovering so close to mine I can feel his heated breath. “This is better,” I confess right before his lips touch mine.
Immediately my nipples harden as they brush against his chest. It takes everything I have not to start grinding against him. He’s been so gentle and caring since I came home from the hospital. Like I’m made of glass and for a while it was great. But I’m not going to break and I need him to stop acting like I will.
But the harder I push the more he withdraws and I need that to change.
“I’m thinking that I should go back to my place.” My words sound mumbled against his lips but they are clear enough to gain a reaction.
He leans back, his brows furrowed and he stares at me.
“I’m healed, and it’s not really necessary that I have someone watching over me. I’ve kind of taken over your space and that’s not fair.”
“You’re not leaving,” his face scrunches up with irritation. “I love that you’ve fucking taken over. I want you there. Healed or not Ror you’re not leaving.”
And of course like most of our conversations, they end up with him telling me what to do and me getting pissed about it.
“First of all I’m not asking if I can go home.” I try to step back and he holds me tighter. “You and I cannot live together.”
“Who says?”
“Me,” I waste no time responding. “It will end badly. We will kill each other.”
“Baby,” he laughs. “You are such a smart woman but right now, this conversation, has got to be one of the dumbest we’ve ever had.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You’ve been treating me like a patient.”
“What?”
“I came to your place because I was still recovering and needed help. You took that on and I will forever be grateful but we are falling into this weird rut where when you look at me it’s like you are scanning over me to ensure I’m not in pain. You are the caretaker and I am the burden and like I said thank you, but I don’t want to be those people anymore.”
“You are confusing the hell out of me woman.” He shakes his head like I am crazy.
“We had sex one time, right before the accident.” I lower my voice from fear of Daxton and his client hearing us. “Now weeks later, I’m all healed and whole, but you barely touch me.”
Again his brows furrow, and I place my hands on his chest, leaning in close. Looking up at him through my long lashes I continue in a low whisper. “I really want you to touch me Jace.”