Chapter Twenty-Three
Building Bridges
Ebony
“What did I just catch you doing in here?” Hailey stabs a finger into the air, her eyes wide, mouth hanging open in disbelief.
I freeze, slamming my iPad against my chest because…what even am I doing? And more importantly, how much did she see?
“Okay, yeah, I just… I came inside for a minute to make sure that…” I swallow hard, working on the lie. “Wait, what are you doing inside? Shouldn’t you be with the guests in the courtyard or getting your mind right to walk down the aisle tomorrow?”
Hailey wags that finger, wordlessly telling me to try harder—and also reminding me that shouldn’t the wedding planner be out there, communicating with the bridal party to ensure everyone knows their roles and places?
And I absolutely should’ve been out there…
In all honesty, I came inside for a better Wi-Fi signal when I got an email notification from a new client.
Despite Cornelia’s outlandish efforts to sabotage my business, a high-profile bride-to-be wants me to plan her wedding.
It was such a yay, me moment, and I was eager to sign my half of the contract and send it back quickly.
Except when I signed my first and middle names, I hesitated.
I kept thinking about the watch party, about Cornelia’s comment about my still carrying the Livingston name.
Everyone in the backyard was laughing and mingling, refilling drinks and plates, still trying to find out if anyone had gotten a bingo.
Then the ads ended, the show came back on, and my pulse spiked.
As the camera panned over the studio—the guest sofa noticeably missing the Livingston matriarch—I stood there, holding Linc’s hand as he told me, for the millionth time, that he loved me.
But all I could think was, Why haven’t I changed my name?
I can’t think of one good reason.
Am I still holding on to the past? Why didn’t I go back to my maiden name right after our split, when I’d been a King for so much longer? Even in business, I left Livingston off Ebony Grace Events .
So, before Hailey snuck inside, there I was, in the magical grand ballroom of Madison Manor, staring at half my signature, my Apple Pencil hovering above the screen, trying to figure out what it would feel like with Linc’s name attached to mine.
Big mistake.
Huge.
I toggled over to my drawing pad app, just to see. And Lord, did I fake around and find out.
Ebony Grace Bridges.
It was so simple and easy. The sweeping B felt natural, complementary. All those soft, flowing curves, rounded letters rising and dipping with an elegant flourish, then ending with an effortless tail, before I placed the simple dot above the i. Honeyyyy…
It was sexy, imagining being Linc’s wife. Imagining him calling me his wife. Chile… The way heat blazed down my spine and time seemed to speed up.
Except it really did.
I blink and there’s Hailey—pointing and laughing at me scribbling my name with a guy’s last name five dozen times.
She clears her throat, clearly still waiting for me to explain why I’m in here and not outside, moving the wedding party around like pawns on a chessboard and orchestrating her ceremony processional.
Humiliation burns hot on my skin.
“It’s the, um, vendors.” I snap my fingers like I just remembered this important fact. “For tomorrow morning. They need access to the grand ballroom early , you know, to set up—”
“The forty huge round tables?” She fans out her arms. “These here, that are already dressed in pristine white linens with gorgeous china plates and spotless silverware, and are only missing the flowers? Is that what they need to do?” Hailey giggles.
Yeah, still needs work.
It’s obvious the grand ballroom has been prepared since yesterday.
The crystal chandelier is a magical, sparkling beacon of hope and true love glittering over an elegant wonderland.
Delicate fairy lights are strung around pillars.
It’s romantic and whimsical, and proof that I’ve absolutely outdone myself.
Clearly, proof that I’m a whole-ass liar about why I’m still inside.
“Well, the rehearsal is scheduled to start in a few minutes, so…” I suck in a sharp breath. “You should get back out to your guests.”
A smile teeters on Hailey’s lips. “Funny, because that’s exactly why I came in here looking for you. And what did I find you doing, Eh-bo-nyyyy?” She draws out my name, each syllable dripping with accusation.
“I was jotting down notes.” I rush to correct the story she’s cooked up in her head—though, to be fair, she might be right.
“ Mm, mm, mm …” The shame. Hailey plants her fists on her hips, chin tilted down with amused disappointment. “Ebony Grace Livingston—or should I say, Ebony Grace—was that Bridges I saw you doodling at the end of your name?”
Shit.
Yes. “No!”
She’s already rushing me, yanking me into a full-body hug. “Friend, no one has to know,” she whispers in my ear. “Girl, don’t be ashamed. You’re in love and radiating a fierce energy.”
“Absolutely not.” I try to break free, but she tightens her hold.
“I freaking love this for you!” A quiet scream squeaks out of her. “Honestly, this whole transformation you’re undergoing… The hair, the clothes, the divorcétante looking luscious and landing legends.”
“Legends?” I repeat on a half laugh.
Hailey gives me a double snap. “ Oop , and we can’t forget, leveling Livingstons.”
A deep sigh spills out of me.
“No, for real, for real , Ebs.” She blows out a breath, kisses her fingers, and presses her thumb and forefinger together, giving me the universal “chef’s kiss” symbol.
“You are straight up my hero. I want to be you when I grow up. And I probably shouldn’t say this, seeing how she’s about to be my mother-in-law, but the way you handed Cornelia her ass at the shower, then she had the audacity to take herself onto the ever-loving Morning Tea … ”
See, resistance? Futile.
“ Ugh , fine.” I throw up my hands. “Yes, I was doodling my name with Lincoln Bridges’s. There, now you know.”
She finally releases me from her iron grip, stepping back to give herself a round of applause. “Ooh, I’m so happy for you, Ebs!”
Yay, more squeals. Love that for my ears.
“We’re not engaged. I was just…trying his name on for size.
” I laugh. “But thanks. Now, is there any way you can just pretend that you weren’t being nosy as hell, lurking around in my business when you should’ve been outside rehearsing for your grand wedding tomorrow?
” I flash a small sorry-not-sorry smile.
Of course, my annoying little sister from another mister is having none of it.
“ Sooooo , speaking of weddings…” She unleashes her spirit fingers at me, doing a goofy, shimmying happy dance. “Maybe there’ll be more wedding bells ringing in the near future? Hmm, hmm, hmm? ”
Because time is ticking and we need to get outside to the courtyard—and the last thing I need is Hailey slipping and telling her big-mouthed friend Renee that I’m in love—I march toward her, quiet and determined.
“Hailey, sweetie. Honey. Sugar.” I force a tight smile, deepening my stare.
“I’m going to hold your hand when I say this to you.
Lincoln Bridges and I just started dating.
I’ve been planning weddings forever, and only a fool would rush into marriage just because everything feels right, and they’ve known the guy forever.
And I’m definitely not that kind of fool. ”
She nods slowly, biting her lip as if to stifle a laugh. “You? No, you’re definitely not that kind of fool. Where would anyone get an idea like that?”
I’m not that fool…am I?
All my insecurities claw to the surface of my mind.
What if all this doodling is actually just repressed teenage infatuation from being love-starved?
And for that matter, at this big age, am I just scared of being alone?
Is this my last shot? What if I end up hurt again?
What if I lose myself in Linc the way I did in Julian?
What happens to the divorcétante? Do I become the remarriedétante? Whatever the hell that is. It doesn’t even have a cool ring to it.
Worse, what if marriage isn’t something Linc wants?
Lord, Jesus, I’m a cautionary tale.
Pause, peace, power.
Hailey’s shoulders tremble, and it’s almost painful to watch her trying to hold in her laughter.
For a moment, I stare at her deadpan, mentally rummaging through my own words, playing Whac-A-Mole with my insecurities. Everything does feel right with Linc, and I’ve known him forever. Isn’t that the only reason to rush in?
Playfully, I roll my eyes at her. “ Ugh , just let it out.”
And let it out Hailey Winston does.
The cackling is downright insulting—and hilariously contagious. For what feels like an entire minute, we’re bent over, laughing so hard we can barely breathe.
“ Girrrrl …” Hailey’s holding her chest. “If you could see yourself doing mental gymnastics.”
I’m cry-laughing. “Shut up! I’m scared.”
“It’s love between grown adults, not a horror movie,” she says, and I literally cannot breathe, thinking about Linc calling me a scream queen. “Girl, no need to check under the bed. You’re not in danger.”
Of course, humor turns out to be the gateway to gabbing, because once I start telling her about Linc and me, she can’t shut me up. We talk about everything. The love stuff, yes. But the part I haven’t told anyone about is the nerves. I’m freaking petrified of the magnitude of my feelings.
“How can I feel everything when it’s barely been a few months?” I throw up my hands, shaking my head in disbelief. “None of it makes sense. And now he’s been acting all nervous, and I’m scared of even wanting more. You know, it’s not like the last go ’round worked out so well.”
Loudly, she sucks her teeth. “Why are you acting like this is some one-night stand and he’s your new boo? It’s been a few months, yes, but it was over a decade of being with sorry-ass Julian when you should’ve been with Linc.”
Well, when you put it that way…