Chapter 13
T he events room has been transformed into a winter wonderland, with silver tinsel hanging from the vaulted ceilings and evergreen garlands draped across each beam. Large vases filled with white roses, blue delphiniums, and hypericum berries line the aisle. A frosted blue aisle runner leads to the archway, where the mistletoe I helped Lila hang earlier this week hangs above.
It makes me reflect on how much has shifted this week. When I got here, the idea of enjoying being back in Starlight Pines felt completely foreign. I was a skeptic, set on avoiding my past, and solely focused on my career. Yet, over the past few days, my grandma and Lila have shifted my perspective, truly showing me what I’ve been missing.
Andrew steps through the door, letting out a low whistle. “Damn, Lila really outdid herself, didn’t she?”
I give him a pointed look. “Did you forget I helped?”
He claps me on the back. “Sure, you hung a few decorations, but let’s not kid ourselves. She gets all the credit for making Hannah’s vision come to life.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
Andrew’s wearing a tailored black tux with a silver tie, his hair combed back without a strand out of place.
He got changed in my grandma’s office, and Hannah is using the cottage as a bridal suite since Lila insisted that Andrew not see the wedding dress until the ceremony.
“I feel like I should be more nervous,” he says, sitting in a nearby chair. “The truth is, I’ve been waiting for this longer than I care to admit. I knew Hannah was special the day we met, and even though it took us fifteen years, every step along the way was worth it.”
I take a seat next to him, leaning back. “How did you know Hannah was the one?”
He told me early on that he liked her, but we’ve never talked about what made him want to pursue a relationship or ask her to marry him.
“I’ll never forget when she gave me an ultimatum,” Andrew chuckles. “We had gone to the movies, just the two of us, and were heading to her favorite Italian restaurant. She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and told me that Mav Miller, a guy she met at the coffee shop she worked at, had asked her out.” Andrew’s jaw tightens like it’s physically painful to think about. “My heart was racing when she admitted she wanted to turn him down but couldn’t wait around for me forever. She was frustrated that we spent so much time together, doing all the things couples do, but I never showed interest in taking the next step.”
“Why did you wait so long? You never hid the fact that she was off-limits to anyone who came around.”
It was the opposite. He threatened every man who even looked at Hannah the wrong way and spent every free minute he had with her. Yet when it came to actually claiming her, it seemed like he couldn’t bring himself to cross that line.
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “You remember what I was like in those early days. I was determined not to let anything stand in the way of my career, and I never saw myself as the type to settle down with a wife and kids. However, the more time I spent with Hannah, the harder it became to imagine my future without her in it.” He pauses to adjust his cufflinks. “Her ultimatum was the wake-up call I needed. I couldn’t let her walk away and risk losing her to someone else. My only regret is that it took so long to see what was right in front of me.”
Andrew and I are alike in how we both put our careers ahead of everything else, but for him, Hannah now takes precedence over everything. I can see why he regrets waiting so long to commit, but in the end, she became the center of his universe, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Which leaves me wondering where I go from here. If I let what Lila and I have end as nothing more than a fleeting holiday fling, there’s a chance I could be stepping away from the best thing to ever happen to me. There’s no guarantee that things will work out, but can I really stand the idea of her finding happiness with someone else? Because if I leave, she definitely will. No man would be foolish enough to let someone like her slip away.
So why the hell would I?
This new revelation leaves me with only one choice. I have to come clean to Andrew. If I don’t, there’s a chance of making everything worse later on.
I clear my throat, my nerves a tight coil in my stomach. “I have something to tell you,” I say.
“What is it?” he asks.
“Remember how you asked me if I was interested in Lila?”
He frowns, his face scrunching with concern. “Yeah. What about it?”
Here goes nothing.
“It’s complicated, but I do have feelings for her,” I admit, bracing for his reaction.
He relaxes back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. “Honestly, I can’t say I’m surprised. In fact, I’m pretty sure you’re the last one to figure it out. Is there a reason you’re telling me now?”
“I considered holding off on saying anything until after the wedding, but with you leaving for your honeymoon tonight, I didn’t want to risk you hearing it from someone else.”
“Is this some holiday fling?” He narrows his eyes. “Because you should know Lila’s had a massive crush on you since she was in middle school. Every time I’d visit or call home, she’d ask about you, practically glowing whenever your name came up. And I’m pretty sure she never got over it. So, I’ll ask you again, what are your intentions with my sister?” He waits patiently for my answer.
I blow out a deep breath. “What I can say for certain is that she’s important to me, and I want her in my life. We haven’t had a chance to talk things through yet, but I felt you deserved the truth. You’ve always been there for me, and I never want to put you in a position where you feel blindsided, especially with Lila involved.”
His expression is unreadable as the silence stretches on, and just when I think he’s going to get up and walk away, he cracks a faint smile.
“Please explain how you went from coming to Starlight Pines with my sister, the farthest thing from your mind, to now, only four days later, you’re telling me you want to be with her?”
“Actually, the first part isn’t entirely true,” I admit.
Andrew furrows his brow. “What do you mean?”
“At your engagement party, I found Lila hiding out in the photo booth. I ended up joining her, and we talked for a while. It wasn’t until later in our conversation that I realized who she was, and I left shortly after. But that hasn’t stopped me from thinking about her every day since then.”
It’s the truth, although I keep the details to myself. The fact that Lila and I kissed in the photo booth is irrelevant to this discussion.
Andrew straightens in his chair, letting out a laugh.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
“It just occurred to me that I unintentionally played matchmaker by suggesting you assist her with the wedding.”
“My grandma might have something to say about you claiming credit. It’s obvious she’s been trying to push us together since I got here, although I’m not exactly sure what her angle is. Besides, you might not have anything to worry about. There’s a good chance Lila doesn’t feel the same way as I do.”
He scoffs. “You’re joking, right? From the way you two act around each other, it’s obvious she never outgrew her feelings for you. If that’s true, it means that I’ll have to accept that my best friend and my sister are about to officially become an item.” He raises a finger, pointing at me. “But let me make one thing clear. If you do anything to hurt her, I won’t hesitate to make you regret it. I refuse to stand by if you break her heart. You hear me?”
“I would never hurt her, and you damn well know that,” I state. “While I’d like to keep answering your questions, today is about you and Hannah, and according to my watch, we’ve got less than an hour before the ceremony starts.”
Andrew’s eyes widen and he jumps out of his chair. “Shit. I still need to finish my vows and throw on my tux jacket.”
“Better hurry up. Can’t be late to your own wedding,” I taunt him.
I’m grateful they’ve asked me to be a part of their wedding, but selfishly the hardest thing right now is having to wait hours until I get the chance to be alone with Lila again.
Fifty minutes later, Andrew is standing under the archway, and I’m by his side while we wait for the procession to start. Lila is the only bridesmaid, so she’ll walk down the aisle before Hannah does.
Andrew adjusts his tie for what must be the hundredth time, his fingers slightly shaking.
I clasp him on the shoulder. “Guess those nerves finally caught up with you,’” I whisper.
“I’m just anxious to have Hannah by my side, is all,” he says, smoothing down the lapel of his jacket. “The sooner she’s officially my wife, the better.”
As if on cue, the opening notes of the processional hum through the air and the small gathering of guests quiet down. I glance at Andrew again, who is watching the doors, impatiently waiting for his bride to walk through them.
I’m more excited for someone else to walk through those doors.
I haven’t seen Lila since this morning, and now that I’ve made up my mind, it feels like each minute is moving at a snail’s pace while I wait to talk with her.
When she finally steps inside the room, my jaw drops.
She’s wearing a red, form-fitting gown that falls to the floor, and she’s holding a small bouquet of white roses in her hand. The tops of her breasts peek out over the delicate sweetheart neckline and the dress accentuates her figure, making it impossible to look away.
Lila glides down the aisle, her lips curved into a dazzling smile that seems to pierce straight through me.
When she reaches the front, she takes her place on the other side of the arch. Her fingers adjust the gold bracelet on her wrist. Her eyes lift to mine, a soft blush coloring her cheeks.
I mouth the words, “You’re beautiful.”
Her lips form into a tender smile, mouthing back, “Thank you.”
Guests rise when Hannah makes her entrance, her off-the-shoulder lace wedding gown shimmers as she moves down the aisle. But my focus remains on Lila for a beat longer, the space between us thick with anticipation.
When Hannah approaches the archway, Andrew is there, extending his hand. He pulls her into his arms, whispering in her ear, and her lets out a laugh.
They step between Lila and me, and once the guests take their seats, Andrew gives a nod to the officiant to begin. The ceremony goes by in a blur, and despite my best efforts to focus on the happy couple, I’m unable to resist stealing glances at Lila, her presence tugging at me like a magnetic force, making it hard to concentrate on anything else.
When it’s time for Andrew and Hannah to exchange vows, he takes her hands in his.
“I’ve spent a lifetime waiting for this day, and nothing makes me happier than knowing you’re about to become my wife. I promise to make you laugh during the good times and be your rock through the tough ones. You’re my partner, my best friend, and my greatest supporter. When I look back on how far we’ve come, I know with certainty that we were always meant to find each other, and now that I have you, I promise to cherish you always and forever.”
Hannah wipes away a stray tear as she takes a shaky breath.
My eyes dart to Lila, who’s holding both her bouquet and Hannah’s. She radiates warmth and joy, and I can’t seem to look away from her.
“Andrew, from the moment I met you, I knew there was something special between us. It just took you a while to catch up with me.” The guests all chuckle. “Today, I stand here, about to become your wife. I will stand by your side through every challenge and celebrate with you through every joy we share. You are my greatest adventure, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
My gaze drifts to Lila again, her hand resting over her heart as she watches the couple with admiration.
It strikes me that I want to be her greatest adventure. The person she explores the world with and makes new memories alongside. Every other goal I’ve ever had suddenly pales in comparison to being the person she trusts with her dreams and her heart.
Andrew nudges me with his elbow, a knowing smirk on his face. He holds out his hand, and I pull the ring box from my jacket pocket and hand it over to him. After he and Hannah exchange rings, the officiant pronounces them husband and wife. They share a kiss and then walk back down the aisle hand-in-hand, their faces radiant with joy.
I walk over to Lila and extend my arm. She slides her hand into the crook of my elbow, and we fall in step behind Andrew and Hannah who are greeting guests.
“You’re breathtaking,” I whisper in her ear. “I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”
“And you’re quite dashing yourself, Mr. Claus,” she grins, shooting me a wink.
Having her by my side is everything I never knew I wanted, let alone needed, and I’m more than ready to make her mine.