Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Kir
Avril and I had stayed up all night, and she’d let me fully inside her multiple times. That morning, my heart lifted when I saw her rosy cheeks. It was like she was glowing with happiness. The same feeling radiated within me.
She picked out a purple dress from the closet of options left for her and had me zip her up. Losing sight of her skin set off a thrill inside me. That night, ideally, I would have her again and again. I’d never been so eager with anyone.
I grabbed my gray suit and dressed once we were cleaned up. At the bedroom door, she took my hand and hummed as she stepped out. My brother’s backyard had a breakfast buffet laid out for all of us, and we ate as staff set up the altar near the trees for that afternoon.
We waited in the line for our breakfast buffet. It felt like no time had passed. The air smelled like her vanilla lotion, which was also on my skin. Once we had our plates, we found seats between Arman and Maddie and Cyrus and Sarah.
Avril craned her neck, and I assumed she hoped to wave to her friends, but then she glanced at me. “So, these are all your family?”
“Those are the Miami cousins at that table.”
She directed me to another group. “And them?”
I pointed at the twenty-year-olds. “My brother’s college friends, and behind them are the Denver cousins.”
She picked up her fork and a napkin to cover her dress. “Such a large family. And you really thought it was better to stay alone?”
Not anymore. It was better with her next to me. My heart felt full. “I hadn’t realized having someone as cute as you on my arm would make me happy.”
She laughed and pressed against my arm. “Then you’re pretty easy to please.”
A huge grin was plastered on my face, and I honestly didn’t care if anyone asked why. I whispered, “You’re probably the first person to ever tell me that.”
She winked at me. “Maybe that’s why you need me.”
“Maybe,” I said, and we ate our fried eggs.
After our plates were empty, and she was enjoying her coffee and I was drinking my tea, I hoped we would find a moment to talk and a way to sneak back to our room. Then my brother, his bride, and his son came out, and everyone stood and clapped, which meant I would need to wait.
As we sat down, she asked me, “So, how did you miss the way Elon and Clarissa look at each other?”
Because I never experienced that kind of bliss. I smiled. “I was oblivious clearly.”
She picked up her coffee. “It’s sweet, though.”
I glanced down the other end of the table and saw how her friend and my brother wiggled into a space to have breakfast together. “And Charlie and Hope… he’s more grounded with her.”
She waved, and Hope waved back. “What was your ex-girlfriend like?”
I finished my tea. Then I motioned for us to take a walk. I hadn’t expected Avril to be jealous of my past. Once we were away from my brothers, I asked, “Why do you want to know?”
She shrugged. “I want to know your type.”
I tensed. The past was the past. “Ahh, well, she was blond and not into family or having a family. We never talked much, to be absolutely honest.”
She stayed at my side with a bounce to her step. “Because you're introverted and don’t like to share your thoughts?”
I took a deep breath and wrapped my arm around her waist. “I’m out of practice, but I’m trying.”
We continued to tour the gardens and passed my brother’s wine factory. Making wine was his hobby. She didn’t mention the building and instead said, “Can I ask you about Xerses?”
I blinked. “What about him?”
She sighed. “I think Kelly is starting to like him.”
I realized I’d been jealous, which was crazy. My brother was great, but I hated hearing another name on Avril’s lips. I shook it off. “He never laughs. He’s the opposite of Charlie—nothing fazes Charlie. I hope the best for both of them.”
She met my gaze. “Kelly is a go-getter and loves laughing. She’s super kind and sweet.”
I pressed my hand to my heart. “I thought I was those things too.”
She laughed, and my ears were full as she said, “Okay, you’re both exactly alike, but I don’t want you to notice.”
I squeezed her gently. “I met all of Hope’s friends, and you’re the most interesting woman in your circle.”
She batted her eyes. “You find me interesting?”
The previous night should have proven that to her. My skin buzzed as I asked, “What about you? How are you enjoying this garden wedding with me?”
She smiled. We started to circle back to my family, and she said, “I’ve never been to anything like this. Your family is great.”
My heart beat differently that day. Having Avril at my side made all the difference.
I kept my thoughts to myself because I wasn’t sure what to say, but when we made it back to the thinned-out group, I asked her, “Are you ready to answer the press’s big questions, like what you’re wearing? ” I walked her inside. '
“Wait. There’s a quiz?” she asked.
I nodded, and we stepped in line. Stylists checked us out to ensure that we were all picture-perfect. I said, “Maman decided the best way to handle the press outside for the wedding was for each of us to talk.”
Once the stylist left Avril and we moved closer to the door, she whispered, “Won’t this make the blogger even more mad at me?”
I pressed against her. “Do you have any more secrets to share?”
Her eyes widened. “Secrets?”
“Yeah.” I gazed down at her, half wondering if there was any reason not to like her.
She shook her head and then turned away from me. “No, except can you read the label on the back?”
I laughed and then unzipped her top and read. I zipped her back up. “Valentino.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I picked the pretty one.”
I kissed her shoulder. “So did I.”
She pinkened as we walked out the door. Once she saw cameras, she smiled and walked with her hand on her hip. As we made it to the spot marked for us, the first reporter asked, “So, Miss Lawson, who are you wearing?”
She had a gleam in her eye like she would laugh if we were alone. “Valentino. I thought this purple was perfect for an afternoon wedding.”
And I realized two things: she was fun, and I loved her.
Another reporter asked, “So, any comment on the rumor that you’re a bad influence on Kir?”
My heart thundered. I took her hand and glared at the woman, though we kept our distance. “I’d say whoever wrote that doesn’t know the adult Avril, who’s a good influence on me and on everyone around her.”
Avril’s gaze had a twinkle. She quietly asked, “You think I’m a good influence?”
I held her closer, like I’d protect her with my life. “Absolutely. Avril had a rough time as a teenager, but she’s grown into a wonderful woman to anyone that knows her. But now we have to go in and take our seats.”
We headed outside. I had no idea what she’d think if I told her my sudden realization.
She asked, “Do you often have to do things like that?”
I nodded, and we gazed around at the garden, which was ready for a wedding. “People are interested in the lives of the rich. I wish they weren’t, but it is what it is.”
She checked my tie at the back of the aisle with the white carpet for the bride. “So, yes, you do have to do things like that often.”
“Yeah.” I rubbed the back of my neck, and we walked to our aisle.
I wouldn’t tell her just yet how everything was different for me now.
“But in my general day-to-day, no. It’s mostly at charity events or places where we know there’s press.
And we don’t want their helicopters, so today is a compromise. ”
“Was it always like that?”
We settled in our seats, and I said, “Yeah, but as I get older, it’s easier to handle.”
She took my hand and said hello to my brothers and her friends, who sat near us.
Then the music started. We stood and looked back.
Clarissa was accompanied by her young son as she walked toward the altar.
My brother beamed with pride. When they reached him, they both took their boy’s hands for a minute and hugged him.
Maman sat beside her grandson, and Avril whispered, “Your brother and sister-in-law look even more amazing than before.”
I gazed at them. It was so obvious that they were in love. As a kid, I’d been blind to it, but I hadn’t been looking for anything. “They do look happy.”
Avril quickly said, “ Radiant is the better word.”
“True.” I watched the wedding once we sat back down. For a few minutes, I imagined Avril repeating the vows to me. I blinked. That was way too much, too fast. With Avril, I was lost about how to handle anything.