Chapter 42
Ari
The guest bedroom in Archer Kade’s house has been completely taken over by Landrie and her bridesmaids. Hair spray hangs in the air. Curling irons crowd every outlet. Garment bags hang from hooks and doorknobs.
But for the first time all afternoon, Landrie and I are alone.
She stands in front of the mirror while I fasten the tiny buttons running down the back of her wedding dress.
“You know what I was thinking about this morning?” Her eyes find mine through the mirror.
“How you’re going to be Mrs. Jaxon Walker soon?”
“No, actually, I was thinking about the phone call. The one where you told me you were moving home.”
My hands pause briefly. “Not what I expected.”
“You were convinced moving back here was the worst thing that could happen to you.”
I laugh. “I was.”
I remember that moment too, how moving home felt like a failure. The last place I wanted to end up was Autumn Ridge. I thought this town represented everything I didn’t want. The gossip. The lack of privacy. The feeling that everybody knew my business before I did.
I’d spent years convincing myself I had outgrown this place.
And somewhere along the way, without noticing, those same things became comforting instead.
The gossip turned into people caring.
The familiarity stopped feeling suffocating and started feeling safe.
And the community I used to roll my eyes at became something I looked forward to.
I mean, Wade helped too.
Landrie catches my expression in the mirror. “Now look at you.”
I finish the last button and step back. “What do you mean?”
“You’re happy. You have friends here. A job you love. Students who adore you.” Her grin grows. “And Wade.” The smile fades from her face just enough to become serious. “You belong here, Ari.”
The words hit the center of my heart. “I think maybe I do.”
Landrie’s smile returns. “Good.” She turns, fully facing me. “Because I know Wade is perfect for you.”
I walk over to the bed and sit on the edge. “That’s what scares me.”
She follows. “What’s scary about that?”
My answer feels embarrassingly honest. “I like him more than I’ve admitted to anybody. And I think if he were to ask me to stay here forever, I would. And that’s what scares me the most.”
The confession leaves me feeling strangely exposed.
“Oh.” Landrie’s features soften. “You love him.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“You didn’t have to say it.”
I stare down at my hands. “But what if I’m wrong about him? What if everyone is right about how he feels, but I’m still wrong somehow?” My throat tightens. “What if this doesn’t end the way I hope it will?”
Because that’s the real fear.
“You know what I think?” Landrie sits beside me, her dress spilling across the bed. “I think you’re acting like the girl who got hurt by Andy instead of the woman sitting here today with everything going for her.”
A big part of me knows she’s right.
“I don’t know if Wade loves you yet,” she says honestly. “But I know he cares about you. I know he’s trying. And I know he’s never looked at anybody the way he looks at you.”
My eyes sting unexpectedly.
“And if this goes somewhere amazing?” She smiles. “Then great.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
I think about that for a second.
About Florida.
About heartbreak.
About starting over.
About moving home.
It’s a big risk to put my heart out there again.
Landrie squeezes my hand. “Don’t let your fear of something bad happening stop you from experiencing something amazing. And I think you and Wade have something amazing going.”
I sigh. “I think so too.”
Outside the bridal suite, someone knocks on the door.
“Twenty minutes!” the wedding coordinator calls.
Landrie immediately squeals. “It’s happening!”
I smile back at my beautiful baby sister, more grateful to have her in my life than I’ve ever been.