25. April
Two months later…
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
There was a thunder of applause and plenty of “awes,” circulating the chapel. My smile almost split my face in two as I gazed at Lucy and Nic. Nic swept my sister into his arms and laid one on her. I mean really laid it on her. They kissed as if they were the only two people in the church.
Tessa, the maid of honor, held a hand over her chest and sniffed. She’d been tearing up through the entire ceremony. I stood behind her with Cass behind me and Ruby, the youngest Bennet, rounded up the back. She’d flown in from Chicago for the wedding. Kelsey, Nic’s daughter, who we’d all come to love and spoiled rotten, stood beside Ruby with her basket of flower petals. Her pink dress was bedazzled and so were her shoes. Kelsey was a flamboyant child who had a unique sense of style just like me when I was her age.
“Oh, wow. They do remember that we”re all still here, right?” Cass whispered, gawking at Nic and Lucy who were still in a passionate lip lock.
“They do this all the time when they think I’m not looking,” Kelsey grumbled. She rolled her eyes. “Adults.”
Ruby chuckled, wrapped an arm around Kelsey’s shoulder, and pulled her close. “Oh, you’ll get it when you’re old enough, honey.” Kelsey snorted as if she couldn’t see herself ever understanding why adults did the things they did.
My lips twitched. I totally got it―being so wrapped up in someone that everyone else faded away. I never thought I’d get to experience it, but I have. There was a tug on my heartstrings, followed by an ache in my chest. I’d suffered from this feeling of longing since I left Julian in Canada. Before I left, we’d made sweet, passionate love. It was almost desperate as if we’d both been reluctant to let go of each other. We’d talked a little about what would happen between us when we parted ways.
I told Julian we’d still be friends. What more could we be with him living in another country? He didn’t look too pleased about my declaration. I knew he wanted to say something more but held back. I’d held back too, out of fear. There was no way I could tell him how I really felt about him. I didn’t want to look like a fool when I saw him on some gossip site with another woman on his arm. It was best to keep my feelings to myself. Plus, I didn’t want him to feel like he owed me anything, any loyalty. Hell, he’d probably found another woman to warm his bed the same week that I left. Women literally threw themselves at him. Gorgeous women who suited his rich lifestyle. Did he even remember me? He hadn’t even called. We talked and texted a few times in the first week I got home, but that was it.
“Earth to April.” Cass’s voice filtered into my somber thoughts.
“Huh?” I blinked and looked around to see that the bridal party and the groomsmen were moving. Nic and Lucy were already close to the exit. I quickly took off after Tessa.
“Now, there goes a tall drink of water I’d like to quench my thirst with,” Cass purred behind me.
I snickered. She’d been giving one of Nic’s groomsmen the eye since the rehearsal dinner. A Latin lover is what she’d called the tattooed, raven hair, dark-eyed man. He was a friend of Nic’s from New York, and he looked like the president of a biker gang. However, Nic said he was in the military. He had bad boy written all over him, and Cass was practically salivating.
“He looks like he can show a girl a good time before disappearing in the morning,” she whispered as we made our way down the aisle.
“So, you’re only interested in a one-night stand?” I whispered over my shoulder, hoping no one was paying attention to our conversation.
“What else would he be good for? What else is any man good for? I’m not going to moon over him like Lucy moons over Nic. Or mope around like a sad puppy like you”ve been doing since you left Julian.”
“I do not mope.”
“You most definitely mope,” Tessa hissed over her shoulder then turned to smile at one of the wedding guests.
I scowled. I swear privacy was non-existent with so many sisters. A girl couldn’t even mope over her lost lover in peace.
Cass chuckled. “You see? No mooning or moping for me. I just want to play with Mr. Tall, tatted, and Latino for one night.”
“What kind of game will you play with him, Aunt Cass?” Kelsey had pulled away from Ruby and was tugging at Cass’ dress.
Cass gasped, looking down at Kelsey with horror. I chuckled, waiting to hear how she’d explain this one. Lips pursed, Cass hummed. “Uh...adult tea party, sweetie.”
Ruby giggled. “Nice save.”
Kelsey looked up at Cass, bemused, but didn’t question the “adult tea party.”
When we made it outside, the crowd from inside the church surrounded us. Congratulations were hurled at the newly married couple as they made their way to one of the limos. There were two more. One would carry the groomsmen and the other would carry us bridesmaids, Kelsey, and Iris, Nic’s mother, to the reception.
“Flower Child.”
My heart skipped a beat at the sound of the smooth baritone. The voice that teased me and made me laugh, that whispered plenty of dirty things in my ear, that got me so heated I neared combustion...was here. I searched the crowd and spotted him. Julian stood on the sidewalk, hands in his pockets, wearing the hell out of a tux. His dark blond hair was shorter than I remembered with that stubborn lock dangling over one eyebrow. He looked delicious. And, of course, he garnered attention, mostly from the ladies. I suppose that’s why I didn’t see him in the church. He probably didn’t want to take attention away from the happy couple. God, I missed him. I stared at him, not sure what to do. Hug him? Kiss him? Jump his gorgeous bones right here in front of everyone?
I didn’t move so he walked over, snaked an arm around my waist, and pulled me close. I landed against him with a delighted gasp. It wasn’t the greeting I expected, especially in a crowd, and after I told him we were just friends. My lips parted in anticipation as his head descended and my eyes fluttered closed. Our lips touched and for a moment, the pain of longing in my chest disappeared and all was right in my world. Needing Julian so much terrified me, yet, I clung to him, my fingers curling into his arms.
Disappointment hit when he pulled away followed by embarrassment. There were quite a few gawkers in the crowd, my sisters being some of them. Kelsey slapped her forehead. I imagined her saying “adults,” with disgust and it made me smile.
“Wait, are you guys like boyfriend and girlfriend?” We turned to see Andy staring at us in disbelief. “Thanks a lot, Uncle Julian. There goes my chances with Miss April.”
“For the love of God, Andy,” Julian groaned. “Get in the car with Mom. Now.”
Shoulder dropped, heaving a sigh, the little boy headed to Faye’s car.
I chuckled. “You can’t be mad. You’re his role model.”
“At least he has great taste in women,” he drawled. “You look beautiful, Flower Child.” He gave me an appreciative once over in my lavender off-the-shoulder bridesmaid dress.
Whenever he called me that, the butterflies in my stomach went crazy. “Thanks. I didn’t think you’d make it.”
“I wouldn’t miss it, but I only have today.”
“Oh.” I looked away from him, hoping he didn’t hear my disappointment.
“That’s why I need to see you tonight, after the reception.”
“Sure. Where do you want to meet?”
He smiled a secret smile that confused me. “Just head home after, and you’ll see the first part of my surprise.”
I blinked. “You got me a gift?”
“Sort of.”
He turned to look at the limo where Lucy had her head stuck out the window. She beamed at us and winked. Suspicious, I turned to ask Julian what he and my sister were up to but got distracted when he tenderly tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. His slightest touch always made me lose my wits. His eyes dropped to my mouth as if he wanted to kiss me again, and I was disappointed when he didn’t. “You should get going.” He nodded to the limo where everyone was waiting...and grinning from ear to ear as they watched us. I sighed inwardly. My sisters were going to drill my ass about Julian all the way to the reception.