Chapter 42
Chapter forty-two
Paisley
Stephanie was every inch a bride in the dream dress she’d found at the bridal shop.
“Nash is gonna die when he sees you,” Liz gushed, tugging on Stephanie’s skirt to straighten it. We were waiting in the mansion’s large hallway outside the ballroom, ready for the music to start.
“I hope not. I’d like him alive and well if I have to do this.” Stephanie’s smile wobbled as she eyed the beautifully carved mahogany double doors.
“Hey.” I squeezed her arm. “You’ll do great. There are only about forty people out there, and they all love you.”
“Right.” Stephanie inhaled deeply. “It’s just walking down the aisle. No big deal.”
“It is a big deal,” I said softly. “It’s a vow and promise for forever. With the right guy, that’s everything.”
“Forever does sound nice.” Her smile turned dreamy.
Juliet chuckled, and when Gabe joined us a moment later, she smiled and touched the veil. “Let’s get you married, Steph.”
I’d never seen Stephanie so happy. And Nash, well, the man was about to burst his suit coat in pride. And the sheen in his dark eyes was impossible to miss as Gabe escorted Stephanie down the aisle.
“Who gives this woman to be married?” the pastor asked.
Gabe turned to the front row, eyes shining with unshed tears. Ivy and Nana rose, and the three of them said, “We do.”
Cue the waterworks. Liz swiped her cheeks, and I handed a tissue I’d hidden in my bouquet to Juliet before wiping my own eyes. There was nothing quite like watching your bestie marry a good man.
Gabe kissed Stephanie’s forehead and handed her off to Nash with a hearty bro handshake and backslap.
There was something about protective big-brother types, and Gabe had been half brother, half father figure to Stephanie for so many years. He swiped a hand over his face as he moved to stand beside his wife.
Liz was matron of honour with Juliet, Hailey, and me flanking her as bridesmaids.
On Nash’s side, his best friend, Emmett, served as best man, followed by his other best friends, Ryan, Ben, and Cal.
I caught Greyson’s eye in the audience, and he winked at me. Warmth tickled my stomach, igniting in my veins and staining my cheeks. I quickly refocused on the pastor, but not before Greyson’s smile turned smug.
“And now with the power vested in me by the state of Washington, you may kiss your bride,” the pastor announced, stepping to the side and out of the photographer’s shot line.
Nash smiled down at Stephanie, and with one hand slipping into her curls and the other on her waist, he dipped her in a kiss. Cheers lit the air.
“Now presenting for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Prescott!” the pastor said.
Stephanie glowed and lifted her bouquet in the air, her happy laugh a tinkle of music.
I swiped a hand over my cheek, not surprised to find I was still crying. The ceremony was beautiful, and watching my bestie who deserved love and the way Nash looked at her . . . Well, could you blame me?
The reception was intimate but still lively. Greyson claimed me for a dance, and Hailey caught the bouquet. Although, did it really count when Stephanie simply handed it to her because she was the only single woman in attendance?
“Not gonna happen anytime soon,” she squawked.
Stephanie glanced at Nash. “You know what they say about never, Hails.”
“I’m swearing off men,” Hailey grumbled dramatically.
Stephanie hugged her. “You’re a catch. If he doesn’t see it, he’s an idiot.”
“What wise sage said that?”
“You did.”
Hailey laughed and hugged her cousin again before Nash swept in and ushered his bride away for a dance.
Between pictures, dinner, more dancing, speeches, and toasts, there was so much joy to the occasion. And I totally had to sneak a tissue from Juliet after Gabe finished his toast to the bride and groom. Then it was back to dancing.
It was getting late, and my feet were aching from the heels, though I loved the feeling of loftiness they gave me. I wasn’t needed presently, so I slipped from the reception hall into the quiet hallway to breathe. But I wasn’t alone.
“Hey,” I called softly down the hall, where Stephanie was plastered against Nash, eyes scrunched, while he held her upright. “Everything okay?”
Nash adjusted his grip to support more of Stephanie’s small frame. “Just need a minute. Right, darlin’?”
Stephanie huffed softly, then yawned. “And here I was thinking I could avoid a POTS episode on my wedding day.” Her eyes drifted shut.
“Did she pass out?” I whispered.
“Just about,” Nash confirmed, resting his hand on the back of Stephanie’s head. When she sank into him further, he smiled softly.
They were too precious.
“Do you guys wanna blow this popsicle stand?” I blurted out.
Nash eyed me, and Stephanie lifted her head an inch.
“If it involves going home to a flat surface, yes, please,” Stephanie begged.
I bit my lip, trying to hold in a laugh at her phrasing. “If you sneak out the back door, I’ll make your excuses.”
Nash sighed. “Emmett has my keys. It was the only way to keep them safe from Ryan.”
I fished into my pocket and pulled out mine. “Here. Are you guys flying out right away or heading straight home?”
“Home.” Stephanie tilted her face to smile up at Nash.
He bent his head and kissed her sweetly. “Home,” he agreed.
They really were too cute.
“All right. Grey and I will swing by later with your car and change it out for ours. We can leave your keys under a flower pot or something.”
Stephanie eased away from Nash slowly, keeping hold of his arm to make sure she wasn’t going to pitch over again, before she threw her arms around me and squeezed. “You’re the bestest,” she whispered. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
I hugged her back. “And you’re the sweetest bride I’ve seen.” I touched her cheek. “You’re beautiful, Stephie.”
“Love you, Pais.” She beamed at me, then swayed, and Nash hooked an arm around her waist again.
“Love you more.” I offered Nash a smile along with the keys. “You’re good for her.”
Nash dipped his head in acknowledgment. “Ready, sweetheart?”
“For forever.” Stephanie went willingly back into his arms and let him carry her down the hall.
I stood in the doorway and watched Nash help tuck Stephanie’s dress into the cab before jogging around the side to hop in.
As they pulled away, I lifted my hand and waved.
It was unorthodox, them leaving without a proper send-off, but I knew Stephanie.
Her social battery was tanked, and with that near fainting episode, she needed the rest. Nash would take good care of her.
“Did you watch them steal my truck or offer it to them?” an amused voice asked over my shoulder.
I whirled around and smacked my nose into Greyson’s chest.
He caught me with a chuckle, hand pressing against my lower back to keep me from flailing.
“Steph wasn’t feeling so great, and Emmett had Nash’s keys. So I thought . . .” I bit my lip. “Do you mind? I promised that we’d drive the Wrangler back and exchange it before they headed to the airport tomorrow.”
“Not a problem. You’re a good friend.”
I shrugged and then realized he was still holding me. And I didn’t hate it. In fact, as fatigue and the emotional waves of the day seeped through my limbs, I sagged against him, cheek cushioned against the soft cotton of his dress shirt.
My husband cleaned up nicely. He was amazing in casual clothes, but I could get used to dressed-up Greyson. Maybe I could persuade him to try on his dress blues I’d found in the closet. Oh, the possibilities.
“Have I mentioned today how amazing you are?” Greyson asked huskily, warm breath tickling the loose curls around my ear.
“No,” I whispered around a yawn.
Greyson chuckled. “Time for me to get you home too.”
I shook my head. “I’ve got to help with the cleanup later.”
“Pais, they would understand if you weren’t up to it—”
“Grey . . . I need to. Just . . .” I curled my arms around his waist and squeezed. “Just give me a minute.”
He shifted slightly so his arms wrapped more fully around me. “Take all the time you need. I’m in no hurry.”
And in that cocoon, the truth of his words sank deep. When I finally stirred, Greyson kept hold of my hand.
“May I have the next dance, Mrs. Satterfield?”
My cheeks heated, remembering our kitchen dancing, and if the spark in Greyson’s eyes was anything to go by, he did, too.
I laced our fingers more securely. “You can have all of them,” I whispered.
His smile was radiant, and he tugged me down the hall onto the dance floor. We passed Gabe and Ivy swaying to Elvis’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and joined them for the next two songs.
“What are you thinking?” I whispered.
“You’re gorgeous.”
“Be serious.”
“I was.” He winked and, with deft skill, twirled me out before drawing me back against his chest. “But I was also thinking . . . If I asked you to marry me again, would you say yes?”
My heart skipped, and butterflies took flight. No nerves this time. He hadn’t been teasing. “I—”
Liz popped up at our elbows. “Grey, can we steal her for a girls’ dance?”
“Sure.” Greyson reluctantly released me. Leaning down to kiss my cheek, he added in an undertone, “But we’re circling back to this, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I whispered with a breathless shiver before Liz dragged me away. I loved my friend, but she had the worst timing.
Liz’s head bounced back and forth, scanning the small room. “Where’s Steph?”
“Uhhh, well . . .” I stammered as Juliet joined us. “She and Nash left.”
“What?!” Liz and Juliet demanded in unison.
“She had an episode, so I told them to head on out.”
“Is she okay?” Liz instantly sobered.
I nodded. “Just tuckered out. Now what are we dancing to?”
Liz latched onto me and Juliet and dragged us across the dance floor as the music shifted to One Direction’s “Best Song Ever.”
“Debatable,” Juliet groaned. “Do we have to do this?”
“You promised.”
“That was before Stephanie ditched us.” But a ghost of a smile tugged Juliet’s lips, and she swayed slightly to the beat.
Liz was the most outgoing of all of us and danced her heart out, cute baby bump and all. It was contagious, and trading smiles, Juliet and I joined her. Heels clicking as we jumped, dresses swishing as we shimmied our shoulders. We were not smooth. We were nearly thirty after all.
Yet my eyes wandered to the sidelines, searching. And I found him. Greyson. With a baby in his arms.
My feet stumbled and I stared, unabashed. Gabe and Emmett, Nash’s bearded lumberjack friend, flanked him on either side in easy conversation.
Was there anything more attractive than a man with a baby? I hadn’t seen it yet.
Juliet saddled up to me and tapped under my chin twice. “You’re drooling.”
My jaw clicked shut with a clack. “He’s just so . . .”
“My brother,” she protested quickly, “so be mindful of what adjective you use.”
I scoffed. “Like you have any room to complain after I spent an entire drive in the back seat behind you and Myles when we came dress shopping.”
Juliet smirked without a hint of apology. “Complaints, complaints.”
Greyson glanced my way, a smile curving his lips as he watched me like I was all he saw.
I beamed at him, warmth flooding my veins, then he winked.
Darn those ocean eyes.