35. Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-five
Mia
I’m glad I hid some tissues in my bouquet because I am a mess. I have been since the minute I saw Bella in her dress, but I damn near sobbed when Reed’s eyes filled with tears at the sight of her walking down the aisle toward him.
She looks beautiful in her off the shoulder lace dress.
Her hair is pinned back from her face and flowing down her back in waves.
She’s magazine cover worthy; in fact, no doubt she will be on the cover of a magazine.
The Knight’s and Burke’s marrying is a big deal, and I know several celebrity news companies will want pictures.
The guests all cheer and holler as they’re announced husband and wife.
My bestie is married!
Harper, Ava, and I wrap our arms around each other as we watch Reed and Bella turn to walk back up the aisle together. Bella turns and glances back at us before she releases Reed’s hand and runs to us, the four of us embrace, tears streaming down our faces.
It’s a moment I’ll never forget.
It’s a friendship for life.
It’s a moment that the photographer catches perfectly.
It’s a photo that all four of us will later have framed in our houses in a pride of place position for everyone to see.
***
As perfect as today has been, it has made it very clear for me to see that I do not want a big wedding. The girls, my mom, and the family and friends of my husband to be are all I need.
Hudson’s hand squeezes my neck where it’s been resting since we finished eating and I turn to look at him. “You look beautiful.”
“So you’ve told me.” My heart still picks up every time he says those words, though.
“And I’ll keep telling you.”
“You look very handsome yourself.” His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles at me. Hudson in a tux is something that every girl should witness at least once in their life.
“I’m crazy about you, you know that, right?” A thrill runs through me.
“I’m starting to pick up on it.”
“I’m obviously not doing my job properly, then. There shouldn’t be a doubt in your mind.” A huff of laughter leaves me as he plays along.
“I think you could definitely do better.”
“How about when we get home, I spend the night worshiping your body. Would that help?”
“I think we should definitely give it a try.” His eyes darken as his pupils blow.
“How soon can we leave?” he rasps.
Not soon enough.
Hudson
I’m standing to the side of the dance floor more than ready to get out of here but fully aware that this is one day that Mia cannot be rushed. She needs to experience every moment of today with her girls.
Reed approaches off to my right and hands me a glass of whisky. My mind instantly goes to that night around my pool.
Fuck me, that was hot.
“San Francisco was a test of how serious you are about her and if I’m right, then you’re all in.
But you need to know I love that girl because of what she means to my wife.
Their friendship? What those girls have?
That’s special. If you hurt her, you’ll be hurting my wife and that’s not something I’ll tolerate. ”
“I don’t plan on hurting her. If anything, it’ll be her who hurts me.” She’s going to push back on marrying me, I just know it, even if it is something that, deep down, she wants, too.
He snorts into his drink. “Yeah, that I can imagine.”
“She’s everything to me,” I whisper.
“Well, it seems Mia’s just like the others.” He smiles at me.
“What do you mean?”
“They manage to have their men wrapped around their little finger; there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for them. I’m looking forward to seeing who Harper brings around.”
“You mean she’s not with him?” I gesture to the tall, dark-haired man who’s currently holding her on the dance floor.
“No.” He laughs. “That’s Bella’s brother, they’re just friends.” I don’t think so, I know lust when I see it. It stares me in the face every damn day.
So does love.
“What about you and the father of the bride? There still seems to be some tension there.”
“Yeah,” he sighs. “It’s no longer hostile, but it’s definitely tense. I’m hoping with time I get my friend back.”
I feel for him. We can’t help who we fall in love with; I’m quite sure realizing he wanted his best friend’s daughter hasn’t been easy for him.
A loud laugh drags my focus away from the two people dancing who I’m still staring at, two people who I’m quite sure want each other, and to the source of the noise.
My girl.
“I’m going to marry her soon,” I mutter when I see her laughing with a group of people.
“Good luck with that.” He chuckles as he slaps me on the back and heads back over to his wife.
I’m going to need all the luck I can get. There’s no way my girl’s going to say yes easily.
Stubborn little brat.