So This Is Love (The Peterson Brothers #2)

Chapter 1

Lacey

February

Today is a happy day. Two of my closest friends are getting married, and I have the privilege of being their bridesmaid.

So why does it feel like I’ve been sucker punched in the gut?

I don’t think it makes me that much of a terrible person to be wishing it was my turn on someone else’s special day, right?

My phone rings, yanking me out of my daydream. Flipping it over, I see Cole’s name flash on the screen and debate whether or not I should answer. We haven’t spoken properly in months, not since Gabby.

Fucking Gabby.

Thinking better of it, and because I’m a giant glutton for punishment and want to hear his voice, I answer.

“Hey, Cole. What’s up? The sky, ba-dum-cha.” I do my best to sound nonchalant, but it doesn’t quite work.

“Hey, Lace. I just wanted to check in and make sure you’re okay. We haven’t spoken properly in a while…” He trails off, sounding unsure of himself.

I steel myself and blink rapidly to force the tears back to where they came from.

I put a broad smile on my face as I say, “Yeah, no, I’m great.

I’ve been busy, but so have you.” I let out a shrill laugh and cringe at my own awkwardness.

“Anyway, I’m ready and raring to go. So, yeah.

Catch you later, Cole. Buddy.” Jesus fucking H Christ, what the hell is wrong with me?

I stab at the end of the call and throw it on my bed.

Cole has had me messed up ever since he came to live with me in a temporary arrangement just over a year ago, after Pete attacked him.

I thought I had done a fantastic job of burying my true feelings for my best friend during his stay with me, but no, I didn’t.

The distance between us grew after he moved out and met Gabby.

And now, we are further apart than ever before.

Truthfully, that hurts —a lot.

Right now, I can’t think about that. I need to get my bridesmaid’s dress and haul my butt to the lodge where Emmy’s wedding is being held.

**********

I have dreamed of my wedding day ever since I was a little girl.

Cliché, I know, so sue me. I always wanted a beach wedding, with a long, flowing dress and flowers woven through my long, blonde hair.

My groom, who is not Cole, would be waiting at the altar for me in a white shirt and light-coloured shorts, and we would have bare feet to feel the sand between our toes.

There would be an arch behind us, framing the sunset. Ah, well, I guess a girl can dream.

I park my little Ford KA, which goes by the name of Norbert.

He’s a beautiful, dark green car, save for the back bumper, which is a bright yellow because mine fell off, and I could only afford a replacement from the scrap yard.

Don’t judge me; I work at an aquarium. What more do you want?

Climbing out, I grab my dress bag from the back seat and turn towards a gorgeous building, backdropped by the beautiful midday sun.

The Darlington Lodge isn’t a lodge at all, but an old English stately home from the 17th century.

It has stunning, sprawling gardens with the most beautiful sprays of flowers and trees that I have ever seen.

Emmy’s pictures are going to look gorgeous.

The lodge will host Emmy’s wedding today and into the night.

Close family and friends have their own rooms to stay in for the night, and then, in a few days, we will all head out to the airport.

Emmy, who came from a very small family and had parents who never wanted her, insisted that we all hijack their honeymoon in Vegas. While she and Cas jet off to California, the rest of us will stay in Sin City.

I smile at the thought of my two new best friends, Hayleigh and Emmy. Over the past few months, I would have been lost without them, especially since I didn’t have Cole.

Nope. Not going there.

I make my way inside the home, and instead of feeling like I’ve been transported back in time, the décor is light and airy. The sun pours through the stained glass windows above the stairs, casting an intricate pattern on the light marble flooring at my feet.

I imagine myself dressed in a princess dress, like Cinders, floating around the room. A smile touches my lips at the mental picture.

“You’re here!” Emmy squeals, and the sound echoes around the room, snapping me out of my daydream and scaring the life out of me.

I go to say hello, but when I raise my head to look at her, she isn’t standing straight; in fact, she’s tilted, that is, until I realise I’m the one who’s tilted. Right towards the floor.

Emmy and Hayleigh run over to me in a flurry of panic as I lie there on the floor, not quite knowing how I got there. I groan as a wave of nausea crashes through me. I really should have had breakfast this morning.

“Lacey, are you okay?” Hayleigh’s brow creases with concern as she puts the back of her hand against my forehead.

I swat her away and laugh, “I’m not sick. I didn’t eat this morning, so it’s my own fault.” They help me up, and I pull them both into a hug, “God, it’s so good to see you both.”

As we pull apart, Emmy’s eyes are shining, panicking. I look to Hayleigh, who rolls her eyes. “Oh, don’t worry, this has been happening since yesterday. She’s fine, just really happy, is all.”

Emmy laughs and wipes her eyes. “I just can’t believe today is already here, and I get to marry my best friend.” Her eyes glaze over again, a soft smile playing at her lips.

“Okay, enough of the mushiness,” Hayleigh says, looking at me now. “I’ll show you to your room; we have about twenty minutes before our appointment at the spa.” She smacks both Emmy and me on our butts, hustling us along.

**********

At the spa, we meet May, the Queen of the Petersons and my unofficial adoptive mother.

We have indulged in facials, manicures, and pedicures, and now we’re lying face down, receiving the most amazing massages that anyone has ever had.

All of us are so relaxed, that is, until Hayleigh pipes up with, “My God, if I were into women, I would most definitely marry you for those hands!” The masseuse chuckles, and we all howl at Hayleigh’s outburst.

May surprises us all by agreeing. “Here, here. I could get used to this. I may have to get Daniel to take some classes.”

I groan. “May, I did not need to hear that.” Her laughter and happiness shine through, and I can’t help but feel my mood lift.

Massages finished, we gather our robes around us and are taken through to the salon, where we are each seated in a chair. A glass of sparkling champagne is placed in front of me, and my stomach churns at the thought.

“Excuse me?” I ask the girl handing out the drinks, “Would it be possible to get a plain orange juice?” She nods and takes away my glass. My eyes meet with three sets of quizzical looks.

May’s hand flies to her mouth as she asks, “Oh my goodness, Lacey, are you pregnant?”

Horrified, I say, “No, absolutely not. I was just a bit sick earlier from rushing around with no breakfast.” Her face drops, and I reach out and pat her arm. “Don’t worry; if that day ever arrives, you will be one of the first to know.”

**********

In my room, I take a look at myself in the floor-length mirror and smile.

Emmy let us choose our dresses with only two conditions.

First, the dress had to be navy blue, and second, it had to be a surprise for her on her wedding day.

I chose a Grecian-style dress, where the straps twist into a rope around my shoulders, meet in the middle, and drape down my back.

The back is open and lands low on my back, whereas the front dips at the cleavage.

My hair is styled into a romantic updo, with a few tendrils gently falling around my face.

I smooth my hands down my front and do a little twirl and curtsy to myself in the mirror.

Before I can get too lost in my vanity, I hear a knock on the door.

Assuming it’s Hayleigh, I yank the door open, and my jaw drops when I see Cole standing there.

Doing my best goldfish impression, I take a moment, then clamp my mouth shut as Cole's eyes go wide, his cheeks flushing as he takes me in.

He clears his throat. “Hayleigh asked me to come and get you.” He shoves his hands into his pockets and looks away.

It feels like a dismissal, and that stabs at my heart. “Okay, just give me a minute to put my shoes on and I’ll be out.”

As I close the door, his hand flies out and stops it. Neither of us says a word, and we just stand there silently, looking at each other. Finally, he opens his mouth to speak, and that’s when I hear the shrill tones of Gabby, shouting Cole's name.

I roll my eyes at him. “Your girlfriend's wanting you, Cole. I’ll be out in a minute.” I slam the door shut and walk over to my shoes.

Dragging them over to the bed, I sit on the edge and shove my feet into them, all the while cursing my stupid heart for feeling for one second a shred of hope that he had come to find me.

Instead, he's off playing happy relationships with fucking Gabby, the toxic bitch.

I fasten my shoes and take one last look at myself in the mirror.

I will no longer waste time thinking about being with Cole.

I promised him when we were kids that we could be best friends, because having a little of Cole was better than having none of him at all.

I need to remember that promise. I square my shoulders, paint a smile on my face and open the door to find Cole waiting, alone.

Leaning against the wall, as if he has no care in the world, he pushes off when she sees me. My heart flutters involuntarily, bringing back that morsel of hope. Stupid organ!

“You look beautiful, Wild Cat.”

I laugh at the nickname, remembering it’s what he used to call me when we were younger, when I saved him from some bullies. My heart softens ever so slightly.

“Thanks. You scrub up well yourself.” I want to say so much more, but instead I ask, “Where’s Gabby?” I try to hide the sting of jealousy I feel. If he notices, he doesn’t react.

“She’s gone to sit down with the rest of the guests…” He hesitates before continuing, “Actually, she’s pretty pissed off with me.”

I bristle. “Why is she pissed off with you?”

He rubs the back of his neck, one of his telltale signs of nervousness. “She doesn’t like that we will be walking down the aisle together.”

I blanch at this. “What have I ever done to her, Cole? Matter of fact, why have you been avoiding me?” He opens his mouth to reply, but I cut him off.

“Actually, I don’t give a shit. This is Cas and Emmy’s day, and I will be damned if your girlfriend tries to ruin it.

” I grip the doorframe, my breath coming out in quick pants.

My head spins, and for a moment I see stars.

Cole grabs a hold of me; concern etched on his face.

I shrug him off. “I’m fine. Come on before we’re late. ”

I march Cole down the stairs to join the rest of his brothers and Hayleigh. None of us has seen Emmy in her dress yet; she’s currently hiding away in one of the rooms off to the side of us.

She told us girls earlier that her parents hadn’t even bothered to RSVP to the wedding invitation she had sent them, and so Daniel stepped in and said to her that, if she wanted, he would be honoured to walk her down the aisle.

Hayleigh told her exactly what she thought of her family, in explicit detail.

I just hugged her, not knowing what to say because I didn’t even have a mum to invite anymore, and my dad, well, I hadn’t even spoken to him in seven years.

The music starts to play from the live band. The notes to Train’s “Marry Me” float through the wooden doors as they slowly open. Archie goes first, looking ridiculous as he carries a small basket filled with flowers. Everyone inside laughs and giggles. I know he’s lapping that up.

Cole shuffles in beside me, hesitates for a moment, then leans down to whisper in my ear.

“I’m sorry for Gabby. You’re my best friend, Lacey, and I won't lose you.” I make the mistake of looking up at him and seeing the emotions swirling in his eyes.

I never can stay mad at him, and it's a fact of life that pisses me off more than I care to admit.

“Nothing and no one will get rid of me that easily, you should know that by now, Cole. But she has to stop being such a bitch to me. You know she hasn’t even bothered to get to know Emmy?

But she thinks it's fine to rock up on her wedding day, dishing out orders of who can and cannot walk together? Please!” I give him a pointed look, and his shoulders sag.

She isn’t right for him; he knows it, and so does everyone else.

Rafe and Ethan are next in line to walk down the aisle. They link arms with their mum, guiding her graciously. She waves at everyone like the queen she is.

I jump when Cole says, “Now that we’re friends again, why were you being so weird on the phone this morning?” He chuckles at my expense.

“I’ve been out of sorts all day, that’s all. Absolutely nothing else was going on.” I give him my best side eye, and he barks out a laugh so loud that the last few rows turn around to glare at us through the door. I hit his arm. “Shh, you idiot.” But it isn’t long before I’m laughing too.

Nate takes Hayleigh's arm as they walk down the aisle together, and I can’t help looking in awe at how perfect they look together.

Cole notices the dreamy look on my face. “Honestly, is everything okay with you, Lace?”

“It’s our turn. Walk me down the aisle, friend?” I smile, praying it reaches my eyes, but even I can hear the sadness creeping into my voice, because the sad truth is that while a piece of Cole is mine now, I know it won't be long before I lose him forever.