Chapter 26
TRUST FALL
Addie
It was Go Day, and for every hiccup, something went shockingly right. Maxi handled every surprise with effortless foresight and ingenuity when Addie would’ve been huddled in the corner of the former tack room—now converted bridal chamber.
She was more certain now than ever that Maxi taking over Happily Ever Forever’s event services was the right move. As for her, she’d dive into her new role as the Anti-Anti-Aphrodite and try her hand—with her mother’s guidance—directing people to their perfect matches.
Goddess help them all.
Almost literally.
But as Maxi said, if the feds didn’t show up during a pairing and haul someone away in handcuffs, she’d already be one step above her sister’s track record.
Now showered and armed with an emergency sewing kit and mini fire extinguisher, Addie was ready to tackle the day and whatever came next.
Okay, so she was showered.
And her emergency kit was bulging and ready to go. If another cake went up in flames, she was prepared. A torn seam? Easy peasy lemon squeezy. She even had extra-large hand wipes and a vat of Purell in case someone stepped on a stray mound of horse poop they’d somehow missed during cleaning.
The only thing she wasn’t prepared for was seeing Phoenix Cross.
Gavin and Xavier had shown up early that morning and helped with the last of the twinkle lights in the kissing tree, and East and Phoenix had arrived a few hours ago, but they’d headed right up to the main house where they’d be getting ready before the ceremony.
After the big L.O.V.E. revelation, Addie couldn’t evict her mother’s words from her head.
A fated leap of trust without a safety net.
That was scary as hell. Even thinking about it sent her heart into palpitations, but maybe that was the point. As special and magical as love was, it should be scary. If it wasn’t, it wouldn’t have the power to heal even the worst wounds.
But knowing it, and letting yourself fully accept it, was something entirely different. Just when she thought she was inches away from doing so, all those old doubts and worries reared their ugly heads and latched on to the only thing she’d erroneously thought was her safety net.
Muse Sickness.
Goddess, she wanted to kick her own ass, especially after reading more of the information that Aunt Eunice had left for her.
If Phoenix never spoke to her again, he’d be well within his rights.
She should’ve trusted what she felt, but damn it, after a lifetime of doing the exact opposite, reflexes kicked in and got in the way.
Bailey rounded the corner and nearly collided with Addie. “Uh, we have a problem.”
“All problems should be directed to the new head of events,” Addie stated with a smirk.
“Who the fuck do you think told me to get you? Maxi is in the bridal room with Nai and she’s freaking the hell out—Nai, not Max. Although now that I’m saying it all aloud, Maxi looked a bit pale, too.”
“Shit.” Addie hustled into the barn and knocked once on the guestroom door before letting herself in. “What’s going on?”
Nai was indeed freaking, breathing into a brown paper bag as her chest heaved.
“What the hell happened?” Addie dropped to a crouch in front of Phoenix’s sister. “Nai?”
“I don’t know.” Maxi sounded frustrated and at a loss. “One moment we were putting the final touches on her makeup, fixing a loose button, and then bam. Meltdown.”
Addie gentled her voice as she looked her new friend in the eye. “Nai, what’s all this about? You’re about to forever link yourself to your soulmate. That shouldn’t require a paper bag.”
“I don’t know.” Nai pulled the bag away from her mouth, her words breathless.
“I just … suddenly started thinking about how we’re finally here—after everything that happened—and then this intrusive thought slipped into my head that maybe there was a reason that things kept happening.
Maybe this isn’t the path we were meant to take. ”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” Addie scoffed gently. “I can honestly say that I have never met two people more suited to being together than you and Easton.”
Did she repeat words Nai once told her not that long ago? Yes. But it was the truth.
“You have to say that because you’re the event planner.”
Addie laughed. “With my event history, what’s one more botched wedding? No. I’m saying it because it’s true.”
She glanced up at her sister, getting a small supportive nod before she continued. “Nai, I’m looping you in on a secret, one that a select few people have the privilege of knowing. Hell, I figured it out not that long ago.”
Nai’s breathing evened as her gaze remained locked on Addie. “I love secrets. What is it?”
“True love does exist, and I know, without a shred of doubt, that yours and Easton’s souls are a perfect match.
You’re tethered. I’ve seen it … as the daughter of Aphrodite,” Addie said truthfully.
“And your link is an immaculate dark gold, so thick and strong, and it’s a never-ending loop. It’s unbreakable.”
Tears slipped down Naiomi’s cheeks.
Maxi was already reaching for the makeup bag and pulling out the pressed powder and setting spray.
Nai gripped Addie’s hands tightly. “You really mean it?”
“I’ve never meant anything more in my life.”
She’d seen their link less than two hours ago, when botched arrival times had them nearly running into each other on their way to their individual ready-rooms.
They hadn’t laid eyes on each other, but they’d been close enough that Addie had seen their link right there in front of her eyes, so bright and strong she wasn’t sure how she’d missed it before.
“So what do you say?” Holding onto Nai’s hand, Addie coaxed the bride to her feet. “Are you ready to exchange vows with your soulmate? Because unless my former event planner senses have already gone haywire, there’s probably a very nervous gargoyle groom standing near a very special kissing tree.”
Naiomi laughed, gently drying her tears. “Let’s fucking do it. It’s about damn time I claimed my man.”
It was time to get this ceremony started.
Phoenix
It was finally happening. Two of the people that Phoenix loved most in the world were officially declaring their love in the place that started it all.
Addie had outdone herself, making the spot by the kissing tree even more magical than it had been to begin with.
White lights and lanterns hung from the massive willow, and Nai and East stood beneath a brilliant white arch adorned with colorful wildflowers, the same kinds of flowers that filled Nai’s bouquet.
The two lovebirds recited their heartfelt vows just as the sun set in the background, gifting everyone a beautiful sunset filled with warm pinks and purples and dashed with a spectacular golden glow.
Or maybe the glow was coming off Addie.
As Phoenix listened raptly to his father—who became officially licensed to perform ceremonies for this specific purpose—his gaze drifted to the back left corner where Addie stood, Maxi at her side. A soft, sweet smile hovered on her lips as she occasionally dabbed her happy tears with a tissue.
Everything in him longed to cross the distance and wipe them away himself, but knowing they were happy tears, and that she rejoiced in East and Nai’s love, gave him hope that maybe Gavin’s harebrained idea wouldn’t end in a disaster of epic proportions.
As if sensing being watched, Addie’s water-filled eyes tilted toward him, and held.
He couldn’t look away even if he tried, willing her to see straight into his heart.
A flurry of emotions flickered over her face until she darted her gaze away and leaned over to whisper something in Maxi’s ear, and then disappeared somewhere behind the wagons.
Below the arch, East and Nai gave the crowd a kiss for the record books, and when they finally came up for air, his best friend whooped loudly and immediately scooped Nai up in a bridal carry. The audience laughed and cheered as East practically levitated back down the flower-strewn aisle.
The wedding party—kept small and intimate with just family—followed closely behind.
Addie’s disappearance was explained as she stood by one of the wagons and ushered them all into the back.
Phoenix and his father helped everyone navigate the short steps, and once everyone was safely tucked away, Phoenix’s father climbed in as well.
Turning toward Addie, Phoenix chiseled his tongue off the roof of his mouth. “You coming with us?”
She shot him a startled look, looking like a deer in headlights, her gorgeous green eyes rounded. This was the first time they’d been so close in days and his body practically vibrated with her nearness.
“Um. Yes. Bailey’s already back at the barn and Maxi is staying here to make sure all the guests get on the wagons.”
“Then let’s get you loaded up, love.” The nickname slipped out as he reflexively gripped her hips and effortlessly hoisted her into the wagon where Gavin took her hand until she steadied her balance.
Phoenix jumped up next and closed the gate, and then they were off on a magical hayride, a blanket of stars peeking out from the dark sky. Everyone watched the cloudless sky while Nai and East only had eyes for each other.
Phoenix’s attention was stolen by the sassy redhead sitting almost directly across from him on the other side of the wagon.
Addie’s eyes caught his more than once, and she looked away, her cheeks pinking instantly. Fuck, he missed the way she flushed, especially after a kiss, or even brighter after he made her come.
Next to him, Gavin elbowed him in the side. “You ready?”
Draping his arms on his propped knees and stretching his fingers, he took an unsteady breath. “Ready as I’ll ever be to put my heart on the line in front of a crowd. As good of an idea as this is, I was half hoping Naiomi would nix it.”
Gavin snorted. “Like she’d do that. Hell, I heard her talking to East about it and it sounded like she was taking nearly full credit for the idea. I mean, she did think of the other thing, I’ll give her that, but let’s not forget the real mastermind here.”
“Like you’ll let anyone forget it,” Phoenix joked.
“True.” Gavin shrugged.
In just a matter of hours, Adalyn Whitlock would know that his heart would forever belong to her … and he’d find out if hers could ever belong to him in return.