I close the door and steel myself. As much as I want to be there for Noli—and I will be there for her—I can’t let this go to my head. I’m not the marrying type—at least, not for real. I can’t be. Best to keep that top of mind before I get too caught up in our charade.
When I turn around, Noli is sitting on the bed in a cloud of blankets. Her hair is flung wildly around her face, and her cheeks are rosy red. She looks ethereal, and the sight of her tugs at the walls I’ve always kept up around my heart. My plans to remain single and unattached forever are crumbling under this woman’s blue-eyed gaze.
Noli heaves her shoulders up and then down. “So we’re doing this?”
I blow out a breath. Shoving my own hesitation—my muddled feelings and uncertainties—to the wayside, I grin at her with all the confidence I can muster. “We’re doing this.”
Noli nods and excuses herself to use the bathroom and shower. When the door closes behind her, I lie back on the bed. Am I in way over my head with Magnolia Kasper? Probably so. But there’s nowhere else I want to be, and I’m going to make sure she’s taken care of—that much I’m sure of.
I sit up and grab the receipt from the bar last night. Finding a pen in the drawer of the nightstand, I jot her a quick note and leave it on her pillow.
Everything’s going to be okay. I promise. ~C
22
It’s a Whole Thing
Noli ~ June
“Wake up. Wake up!”
My bed sags, and I’m tossed from one side to the other as my sisters pounce on me. I regret making them a spare key for the garage apartment.
I squint over at them. “Guys, we’re not five. No more monkeys jumping on the bed. What are you doing here? It’s not even nine a.m.”
Poppy grabs my hand and squeezes. “Get used to it, sister. This is nothing compared to what you and Collin will be doing in the bed later this summer.”
I pull my pillow out from under my head and toss it at my big sister. Of all the times I would have appreciated her taking more of a mom role, she has to go and play the big-sister, best-friend card. She’s been insufferable since we got home from Pensacola two months ago, dragging Collin and me out with her and Mack on double dates and calling me almost daily to talk about our weddings.
“What?” Poppy says, laughing. “Don’t tell me you’re not excited for your wedding night.”
Rose shoves a champagne flute into my hand.
I immediately sip, savoring the tangy sweet taste of orange juice and champagne and buying myself some time as I work to plaster a coy expression on my face. I’m trying my best to pretend that I cannot wait to rip Collin Rattler’s clothes off.
Truthfully, I don’t have to pretend. Have you seen the man?
But we’re in this weird limbo-land in our relationship. We’re getting married. But it’s all for show. But after he took care of me in Pensacola, I kind of think I might be falling for him a little bit for real too.
So what now?
“Easy there.” Rose laughs. “You look like you’re ready to pounce.”
I shrug. “Can you blame me?”
“No,” Poppy says. “Collin is gorgeous. He’s a really good guy too, which matters more to us than his good looks.”
“But good looks never hurt anyone, am I right?” Rose smiles.
“I’ll drink to that.” I lift my mimosa to my mouth again. “Thanks for this. It’s nice. But what’s the occasion? The wedding isn’t for two months.”
Poppy sets her glass down on my nightstand. “We’re going wedding dress shopping today!”
I squish up my nose. “Guys, no. I told you. We’re not doing anything fancy. It’s a courthouse wedding. I’m going to wear my white eyelet sundress.”
Rose smirks at me. “Isn’t that the one that has the small ketchup stain on the hem?”
I frown. “It does not.”
