“I think she has, Savvy,” Claire murmured. “And I don’t think she’s asking for our permission.”
“I’m not,” Tess said, straightening beside me. “I’m doing what I have to do to protect my son, and if you can’t get on board with that…” She shrugged a shoulder. “Then I guess you aren’t on board. I don’t really know what else to say.”
My grip on her side tightened a fraction, hoping she could feel the pride I felt for her in the touch.
Savannah stormed off, going inside. Weston rose with a curse under his breath. “She’ll come around,” he said before following after her.
The others still looked stunned, but no one else outright disapproved of what we were doing. By the time the night wounddown, Tess was leaning into me on the couch, her shoulder against mine, her trust a quiet, steady weight I didn’t take lightly.
It felt natural to have her close. Too natural already. I was starting to get the feeling I’d have a harder time than I expected remembering that this was fake. Because every second with Tess felt real—achingly, dangerously real. And the real danger wasn’t losing my license, it was losing her when this ended.
13
Tess
I was getting married. Today. To Levi. The guy I had feelings for and had no clue because I was a coward, afraid to face the possibilities that came with something that big. But I could only handle one monumental thing at a time, and this matter was more pressing, considering I had to meet Levi in the courtroom in ten minutes.
“I think I’m gonna be sick,” I panted, fanning under my armpits so I didn’t get sweat stains on my dress.
This wasn’t a real wedding or a real marriage; it was all for show. So there was no reason for me to feel like I was going to jump out of my skin at any moment. But I did. It was as if my body couldn’t accept that this wasn’t real.
“You aren’t going to get sick,” Claire said, straightening out my hair and veil, while Savannah topped off my blush. I had cried this morning when she slid into the car at the last second on the way here and told me there was no way she was going to miss my wedding, fake or not.
“Ugh, I missed seeing you like this. You look like our sister again.” Claire clasped my shoulders, grinning at me in the mirror. I reached back and held her, the shades of red in our hairblending together. Brittany had done a perfect shade match to remove the black two days ago, so I could look like myself again on my wedding day.
“All done,” Savannah said, stepping aside so I could see the rest of my face.
I gasped, leaning over the sink. “Is that me?” My fingers slid up my cheeks lightly, not wanting to mess up the masterpiece she just finished. My eyes were a bright, vibrant blue, my lips a glossy berry pink, my cheeks dusted with a rosy glow. And my hair was styled in loose curls with the front pieces pulled back from my face with pearl barrettes.
Savannah turned around, her eyes glassy just like Claire’s. Just like mine. “It’s you, bug, our beautiful baby sister. A gorgeous bride.”
A bride. I guess I was one, wasn’t I? I couldn’t believe it. In all the ways I had dreamt of my wedding day, I never imagined this.
“I wish Mama were here,” Claire rasped, wiping under her eyes quickly.
I nodded, sniffling. “Me too. And Daddy.”
Savannah lay her head on my shoulder, both of us the same height in my heels. “They’re here,” she said with a trace of a bittersweet smile on her lips.
In this moment, here with my sisters, missing our parents, this wedding was as real as any, and I was so thankful they were here to support me.
Claire’s phone buzzed in her clutch. “It’s Beau. They’re ready for us.”
I took a step back, smoothing out my dress with a shaky breath, taking one final look in the mirror. The dress was simple, timeless. An ivory satin A-line dress that fell mid-calf, the skirt flaring out at my hips.
But looking at myself now, it was the first time I’d ever felt truly beautiful.
As foolish as it was, I couldn’t wait to show Levi.
“Let’s go,” I said with a new wave of determination, grabbing the small peony bouquet off the sink. We left the bathroom, where Emmett, Beau, and Weston were waiting for us, holding up the opposite wall with their big bodies.
Before I knew what was happening, Emmett’s body smacked into mine, pulling me up into a hug while he spun me around in the air. My laughter cut short when he set me down, and I saw the tears in his eyes. Emmett never cried. Not when he left for the Army, not when Daddy died, not when Mama died. Never.
I gripped his arm, panic flaring in my chest. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re just so beautiful,” he whispered shakily. “When did you get so grown up?”
I brushed his tears away, trying to stop my own from falling. I smiled softly. “Sometime in the last twenty-six years.”
