Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
I look at Rhett fondly, unable to stop smiling. “I think I like hearing these stories. They make him real.”
“And lovable,” Vanessa adds, raising her glass. “But don’t let him fool you - he’s always been that way.”
Each story she goes on to tell me paints him in a light that makes me laugh until my cheeks ache. I glance at Rhett, who’s smiling indulgently, clearly enjoying being roasted by his friend. The atmosphere is warm, easy, and full of laughter. By the end of the evening, I feel a profound sense of connection, not just to Rhett but to the people around him. Vanessa’s warmth and humor make it feel like I’ve gained a new best friend.
As we clear the dishes away after we have eaten, I sit back and breathe deeply, my heart full. I feel secure and certain of the love that has blossomed between Rhett and me. No matter what else happens, I know that this is the life I want and the people I want in it. That love between Elliot and Camile that I envied earlier suddenly seems like it is also mine.
Chapter Forty-Three
Rhett
One Year Later
It’s the morning of my wedding. Everything around me feels heightened. The crispness of the air, the muted bustle of the staff moving about the venue, and the hushed, reverent tones of friends and family as they arrive. I notice all of these things, but inside, I’m almost unnervingly still. Not calm exactly, but anchored, as though some part of me has been waiting for this day my whole life and finally, finally, I’ve arrived at it.
Pippa and I chose a place in the Hamptons for our wedding, somewhere overlooking the water. We debated having it on the beach, but the thought of all of that sand in the food, all over her dress, and in everyone’s hair put her off.
Instead, we chose this place, which is the kind of venue that manages to balance grandeur with intimacy. When I first walked it with Pippa, I could already see her here with her hair catching the light, her laugh mingling with the breeze, her bare feet in the grass when she inevitably kicked her shoes off by the end of the night. Today, all of that has materialized.
The sweeping white stone terraces curve gently toward the ocean, and in the gardens, there is a pergola draped in soft white linen and climbing roses. In amongst all of this, chairs wearing white bows have been set up in perfect rows along the lawn. The flowers are fresh, the ocean glitters as if someone has scattered diamonds across its surface. The entire place is humming with expectancy and excitement.
I’m standing at the front with Max at my side. He’s unusually quiet, though his grin keeps sneaking out, betraying the fact that he’s both proud and itching to crack a joke at my expense. That’s probably why he’s staying quiet. If he gets talking, he won’t be able to resist winding me up. As if it proves me correct, he speaks up.
“You’re sure about this?” he murmurs, just loud enough for me to hear him.
I give him a look. “Obviously. Now shut up.”
He smirks. “Aye, aye, Captain.”
I let out a breath, scanning the rows as our guests arrive and settle into their seats. My parents are in the front row, my mother dabbing at her eyes already, my father sitting stiff and upright in his tailored suit as though he’s about to give a speech. Beyond them, I spot Harrison and Maria’s parents. Next to them is a handful of business associates I invited more out of obligation than desire. I look away quickly before I can make accidental eye contact with any of them. I spot Pippa’s mom sitting with pride so clear it radiates from her. She looks up and catches my eye. She smiles at me. I smile back and give her a thumbs-up sign.
Right on time, the music swells, signaling the start of the actual ceremony. My stomach is in knots, and my pulse is hammering away, not with nerves but with raw anticipation. The bridesmaids appear first, walking down the aisle one by one in their champagne-colored dresses.
Sandra comes first, her blonde hair swept into an elegant chignon. She carries her bouquet with an almost military precision, though her sly little smile when she meets my eyes tells me she’s already cataloguing material for some cutting remark later.
Lucy follows behind her, her curls bouncing, her laughter bubbling out even as she walks. She looks radiant, a little mischievous, and her presence feels like sunshine spilling into the ceremony.
Maria comes next, owning the bridesmaid’s attire in a way that’s impossible to ignore. She gives me a subtle wink.
Vanessa rounds out the line, a quiet elegance about her that’s different from her usual demeanor. She catches my eye, nods once, and for a fleeting second, I’m reminded of the unlikely friendship that blossomed between her and Pippa. I smile at the thought of it.