Page 36 of The Love Chase

This was turning all my secret dreams into a joke.

Remember why you’re doing this, Emma. Peace of mind and stability. Storm chasing—your new dream.

Maya’s eyes were filled with questions, probably sensing my inner turmoil like only she could, but I just smiled and led them to the house.

A happy cry echoed as soon as I walked in the door.

“There’s my beautiful girl!” my mom said from her spot on the couch, her empty wheelchair parked in the corner. My mom was the one person here who didn’t know this was fake. Instead, I let her think that we were marrying for real, and that we didn’t want to wait anymore and that’s why it was such a quick wedding.

I felt terrible lying to her, but the last thing I wanted was to stress her out, especially when she was finally doing better.

I crossed the room to hug her. “Hi, Mom.”

Her arms were surprisingly strong as she squeezed me into her side. “I can’t believe my baby girl is getting married.” I pulled back to find tears lining her eyes. “I knew you and Liam would end up together one day.” She booped me on the nose. “Once you two were done being dummies, that is.”

“Mom,” I chided, and she laughed.

“I’m just speaking the truth. You’ve been by each other’s sides since you were kids. It was only a matter of time.”

I could only manage a half-hearted chuckle. “You’re crazy, Mom.” I wasn’t about to burst her bubble of happiness. I’d let her think that Liam and I were in love. We already had to convince the world; why not her too?

“I’m so happy for you, my dear. I know it’s been rocky since Liam left Meridel, but I know he’ll treat you right. He’s always been a good man.”

I was pretty sure my mom never saw the tabloids, and I certainly wasn’t about to tell her about the bad reputation he’d earned.

“Yeah, he has,” I said, trying to move us away from the topic of Liam. I didn’t want to feel like I was lying to her anymore.

“I see the way he looks at you, Emma bear. That boy loves you.”

I barely refrained from shouting, What?!

What the heck was she talking about? Liam didn’t love me like that. We were friends, that was all. He didn’t look at me in any certain way. But of course, I couldn’t say any of that because she thought we were getting married for real. So, instead, I swallowed the lump in my throat and gave a single nod.

“I just wish your father could be here,” she said with a quiet sniffle. “He should be here to walk you down the aisle.” Mom put her hand on my cheek. “I’m so sorry he’s not.”

The sudden ache in my heart threatened to make it burst out of my chest, and tears filled my eyes. I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, but it was the hardest part of this wedding for me. Fake marrying Liam was easy in comparison to facing my wedding without my dad. Yes, he’d died when I was just a kid, but I had enough memories of him to miss him terribly, and the fact that he wasn’t here for such an important occasion…it tore at my insides.

“If my legs were stronger, I could—”

I put a hand on my mom’s knee. “It’s okay, Mom. I wish he was here too, but it’s enough that you are. I couldn’t do this without you.”

Mom’s eyes filled with more tears, and she pulled me in for a hug. We stayed like that for several moments before Bridget’s obnoxious voice filtered in from outside, barking orders at the chefs.

I gave my mom a final squeeze before pulling away. “Come on, it’s time for the rehearsal and then we can stuff our faces.”

“My favorite pastime,” she commented with an excited clap of her hands.

I chuckled as I helped her back into her wheelchair and started steering her outside when Liam stepped through the door—dirty jeans, cowboy boots, and all.

“Here, let me,” he said, our hands brushing as the wheelchair exchanged hands.

I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a zing that went through my arms at the touch. Did he feel it too? Or was it only in my head?

“Thanks,” was all I could say.

Liam gave me that familiar half-smile before steering my mom outside.

I may or may not have appreciated the view as he walked away from me.

---