Page 112 of Chasing Lynda

“Right. But Dodge and I talked to her and told her that we want a very small, very private wedding. Just your family and the guys.” In reality, we told his parents that I’m in the witness protection program under Mr. Fletcher’s suggestion. They were satisfied that their lawyer had run a background check on me and that was it.

Callie’s eyes widen in surprise. “What? And she agreed? I can’t believe it.”

I explain that it wasn’t easy. “We had Mr. Fletcher help us explain my situation.”

I told Callie the same thing her parents know. She has no idea that I’m worried about being “stalked” by my ex.

“I’m glad Mom understood, Lynda. It’s your special day and you should enjoy it without fearing for your safety. But what about the engagement party?”

I sigh. “I vetted the guest list and we agreed to no press and no social media. Guests will be asked to leave their phones outside.”

Callie smiles. “Well, I suppose the thing my parents enjoy more than being in the spotlight, is telling people what to do; so keeping your engagement and wedding completely private is probably even better than the big fanfare they’d normally have around something like that.”

I shrug. “As long as I’m not on every paper in the state and on every social media, I’m ok.”

She nods. “So did Mom send you here to remind me of the appointment with the stylist?”

I shake my head. “No. I wanted to ask you something. My ... uhm, situation makes having my friends at my wedding too risky. So I was going to opt for not having any bridesmaids. Your mom was very unhappy with that. She had a list of people she wanted to ask, I guess the daughters of her friends, but after Basil explained my situation ...”

I smile at Callie’s eye roll. “After a lot of debate on the subject, we settled on one single bridesmaid. I was wondering if you’d want to be our maid of honor?”

Callie gasps, a hand on her chest. “Really? Me?”

Her reaction is heartwarming. I can see how much she adores her twin brother, even when she gives him a hard time.

“Yeah, Dodge and I can’t think of anyone else we’d want by our side.”

If Aaron wasn’t a constant threat, I’d have reached out to Ausra and McKayla; but obviously that’s too risky on the off chance that my ex could be still watching them, despite thinking that I’m dead.

“I would love to be your bridesmaid!” Callie wraps her arms around me with a little squeal and I giggle, delighted by her excitement.

“So, you and my brother ...” she says, sitting on the ottoman by my side. “I know it’s none of my business, but ... is it just because of Pop-Pop’s will?”

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose as I think about the right words to explain it all. “Yeah but not entirely,” I finally say.

Callie tilts her head to the side in a silent question.

“We like each other, Callie. A lot. When I had to leave home, it was to end a very toxic, very dangerous relationship. Dodge was the first person I felt like I could really let in.” I realize how true that statement is when I think about the fact that I chose him to be my first. “He felt the same connection from the first time we met and ...” I’m not going to lie to her. “Of course we both know that without that clause in your Pop-Pop’s will, we wouldn’t be engaged and about to get married now. But we talked about it and if circumstances were different, we think we could’ve been in the same position anyway, even if not quite so quickly.”

She nods. “Sometimes life works in mysterious ways. That clause caused my family so much stress, but who knows, maybe Pop-Pop knew something we didn’t? Either way, I think he would’ve liked you, if he’d been here with us.”

Her words mean a lot to me and I inhale sharply to keep at bay the tears that have formed a lump in my throat. “I had very protective friends back home,” I offer. “I know they’d have liked Dodge and the guys.”

My words cause Callie’s smile to fade. “Lynda, like I said before, I don’t want to meddle with shit that doesn’t involve me, but ...” Her gray eyes flash with determination in an identical way to Dodge when he makes up his mind about something. “I have to ask you. I noticed that all the guys are interested in you. Does the wedding mean that whatever you had with each of them is over?”

I wonder if she’s harboring hope about having a chance with Bennett. Either way, we’re going to be family, so I feel like at least on this, I owe her the truth. “Dodge and I have an understanding. Like I said, we’re getting married now because of the will. I like him enough that I could see myself ending up with him, but—”

“But you feel the same way about Carter, Bennett, and Zane.” She concludes for me.

There’s no point in lying to her. “Yeah,” I say softly. “Dodge agreed to let me continue to explore things with the others, behind closed doors. In return, I won’t choose until the five years of the clause have elapsed; unless I choose him.”

Callie looks perplexed and I don’t blame her. “Right. Look, Lynda, I’m going to stay out of this from now on, so please don’t take what I’m about to say as judgement, but ...” Her eyes meet mine. “I see the way my brother looks at you. And the others. Carter kisses the floor you walk on. Zane has that look in his eyes, like he would tear to shreds anyone who tried to cross you. Bennett—” she lowers her voice, as if just the thought of Bennett causes her pain. “I’ve never seen Bennett so into one girl, normally there’d be a procession of girls doing their walk of shame every single morning. And it isn’t just the thrill of the chase that’s keeping him from his usual sleeping around. He looks at you the same way Dodge does. This situation you guys were in and now the wedding—just please, whatever you do, whoever you choose at the end, don’t hurt them. I know they can be a bunch of cocky, overprotective assholes when they want to be, but they’re great guys. Any woman would be lucky to catch the attention of one of them; you have them all, so please look after them the same way I’m sure they’re looking after you.”

I understand exactly what she means. “I promise you that I will, Callie. To be honest, right now I care about each of them equally. In a way I’m glad I have five years before I have to choose, because right now, I wouldn’t know how to.”

Callie smiles. “Yeah, I can see why you’d feel that way. Of course had I been in your shoes, excluding Dodge for obvious reasons, you know exactly who I’d have gone for; but that’s me.”

Her gray eyes cloud with sadness for an instant and I grab her hand. “Callie, about Bennett, I—”

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