Page 54 of No Second Chances

“That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard.” My throat clenches around the words, and I blink back the tears that form.

Cassie Townsend, taken far too soon, was like a little sister to me. She and Casper were the other set of twins in our crazy families, and Danny and I looked out for them growing up. Twins had to stick together after all. And thinking of her always brought back memories of Danny.

Finally, the tailor lets me off the table, and all I can see is Kennedy. Kennedy holding a baby that will never happen.

Fuck.

I’m the most selfish man in the world. But I won’t let her go. Not after I’ve tasted the promise of forever on her lips.

24

KENNEDY

I will never, for the life of me, understand how people stand in front of a mirror and feel beautiful while wearing a bridesmaid dress.

All month while preparing for Parker’s wedding, I’ve gone along with what she wants. It’s her wedding. So we rush around and get measurements for dresses. I don’t care what they look like. Honestly, it’s Parker’s day, so I don’t bother even looking at myself in the mirror when I get my final measurements. All I can remember is the color gray, and maybe a purple accent.

We are so busy working, planning, and putting together the dream wedding she didn’t get with Danny that I barely have time to sleep, let alone think about anything to do with my relationship with Linc.

On top of everything, my little sister has her babies. Twin boys that we are all absolutely in love with. Which means there is even more for me to do to help prepare for my brother’s wedding. Especially since our mom is helping Casper with the boys.

“You look amazing,” Parker calls out from her side of the room, dragging me out of my thoughts and the only piece of quiet I’ve had since she dropped the surprise wedding on everyone. “Why can’t I look like you do?”

I try not to move; otherwise, the awesome woman trying to work wonders with my curls will stab me with a knife or something.

“Because you’re like seven months pregnant and finally starting to show.” I also eye the plate of French fries that sit in front of her pointedly. “And you keep eating like I do, so you’re gonna get fat like me.”

Parker shrugs, not caring in the slightest about the comment. She knows I’m not calling her fat and that I never will.

“How are the boys?” She starts to squirm in her seat, and the man putting on her makeup sighs good-naturedly and then sits back so she can get up to pee.

“They’re good,” I call out loudly. “Casper’s dealing with trying to boob feed them at the same time, and she said it’s like having the devil sucking on her tits.”

Emma and Vi both laugh at whatever Parker is doing, but I can’t see it from my position. So, I just have to wait for her to get back in my line of sight.

“That’s a terrible image,” Nia, my stylist, says with a grimace in the mirror. “You’re just about done. I wish all my clients had hair like yours. So thick and it just goes exactly where I want it to. I barely had to use any product.”

“Well, you’re a badass,” I tell her. “Because all I can get it to do is either curl or sit in a bun.”

I stare at myself in the mirror, and I have to admit that she’s made me look good. I can’t see everything because I have a gray robe on to cover the bridesmaid dress. But my face looks immaculate, with a slight blush and lipstick that complement my complexion perfectly.

“Holy shit, I’m the last one.” Parker groans when she sees that I’ve joined Emma and Vi just sitting there, doing nothing. “This isn’t cool.”

“You know, if you sat down and let Chris finish your hair, you’d have been done first, right?” I grab a bottle of water, hoping that maybe if I drink something, my pounding headache will go away. “Meanwhile, I still feel like I got hit by a truck.”

“That’s what you get for staying up until dawn for three days straight to make sure things were done.” Vi yawns and then leans against Emma’s shoulder, closing her eyes. “We could have been doing that now.”

“Yeah.” I roll my eyes even though they can’t see it. “Because it’s not like the wedding’s supposed to start in five minutes at all.”

Chris, Parker’s stylist, steps back and eyes everything critically before smiling. “You’re gorgeous,” he says. “And even if you moved constantly, I don’t think it messed anything up.”

We take off the robes and pick up the bouquets that we stayed up until three in the morning putting together, and I almost cry when I see how stunning Parker looks.

Her dress is pale silver, with hints of lace all around the bodice and down onto her train. The dark-brown hair that she refuses to cut is styled elegantly. Half up and half down, with braids and flowers cascading down her back.

We all turn right as the door opens and Nox sticks his blond head into the room. “Come on, Mom, you’re late.” His eyes take in the sight of all of us dressed up, and they turn to saucers. “Holy balls, you guys look good.” Nox steps into the room and makes a beeline for his mom. “Actually, Mom, you look beautiful.”

We get to see him in his tux for the first time, and my heart melts. The little trousers and the suspenders I can see poking out in the opening of his suit, which isn’t buttoned. To top it off, he has a bright-purple bow tie on, one that he picked out himself.

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