Page 94 of Four Times Forever

Before anyone else could say anything, Matt jumped up with a smile stretched across his face. "Let's do it! We'll have to call your mom, get Eric's parents here, but let's not wait."

My mom. My stomach cramped. Uh, hm. Did I want her there? An urge to run to the bathroom overcame me at the mention of her, and I hurried out of the bed.

"You okay?" Matt asked. The guys got up after me.

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm okay," I released a breath to steady myself. "It's just my mom. I didn't think..."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you'd..." Matt began.

"No, it's okay. I should probably be the one to call her, huh?" I said.

My mind was everywhere as I headed for my phone. When I picked it up, I wondered if she had taken on another identity to stress me out as a notification chimed in at that moment. Another comment on the video I had posted, same user.

'I'm telling you, Lily. Run away from those men as fast as you can. They're dangerous.'

I gripped the phone and hit delete before tossing it on the floor and locking myself in the bathroom to calm down. Closing my eyes, I repeated the mantra, 'I won't let her get into my head. She will not ruin this for me.'

Chapter 58

Lily

It was surreal, standing there, facing the mirror in a wedding dress. I hadn't pictured this growing up. Yet, I knew in my heart, it was always meant to be this way. Me, about to marry my four men. Not in this dress though. It had too much lace around the neck and arms.

"Oh, darling. You look perfect." The maternal sniffle came from Eric's mother.

His parents had come as soon as they heard the news two weeks ago. Mrs. Fletcher had been by my side, helping me plan the whole thing ever since. It was going to be a bummer to tell her I didn't like this dress.

"You look just like I did when I married Charles. Oh, I have to get a picture." She pulled out her phone, blinking the tears away from her eyes and laughing as she did.

My eyes also filled with tears. I wished my birth mother would react the same way. I hadn't been able to reach her since I told her to leave. Straightening the fabric at my belly, I swallowed the saltiness and smiled for Mrs. Fletcher.

"Oh, look how beautiful you look!" She turned the phone toward me. "Doesn't she look beautiful?"

The bridal consultant beamed. "Absolutely perfect."

Well, damn. They might just convince me to get the damn dress.

"And have you decided on your maid of honor's dress?" She turned me toward the mirror.

I cleared my stinging throat. "I haven't heard back from Ann-Marie either." The tears sprang forth at the end of my words and I could kick myself. "Sorry."

"Oh, baby." Mrs. Fletcher turned me toward her and wrapped her arms around me. Despite the muscle she still managed to hold onto, the warmth seeped through me. This was what I would have wanted from my own mother. But I couldn't force her to be something she wasn't.

In the short time I'd known this woman, she'd been more of a mother to me than my own ever had been. Instead of letting that kill me, I held her tighter.

"Thank you so much for being here." I allowed my head to rest against her welcoming shoulders.

"Of course, sweetheart. Listen, you have made my son happy. And his friends." She pulled back and raised her brows. I scrunched my nose and one eye fell shut. I kept forgetting this wasn't normal. She pinched my cheek. "You've made me very happy. My husband. There's just something about you, kid. You're worth more than you know." She smiled.

I struggled to believe that.

She gulped down the rising emotion. Really, I didn't deserve this much of her attentiveness. If she knew me well enough, she'd leave. I'd spent my life blaming my parents. But what was the reason for my best friend ghosting me? Oh, fuck. Were the guys with me because I was good in bed or because they loved me? Shit, they were going to leave me too.

Where the hell were these thoughts coming from?

As if she could read them, Mrs. Fletcher held my shoulders firm. "You coming into our lives has been the biggest blessing. You've turned a pretty shitty year into one that makes me thankful I'm alive. I'm so happy to be here. We all are."

A shiver ran through my body at that and she rubbed my shoulders, thinking I was cold. I wasn't, just overwhelmed. "I need a moment." I gave a weak smile and she nodded as I turned away and headed back into the changing room.

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