Page 38 of Everlasting Love

I flush as embarrassment creeps its way through me. “Sorry about that.”

She shakes her head, a furrow forming between her brows. “Don’t be sorry. I just wanted to say that my parents have always had a strong and loving relationship, yet before Oliver came along, I didn’t believe I’d ever have what they have. I know how hard it can be to meet someone decent. Trust me, I had my fair share of douchebags.” She chuckles. “Boy, did I give Oliver a hard time in the beginning. But … he persevered”—a smile tilts her lips upward—“and I’m so grateful he did. Real love. A strong and happy love really can be found. It may even be right under your nose.” She winks at me. “Now, let’s go get our siblings married so we can see our guys.”

I laugh along with her as we reach the closed door of the room in which Cassia is dressing. The girls are patiently waitingfor us to open it, which Kate does with a flourish. As the door swings back revealing my sister, I freeze in place.

She looks like a goddess.

“Oh my gosh, you two look so gorgeous.” Cass gasps as she scans Kate and me from head to toe.

Daisy runs forward, straight for her mom—“Mommy!”—and even though Cass is wearing her wedding dress, she scoops her up and fusses over her.

Poppy joins in and signs, “You look like a princess, Mommy.”

Cass signs with one hand as she speaks. “Thank you, Baby Girl. You look like a beautiful princess yourself.”

“I’m not a baby anymore!” She frowns as she quickly signs to her mom, which I guess is a fair statement since she is nine.

“You’ll always be my baby girl,” Cass says as she signs while I chuckle because that’s exactly what Mom used to say to us when we didn’t like being called her babies.

Kate holds out a gift to Cass. “Cassia, my brother’s gonna pass out when he lays eyes on you.” She chuckles, then hands her the small box. “Toby asked me to give this to you today while we’re getting ready.”

Cass opens the box, and her lips tip up as she runs her finger over a delicate piece of jewelry. Kate and I peer over her shoulder to spot a platinum necklace that has the wordMrsin script joined between two delicate chains and we giggle. “As if the rings on your finger won’t tell people you’re married, he has to add this piece to the mix,” I say through my chuckles.

She holds the necklace out to me with a wide grin. “Would you mind putting it on for me?” I take it from her, drape it around her neck, and close the clasp securely. After it’s in place, she studies herself in the mirror, smoothing down her dress. “I’m ready. I’m so ready to become Mrs. Toby Summer.”

“All right. Let’s get you to my brother.” I’m not sure who’s more excited about this wedding—my sister or Kate.

Cass asks if we should tidy up but Kate waves her off, telling us that Oliver has it covered—they’ve literally thought of everything. I can’t believe Cassia’s even thinking about it; I certainly wouldn’t be. Tidying up would be the last thing on my mind if I were getting married. I’d be in too much of a rush to get to my man.

Beth—Toby and Cassia’s wedding planner—meets us at the back of the house, ready to guide us through this last part and we get our first look at the backyard. It’s beyond stunning and judging by Cass’s gasp, she’s happy with how it all turned out. The pots of lavender lining the path are beautiful and the scent is going to be divine as we walk toward the dock.

“Oh my gosh, you ladies all look stunning. The shades of purple are beautiful.” Beth raises her eyebrows. “Are you ready to see your guys? They all look so …” She fans her face and we all giggle. Well, Shane’s not my guy yet, but that’ll change soon if I have anything to do with it.

“I’m so ready! Thank you for everything you’ve done to make it look so incredible and ensuring the day runs smoothly,” Cass tells Beth.

“You’re most welcome. It’s been my absolute pleasure.”

At the first notes of Ellie Goulding’s “How Long Will I Love You,” Poppy and Jas step through the door together and follow the path toward Toby, Oliver, and Shane. Kate collects Daisy in her arms and follows the girls, leaving Mom, Cass, and me. I watch Jas leap toward Shane who bends to catch her easily as Poppy does the same to Toby. The three of us chuckle at the girls. Once Kate is halfway down the path, I quickly hug Mom and Cass and step through the doorway with a smile on my face.

15

SHANE

Pullingmy shirt collar away from my neck as sweat trickles down my back, I shift my feet for what seems like the thousandth time. Looking across at my long-time friend and employer, I note he’s also shifting on his feet as a trail of sweat trickles down the side of his face. It’s hot as Hades today. I fucking hate the heat. It reminds me of a time I’ve been working hard to forget. I don’t know why they didn’t choose to have their wedding in an air-conditioned room instead of Kate and Oliver’s backyard. I get that it’s a beautiful location and that it’s private and has a great view, but it’s unseasonably hot today.

“You worried she’s realized she can do better than you and won’t show?” I snicker. I know she won’t find a better man than Toby. She knows he’s the best and that he would lay the world at her and their daughters’ feet if that’s what she asked of him.

His eyes snap from the back of the house to mine. “Fuck off.” He adjusts his jacket. “I’ll hunt her down and drag her ass here myself if she doesn’t show. I’ll even let you use those skills of yours to help me.” He chuckles. My body locks tight and myheart beats increase marginally at his words. It’s not often he brings up my past, he knows not to. “Sorry, Shane. I didn’t mean it like that.” He brushes his hand through his hair, messing up his man bun. “I guess I’m nervous.”

Giving him a sharp nod, I concentrate on releasing the breath in my body, relaxing my muscles one by one, and returning to the lighter mood of before. I remind myself that I’m as far away from that shit hole as I can possibly be. That my life is easier now.

Finally, the music begins to play. I lift my eyes to the back deck of the house, and I can’t stop my lips from tilting upwards at the sight of Poppy and Jasmine making their way along the lavender-lined pathway toward us. Both girls look as cute as can be in their matching pale purple tutu dresses, complete with little white flowers in their hair. If you’d asked me two years ago if I knew what a tutu was, I would have thought you were crazy—but here we are. It’s easy to tell they’re cousins with their matching smiles. They run the last few yards, Poppy, leaping for Toby as Jas does the same toward me. This little girl is full of so much energy and joy, and from the very first instant she met me, she gave me the ultimate gift—her trust. She easily sucked me into her vortex with her sparkling eyes and mischievous smile, much the same as her mother did. She calms me and eases my mind; the effect someone so small has on me is mind-boggling.

“Hello, Shane.” She smacks her lips against my stubble.

I laugh quietly at her excited hello. “Hey. Who’s this pretty girl?”

“It’s me, Jasmine! You remember me.” She squeezes my cheeks in her little hands, and I chuckle, then place a kiss on her forehead. She drops her face, giving me a shy smile, which is unlike the little girl I’ve come to know since Toby and Cassia reconnected.

---