Page 3 of Between Now and Always

“Why? Have you got kidnappers standing by?” I ask, only half kidding.

His doesn’t smile. Instead, he gives me a slow once over.

Self-conscious and offended, I reach up to smooth the french twist that’s holding my hair. “It’s rude to stare, Phil. Don’t teach Cam all your bad habits,” I scold.

“You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen, and if you want to do this, really want to, for whatever reason, I’ll support you,” he says, his voice no longer mocking and look back to find his eyes full of what looks a lot like resignation.

This is what I’ve been hoping he would say. So, why does hearing it make my soul shudder? The smile I give him is stiff, but it’s the best I can do when my insides feel like they’re turning to water.

“Thank you, Phil,” I say.

“Does your face hurt from forcing yourself to smile when you’re dying on the inside?” he asks with compassion savage enough to swallow my composure in one bite.

My smile, the one I was wearing for Cameron’s sake, falls away.

“Fuck you,” I mouth, press a kiss to the top of Cam’s head and turn to walk inside.

“Liz, wait,” he calls out after me but I don’t stop until I’m inside. I press my forehead to the cool glass pane of the door and find myself struggling to pull my breath into my lungs.

“I’ve been looking for you.” Serene’s soft voice is urgent and puts a hand on my shoulder. I blink to clear the emotion from my eyes and force my lips to curve upward before I turn to face her.

Her expression is neutral and she smiles, but I can see the sympathy in her gaze. I wish everyone would stop acting like this is a funeral.

But if it’s not a funeral, what is it?

I force away that traitorous thought. I’ve made my choice.

I don’t care what they think.

“What did you need?” I ask her in a brisk voice.

“Where’s Phil?” she asks, instead of answering my question.

“Phil?” I ask, confused that she’d be looking for him.

“Right here, I’ll walk her in.” Phil strolls up, Cameron clinging to him still and puts an arm around my shoulder.

“I don’t need anyone to walk me.” I try to pull free, but he holds on tight.

Serene smiles at him, like she didn’t hear me.

“Let me take Cameron, then,” she reaches out and peels a whining Cam out of Phil’s arms.

Serene blows a raspberry on her cheek and before they turn the corner toward the kitchen, Cam is giggling again.

“What’s going on?” I demand.

“Wheels are in motion,” Phil’s cryptic response makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“What does thatmean?”

“Come on.” He grins and grabs my arm and starts walking me down the wide hallway that leads to the family’s library.

“Where are we going?” I try to dig my heels in and stop him. But, he’s got more than a hundred pounds on me and my efforts are useless.

“This will only take a minute.” He says tersely as we enter the wing of the house where guests have been staying.

“What’s so important that it can’t wait?” I demand and he finally comes to a stop and looks down at me.

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