Page 72 of My Promise To Keep

‘Are you still worried about people knowing?’

‘Mostly just Buck, but Doug too.’

‘It’ll be fine, sweetie. I don’t think you need to hide this.’

‘I just want it to bed in, you know? And besides, I want Buck and Lu to have their day without distraction. We drop this bomb now, and all eyes will be on us.’

‘Yeah, I get that.’

‘Well, as we’re here and everyone in the room knows you’re bangin’, let’s have some details.’ Missy grins. ‘Come on, I need to live vicariously through your sexcapades since I have none of my own.’

‘I’m not telling you about my sex life.’

‘Zoe,’ Missy pouts, ‘you always tell us. Just because we know the guy this time doesn’t mean you get to keep it from us.’

I laugh, and Bree shakes her head.

‘Okay, fine. It’s fucking incredible.’

And just like that, I relax and spill the beans on the best sex I have ever had.

‘Holy shit. You’re asmoke show.’ Bree calls out before she leans over to hug me as I climb into her car.

‘Me? Look at you. Damn, girl.’ I respond taking in the sight of my hot twin. She grins as I admire her look. Her hair is hanging down in loose curls, her smoky eye makeup and red lipstick are perfection — she looks hot as hell. I just wish there were more single men in this town to appreciate how beautiful she is. I want to see her happy.

‘Leo is going to lose his damn mind when he sees you in that dress.’ She laughs. ‘How are you expecting him to keep his hands off you with that many tattoos on show?’

I cackle loudly. It’s no secret that he’s a sucker for exposed ink, and Imayhave chosen this short, lowcut, backless dress with the sole mission of driving him wild, and yes, I also may have chosen the beautiful green color because it reminded me of his eyes.

‘Well, I have to look at him in a suit all day, so it’ll be mutually torturous.’

‘Does Lucy still have no idea today is happening?’

‘Nope, I don’t think so. She thinks it’s like a bachelor/bachelorette party before they get it done tomorrow.’

‘Buck is so cute. She’s going to love him even more when she sees what he’s done for her.’

I smile. Buck and Lucy are the sweetest, and they deserve this and more. When my dad died, Buck stepped in to help Mama and support us kids. He was there for Doug, stepping in to be the man he really needed, and he always had a dad hug ready and waiting for me and Bree. When Luke died, I would sit on Buck’s porch, listening to the birds or the rain with his arm around my shoulder. He didn’t say anything unless I asked him a question. He would just be there, holding me when I needed him. It was Buck, and it was Leo. Without them, I wouldn’t have gotten through any of it.

‘You think he’ll forgive us, Bree?’

‘I know he will, honey.’

She squeezes my knee as she brings the car to a stop on Cara’s driveway, and I take a deep breath. It’s party time, and I am waiting for my secret date to arrive.

‘Oh my god, you two look so gorgeous,’ Cara squeals as she greets us at the door. We hug her and follow her inside. Doug and Bowie aren’t here yet. Doug wanted to bring Bo at the last minute so she wouldn’t tear her dress or the place down.

‘There are my girls,’ Mama smiles from the kitchen where she and Merv are pouring champagne into glasses. ‘Oh, my goodness. Look how beautiful you both are.’ She walks around to hug us, a little teary-eyed, and I wonder how many of those glasses she might have swiped.

‘Mama,’ I giggle as she holds on to us.

‘I’m sorry, weddings just make me emotional.’

‘Okay, come on, let’s head out back to wait.’ Merv puts an arm around Mama’s shoulders and steers her away, and Bree, Cara, and I follow.

‘Oh my god, Cara. This is so beautiful.’

We all helped pull it together. I arranged the drinks. Mama and Merv arranged the food. Bree coordinated the décor and the music and just so happens to be officiating, and Leo paid foreverything, but Doug and Cara took it upon themselves to set it all up. Leo, Bree, and I came up here yesterday to help out, but they pulled it out of the bag, adding lights and flowers and creating the most beautiful space.

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