Page 24 of Beachside Kisses With My Best Friend

Okay, then. I’m ready to marry my best friend.

As ready as I’m going to be, anyway.

Twenty minutes later, I’m in the back of Blake’s car, with him and Lucy sitting up front. My brother’s eyes keep finding me in the rearview mirror, his gaze alternating between concern and a scowl. I know he, like Lucy, is hesitant about this, but when I asked them to be our witnesses, he still agreed after making sure it was what I really wanted.

It made me realize that I haven’t really focused on whatIwant in a long time. I’ve been too busy healing, trying to ferret my way out of the hole Donny dug for me. That I dug for myself.

And honestly, I don’t know if I really want tomarryJordan. But Idowant to help him, and this seems to be the best way to do that.

I also don’t hate the idea of having a little bit of flexibility to make a decision about my future. I talked with Pete from the bank on Saturday, and he confirmed that he’d happily give me a loan if Jordan cosigned. Of course, I didn’t mention that Jordan would be doing so as my spouse. You drop a bomb like that in Hallmark Beach, and everyone will know by lunchtime. For now, Blake and Lucy are the only ones who know. I don’t need any more voices in my head. It’s hard enough to make decisions without listening to everyone else.

No, I’m set on this, if only because my best friend needs me—and goodness knows he’s always been there for me whenI’veneededhim.

After driving for about fifteen minutes, Blake pulls into the parking lot of a tiny chapel. It’s north of Hallmark Beach, set along the coast between it and the next town over. Cutting the ignition, he turns in his seat. “Ready, Squirt?”

“Yep,” I say with all the brightness I can. Then I climb from the sports car and glance up at the decades-old building, which is on a bluff overlooking the ocean, flanked by coast live oak trees on all sides and encased in glass and wood. I haven’t been here in ages. There’s another church around the corner from Main Street where some of my friends and family attend services, but this one… This one’s special.

It’s where my parents got married. And, when I was ten, they renewed their vows in this very spot.

Ironically, I didn’t choose the location. Jordan did, and he made all the arrangements too. He thought it would be nicer than seeing a justice of the peace, and getting married on a Monday afternoon meant it happened to be available—and that Blake could be here, since Monday is the only day he closes the food truck.

Lucy and Blake follow me to the front steps, where Jordan is sitting, chin in his hands. He doesn’t look up at first, which gives me a chance to study him. It’s the rare occasion he dresses up, but he’s got on a dark suit that’s cut to perfection, hugging his muscles and accentuating his smooth, tan skin. His hair is tousled with gel, and something about the way it’s lying so perfectly makes me want to run my fingers through it. To loosen it.

My breath catches when he glances up, and I see the deep green tie he’s wearing.

It matches my dress exactly.

It’s a coincidence, I know, but something about it comforts me. Reminds me that Jordan knows me better than I know myself. That we’ll be okay, even when we’re doing something as crazy as entering into a temporary marriage of convenience.

His jaw twitches. He stands, sticking his hands in his pockets. “Lee, you look… Wow.”

I feel heat rise in my cheeks, which is ridiculous, because Jordan has definitely seen me in this dress before at some event or another. “This old thing?” I swish the skirt dramatically, just to lessen whatever new tension this is between us. Guess it makes sense. Maybe he’s nervous.

But he doesn’t need to be. It’s just me. And it’s just him. We areus—the same people we’ve always been.

I step forward to give him a quick hug, but before I can, he reaches around me toward Blake. “Thanks for coming, guys.”

My brother takes his hand but doesn’t release it right away. “I will always be here when my sister asks.” Then he pulls him in close and whispers something—probably threatening him as any good brother should. It makes me smile that he thinks he needs to warn Jordan about anything.

Jordan, who has always been careful with my heart.

Staring at the two men I love most in this world, that very heart twists and thumps, and I feel tears prick my eyes.

Lucy slips her arm through mine. “Come on.” She tugs me away from the men, who follow closely behind.

When we reach the doors, Jordan bounds up the stairs and opens the glass door with the wooden handle. Lucy and Blake head on in before us. Even from here, I can see inside the church. It’s small, with maybe ten red-backed velvet pews on either side of a short aisle, but every wall is made almost entirely of glass. When we step inside, Jordan’s hand brushes the small of my back as he leads me toward the front. And is it just me, or do his fingers rustle through the ends of my hair?

I shiver at the contact.

What’s wrong with me? This isn’t the first time Jordan’s touched me like that. But I suppose it’s the first time he’s touched me like thatas my fiancé.

Holy cupcakes, my fiancé. I’m about to get married again.

I stop walking toward the front, where Lucy and Blake have taken a seat in the front pew, and a skinny man with a clipboard, who looks to be in his thirties, is waiting under an arch of wood that gives a gorgeous view of the vista in front of us. The clouds from this morning have dissipated, leaving brilliant sunshine glinting off the surface of the ocean. At once, we are in the middle of a forest of treesandon the edge of the world. And it’s beautiful.

“Lee.”

“Hmm?” I turn to find Jordan close, looking down at me with eyebrows notched together. His cologne surrounds me, and I feel like I’m tucked into the hollow of a tree, safe and warm.

---