I nodded. That made sense. His eyes softened when he turned them back to me. “You look beautiful, by the way.”
I smiled and looked down at myself. Only my hair and makeup were done. We were going to put the dress on at the church, which Liam was carrying in his arms right now.
“Thank you.”
His eyes shifted about once more, taking in his surroundings. He seemed… restless. “Hurry and get inside the church. I don’t want you outside unless you absolutely have to be, okay? And definitely not unless you have either Liam or myself with you.”
I nodded, agreeing. “Okay.”
Rachel hooked her arm through mine, and we headed inside the church, with Liam following behind with the dress. There was a small room in the back of the church that Angie had set up as a bridal room for me.
Rachel shooed Liam out as soon as he placed the dress down. He nodded at me before closing the door behind him. I had no doubt he would stay in front of it for the rest of the time it would take us to get ready.
I turned to the body-length mirror in the corner and looked at my reflection. For once, it didn’t make me want to look away.
My lips were painted a deep shade of red that stood out against my pale skin in the most flattering way, and my blonde hair was curled in loose ringlets. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had it curled like that.
I looked pretty.
I blinked, and suddenly, Rachel was standing behind me, tears shimmering in her eyes.
“You are absolutely stunning, my girl.”
I smiled.
“You are going to drive my boys crazy.”
I laughed a little. “Don’t you…?”
I looked down, not knowing how to bring it up.
“Yes?” she asked, taking my hand and turning me around to look at her.
“Don’t you think it’s…oddthat I’m with them? With all three of them?”
“It’s none of my business. But if you are asking whether you’ll get any judgment from me, I’m sorry to disappoint. I’m just really happy that they’re happy for the first time in years.”
“They do look happy, don’t they?”
Was it selfish of me not to think about that until now? It shouldn’t just be my happiness that mattered.
Rachel nodded. “They look happy. Maverick doesn’t look so serious all the time. Killian doesn’t look like he hates the world and everyone in it. And Silas finally looks like he has found his worth. His purpose. That he’s not just aimlessly walking around in life, waiting for his brothers’ orders.”
I looked down at our hands. I hadn’t really thought about that.
“Thank you,” I said to her. I never knew she could be my biggest ally, but she was. “And if… if it’s okay with you, will you walk me down the aisle?”
“Oh, sweetheart. Nothing would make me happier.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks then, and I shot her a stern look. “Don’t cry. If you do, I’ll cry, and I don’t want to ruin the pretty makeup you put on me.”
She gave me a watery laugh. “We wouldn’t want that, now would we?”
I shook my head, laughing a little. “No, we wouldn't want that.”
This was going to be a happy day. The last thing I needed was tears.
I took in a deep breath,trying to calm my nerves as Rachel, Angie, and I stood behind the closed doors leading to the church.Angie was listening to something in her headphones before she turned to me. “Ready?”