Page 66 of Her Movie Star's Secret Plan

Lauren reached Chase, and she took his hands as they gazed into each other’s eyes. Would Alexis ever have this moment in her life when she knew she would finally get to be with the man she deeply loved? She hadn’t realized until now how much she longed for that time to come for her. And she wanted it with Owen. She looked across the aisle to where he stood next to Kane. He was looking right back at her instead of at the bride and groom.

Was he thinking the same thing she was? Did he want this moment too? Alexis saw the longing in his eyes as he looked at her, and her heart ached for him. She wanted to take him in her arms and kiss away the pain she saw on his face. The pain that she was causing. She couldn’t stand to think that she was causing the man she loved so much pain. She was naturally a nurturing person, so she wanted to make sure all around her were cared for before herself. But she couldn’t do that for Owen this time. She had to be true to herself and her own dreams.

But would her dreams really have come true if she let Owen return to Hollywood without her? Was it still a dream come true to run her bakery without him? For the first time, she realized her dreams had shifted. She still wanted to run her bakery, but a life without Owen would never be a happy existence for her.

She had to tell him that. She would do whatever it took to keep both her bakery and this man. She just hoped she wasn’t too late.

Lauren and Chase exchanged their vows, and the pastor pronounced them man and wife. Chase took Lauren in his arms and kissed her as a cheer rang out through the crowd. A feeling of warmth and hope grew inside Alexis as she watched the ceremony come to an end. Chase and Lauren turned toward the audience and walked down the aisle together. She couldn’t believe her big brother was finally happily married. Who would have known how right she was to set them up on that blind date?

Owen stepped toward Alexis, and she realized he was reaching for her. She blushed at her blunder and stepped forward, taking his arm. She was so caught up in her realization that she truly would find a way to make a relationship with Owen work that she’d forgotten they would be walking back up the aisle together at any moment.

It felt good to walk with Owen by her side. She hadn’t realized how much she missed him while they were standing by the altar, even though they hadn’t been apart for that long. She craved him, his touch, his nearness. They entered the building, and Owen released Alexis’s arm. She felt the loss of him immediately. She resisted the urge to step close to him and take his hand. As far as he knew, they were broken up. But she hoped that status wouldn’t last.

“Congratulations, you two!” Tessa cheered at the newly-married couple.

Alexis turned to see her brother smiling. “Chase, come here.” She reached out to him and wrapped her arms around her brother. “I can’t believe you’re married! And to my best friend.” She took Lauren’s hand. “I’m so, so happy for you guys. I want every good thing for you.”

Penny reached her arms up to Chase. “Are you my daddy now, Chase?” He picked her up. “I’m your stepdad, but you can call me whatever you want.”

“I want to call you Daddy.”

“Okay, then.”

She wrapped her little arms around his neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Lauren and Chase met with the photographer, and Alexis spent the next hour posing for pictures or watching Lauren and Chase posing together. She didn’t get a chance to talk to Owen, but he was constantly on her mind. She was interviewed by the press about being the maid of honor and the sister of the groom while she was waiting for the reception to begin. She was able to get through the interview without botching it and felt a sigh of relief when it was over.

“Can I talk to you about something?” Owen asked, coming up to her.

“Of course.”

“Let’s go sit outside. We can see if that porch swing is available.”

They stepped outdoors, and a kid hopped up from the swing as soon as they approached. “Mind if we sit here?” Owen asked the little boy.

“Sure, it’s all yours.” The kid smiled at them and then ran off.

Alexis sat next to Owen. He took her hands in his. “I’m in love with you, Alexis. I thought I could go back to California without you and be okay, but the closer it comes, the more I realize how hard it’s going to be for me.”

“I feel the same way. I mean, I love you too.”

“You do?” His eyes held so much hope in them.

“I don’t want to be with anyone else. This is it for me, Owen.”

“That’s exactly how I feel.”

“So, what should we do?” Alexis asked.

“What if we tried a long-distance relationship?”

“We could do that. But that’s just a temporary solution. Eventually, we would come back to the same problem. We have careers on opposite ends of the country.”

“I guess you’re right.” Owen looked so disappointed.

“I don’t know how we could make it work, but I want to give it a try. I can’t stand the thought of you leaving. Not like this.”

“I’ll still have to go back. My time at the rental house is up, and I have appointments set up in California, but I don’t want anything to end between us.”

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