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She laughed, and my ears were full as she said, “Okay, you’re both exactly alike, but I don’t want you to notice.”
I squeezed her gently. “I met all of Hope’s friends, and you’re the most interesting woman in your circle.”
She batted her eyes. “You find me interesting?”
The previous night should have proven that to her. My skin buzzed as I asked, “What about you? How are you enjoying this garden wedding with me?”
She smiled. We started to circle back to my family, and she said, “I’ve never been to anything like this. Your family is great.”
My heart beat differently that day. Having Avril at my side made all the difference. I kept my thoughts to myself because I wasn’t sure what to say, but when we made it back to the thinned-out group, I asked her, “Are you ready to answer the press’s big questions, like what you’re wearing?” I walked her inside. '
“Wait. There’s a quiz?” she asked.
I nodded, and we stepped in line. Stylists checked us out to ensure that we were all picture-perfect. I said, “Maman decided the best way to handle the press outside for the wedding was for each of us to talk.”
Once the stylist left Avril and we moved closer to the door, she whispered, “Won’t this make the blogger even more mad at me?”
I pressed against her. “Do you have any more secrets to share?”
Her eyes widened. “Secrets?”
“Yeah.” I gazed down at her, half wondering if there was any reason not to like her.
She shook her head and then turned away from me. “No, except can you read the label on the back?”
I laughed and then unzipped her top and read. I zipped her back up. “Valentino.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I picked the pretty one.”
I kissed her shoulder. “So did I.”
She pinkened as we walked out the door. Once she saw cameras, she smiled and walked with her hand on her hip. As we made it to the spot marked for us, the first reporter asked, “So, Miss Lawson, who are you wearing?”
She had a gleam in her eye like she would laugh if we were alone. “Valentino. I thought this purple was perfect for an afternoon wedding.”
And I realized two things: she was fun, and I loved her.
Another reporter asked, “So, any comment on the rumor that you’re a bad influence on Kir?”
My heart thundered. I took her hand and glared at the woman, though we kept our distance. “I’d say whoever wrote that doesn’t know the adult Avril, who’s a good influence on me and on everyone around her.”
Avril’s gaze had a twinkle. She quietly asked, “You think I’m a good influence?”
I held her closer, like I’d protect her with my life. “Absolutely. Avril had a rough time as a teenager, but she’s grown into a wonderful woman to anyone that knows her. But now we have to go in and take our seats.”
We headed outside. I had no idea what she’d think if I told her my sudden realization.
She asked, “Do you often have to do things like that?”
I nodded, and we gazed around at the garden, which was ready for a wedding. “People are interested in the lives of the rich. I wish they weren’t, but it is what it is.”
She checked my tie at the back of the aisle with the white carpet for the bride. “So, yes, you do have to do things like that often.”
“Yeah.” I rubbed the back of my neck, and we walked to our aisle. I wouldn’t tell her just yet how everything was different for me now. “But in my general day-to-day, no. It’s mostly at charity events or places where we know there’s press. And we don’t want their helicopters, so today is a compromise.”
“Was it always like that?”
We settled in our seats, and I said, “Yeah, but as I get older, it’s easier to handle.”
