Page 78 of Karma
Lex pulls out a necklace box and opens it to reveal a silver necklace with a heart-shaped pink diamond pendant encased in smaller white diamonds. It matches the dress perfectly, as though it was designed for it. “Something new.”
“Lex, this is so pretty.”
“I saw it and knew it was for your wedding. Even before we bought the dress,” she says with a smirk and helps clasp it behind Hailey’s neck. “And I brought something old and borrowed.”
Turning, Hailey watches Lex move to the bag she brought with her and wonders what she did to deserve the happily ever after. It was never something Hailey banked on, but she feels like she won the lottery.
She gasps when Lex pulls out the diamond earrings from her mom’s jewelry box. “Why didn’t I think to grab any of her jewelry?”
Turning back to the mirror to put them on, she feels her mom with her, and she wants to cry. And laugh. Today will be nothing short of a slew of emotions.
“Lex?”
The reflection of Lex appearing behind her shows a happy, proud woman. “Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“The earrings were in your mom’s jewelry box. It wasn’t hard to ask Gavin to let me in to snag them for you.”
She turns and fights the tears. “No, not just for that. For all of it. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you and Colt.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Yeah, I do. I almost lost you, and I was so scared. When I look at Nancy, I kick myself for how much I fought you. I still can’t understand why I did that.”
“Because you had harsh lessons early in life that taught you to expect the worst of people. It makes being disappointed and rejected a little easier to handle.”
Her lip quivers, and she takes Lex’s hand. “You never quit me.”
“And I never will.” She reaches out and tucks a stray hair behind her ear. “Your mom is so proud of you, Hailey. And so am I.”
She laughs and wipes her ears. “My makeup won’t last long today.”
“Probably not,” Lex says and hugs her. “That’s okay. You’re the bride. You make the rules today.”
Colt pops his head into the room after a quick knock on the door. “Ready to go? Your brother’s waiting to walk you down the aisle.” He stops, eyes wide. “Wow.”
Looking down, Hailey smooths her dress. “You like it?”
“You look like a princess, Hailey. This is not a clubhouse wedding dress.”
“Told you so,” Lex says. “Both of you.”
Colt holds out an arm, and they walk from the room. “I don’t care that Gavin’s my godson, or that his dad is my best friend; If he hurts you, he’s fucking dead.”
They reach Lucas outside of the ballroom doors, and she hugs Colt tightly. “Thank you for not leaving us at that house.”
“You’re more than welcome,” he whispers and kisses her temple.
Lucas smiles when he sees her. He’s gone through a growth spurt, and he’s now taller than Colt by a good inch. He’s not quite as tall as Gavin, but he might get there.
“You look pretty, Hailey,” he says.
“Thanks, Luke.”
The plan had always been for Lucas to walk her down the aisle, but ever since she went shopping for her wedding dress with Lex, Hailey hasn’t felt as though it’s quite right. She wants Colt to walk her down the aisle, but she doesn’t want to disrespect their father.
“It’s okay, Hails.”
