Page 170 of Marry Me, Maybe?
His eyes softened, shining in the glow of the lights. “Tomorrow,” he echoed.
“I’m too jealous for this.” Rowan grabbed my arm and pulled me away from Matty. “At least wait until tomorrow for me to send you off in style before I wallow in a tub of ice cream about my sad, lonely life.”
Chuckling, Matty walked out with a promise to call me later. When he was gone, I turned to Rowan and glared. “If I’m a pain in the ass tonight, it’s your fault. I could be walking down the aisle tomorrow with a blissful grin on my face caused bythatman. Instead, I’ll go down the aisle with blue balls!”
“Such a drama queen.” Rowan flipped his hair. “I’m doing this for your own good. Make him wait a little, and he won’t be able to take his hands off you on your honeymoon.”
“We don’t need a honeymoon for that. He already can’t keep his hands off me.”
“Now you’re just bragging. You make me sick.”
I couldn’t help my grin. In the past four weeks of his planning our wedding, we’d grown closer to him and become more acquainted with his antics. But truly, he was one of our biggest supporters, insisting that he throw us the best wedding money could buy with just four weeks to plan. Matty and I would never have been able to pull off this wedding without him.
“You know, this isn’t exactly the attitude we expect from our wedding planner,” I teased.
“Bite me.”
Rowan’s guestbedroom was all sleek lines and lavender linen, smelling faintly of sandalwood. I sat propped against a ridiculous pile of pillows, phone in hand, grinning like an idiot at the screen.
Hudson:Rowan’s home is really nice.
Hudson:He made me get a massage. Said it was his gift to me for our wedding.
A bubble popped up almost instantly.
Matty:Excuse me? Where’smywedding gift?
I snorted, typing fast.
Hudson:Perks are for the one walking down the aisle.
Matty sent back a furious red-faced emoji. I barked a laugh, muffling it in the pillows.
A knock startled me, and I shoved my phone under the blanket like a guilty teenager. “Come in.”
The door opened, and Rowan leaned against the frame, one perfectly arched brow raised. “Don’t even hide it. I could hear you tapping on that phone a mile away.” He stepped in, arms crossed, his usual sparkle softened by the low light. “So. How’re you feeling about your big day?”
I shrugged, suddenly sheepish. “Excited. Nervous. Like I’m about to explode out of my skin.”
Rowan smiled faintly, then sat at the edge of the bed, his voice gentler than I’d ever heard it. “You know, you’re lucky. Not everyone gets to marry the love of their life. Some relationships…” His gaze drifted, unfocused. “Some of them end in bruises, hospitals, prison cells.”
A shadow passed over his face, and for a second, I swore I saw a crack in his usual peppy armor. My chest tightened. “Rowan?—”
He waved me off with a chuckle. “Enough of that. This isyourfairytale, not my tragic opera. Get some rest, Hud.Don’t stay up all night texting your fiancé. I want you to look radiant tomorrow.”
I smirked. “Radiant, huh? To be fair, Row, I’ll never look as good as you.”
“Why would you want to look like me? You’re gorgeous in your own skin, and that’s what Matty loves. Everyone needs someone who loves us for who we are.” He rose to his feet. “Now turn that thing off and straight to bed. Beauty sleep isnotoptional.”
I waited a few minutes after he left, then picked up the phone again, more careful in how hard I tapped the screen.
Hudson:Rowan just threatened me with beauty sleep.
Matty:He’s right. Go to bed. Biggest day of our lives tomorrow.
Hudson:That was the day I met you. I love you.
I set the phone down, determined to sleep. Rowan was right. I wanted to be at my best for our wedding.
