Page 59 of Sugar
“Your father was like that,” she says. “Rhett too. Vulnerability is incredibly hard for some people, especially when they’ve had to live through hard things. But don’t be afraid to show her that love isn’tjustscary, Kasey, if that’s what you want.”
I blow out a breath. “Thanks, Mom,” I say, giving her a small smile. I can’t help but wonder what she’d say if she knew Ava is pregnant, how that might change her mind about what we’re doing.
Either way, it wouldn’t matter.
Because I’m going to marry her, come hell or high water.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
AVA
“Let me curl your hair,” Layla insists, her expression hopeful as she stands in the middle of Kasey’s kitchen. “You’ve got such gorgeous long hair. We don’t even have to put it up!”
Olivia nods, looking from Layla to me. “I’m a disaster with makeup or really anything useful in this situation, but I can make us some lunch! Or can I open the bottle of champagne? I brought orange juice for mimosas.”
“Champagne?” I ask, my gaze bouncing back to Layla.
“I think I’ll just stick to orange juice for now, if that’s okay?” Layla asks.
Olivia nods, heading for the fridge. “You got it.”
Layla shoots me a knowing smile and I try not to scowl, wondering if she’s calling my bluff, baiting me to see if I ask for orange juice too. When I don’t say anything, she pulls out a chair tucked beneath the kitchen table and pats the back of it, as if to beckon me to sit. “It’ll take fifteen minutes. Twenty tops.”
“Fine,” I manage to let out, still trying to extricate myself from the self-induced pity party I’ve been stuck inside all morning. Nausea reared its ugly and vindictive head the moment I opened my eyes, and that discomfort paired with theemotional recoil of knowing I’m marrying Kasey today, even after everything we both said to each other the other night in this very kitchen, has been a lot to manage.
He gave up his cabin this morning so I’d have a place to get ready while he prepares for the day’s festivities at the main house with his brothers. I haven’t physically seen him since the night I told him I’m pregnant, though not for a lack of trying. I’ve texted him a few times to try to meet and continue our conversation with calmer heads, but he refused to answer, putting me on a communication timeout. I had half a mind to show up here unannounced again, but something told me not to push.
I move to sit in the same chair Kasey knocked over last time I was here, doing my best to block the memory firmly out of my mind.
“Thank you,” Layla says, giving my shoulder a soft squeeze before plugging in a curling iron she pulled out of her tote bag.
Olivia moseys over with two glasses, setting both down on the table in front of me. “The one on the left is just juice,” she chirps happily before heading back to the counter.
“Thanks!” Layla and I say in unison.
I stare at the cup on the right with dread, but then Layla reaches for it, using it to nudge the left one closer to me before pulling it up to take a drink.
She took the cup with champagne in it and left me the one with orange juice.
She helped me keep my secret.
I turn to look over my shoulder at where she stands behind me, wondering if she made a mistake. But she sips from her drink and winks.
A burst of emotion swells inside of me at her kindness. I’ve been wondering for days if she’d really put it all together in thatdressing room, and it’s a relief to know that not only did she realize the truth, but she’s also decided to keep it under wraps.
Thank you, I mouth.
She nods, then turns my head back around to part my hair into sections. “So, how are you feeling about today?”
“Honestly? Starting to regret that we didn’t just elope in the courthouse.”
“Why didn’t you?” Olivia asks.
“It’s important people think it’s real . . . I convinced Kasey that we needed to make a show of it.”
Layla curls a piece of hair around the iron. “Who’s all going to be there?”
I lift a shoulder. “It was posted to the church’s bulletin board as an open ceremony.”
