Page 1 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

Prologue

“Livy, you look beautiful.” Lena hugged me as she held Brandon. Careful not to crush the beautiful pink bouquet of flowers, I hugged her back.

She was always using my nickname. When I was a child, I couldn’t pronounce my name and I kept introducing myself as Livy. It stuck, so much that even my mother ended up calling me Livy. Except when I got in trouble, then it was Liberty Rain Smith.

“That dress was a perfect choice. The silk hugs your body like it is a part of you. You look stunning,” Lena complimented.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I was ready, just waiting on my hairdresser to come and help me with the veil. Callen kept hinting Scottish traditional weddings didn’t use veils, but this wasn’t really a traditional wedding. My dress was very much modern. The elegant dress, with semi-embroidered fabric, accentuated my thin waist and hugged my hips, then fell down my body in a generous flare. Come to think of it, nothing about mine and Callen’s relationship was traditional. After we got married, our plan was to continue living as we did. I would travel back and forth between London and Edinburgh, while he remained in Edinburgh.

Brandon, Lena’s baby boy, reached out to grab the dress and a warm feeling instantly bloomed in my chest.

“He is beautiful,” I murmured, leaning against his forehead, then looked up at my adopted sister. “Thank you for making me his godmother.” He was the best thing that could have happened to our family since my mom’s death. Getting through that was hard for both me and Lena.

“You are the only one that will ever qualify as a godmother for all my children,” she replied, chuckling as I placed a gentle kiss on my godchild’s forehead. “Why are we talking about that on your wedding day? Oh my God, it is your wedding day. I am so happy for you.” She wrapped her arms around me again.

I swallowed a lump in my throat.I was happy, right?

Something was off. I could feel it. The last few weeks had been a struggle, and I couldn’t quite pinpoint what was wrong. I felt on the edge all month, and I buried myself into work, hoping it would pass. The feeling only kept getting stronger. I barely saw or heard from Callen, which made the feeling even worse. I missed his voice, and the comfort his arms could give me. I needed his reassurance, and I couldn’t get it lately.

“What’s the matter?” she asked me, that ever knowing look in her eyes.

“Nothing.”

She opened her mouth and I knew what to expect from her. She would drill me until I told her what was bothering me. Problem was I couldn’t quite figure it out. I’d had a dumb feeling that I was missing something important and couldn’t shake it off.

The door opened and saved me from explaining more.

“There are the two most beautiful women in my life and my son.” Larry’s voice made Lena promptly melt in front of my eyes as she turned around to face her husband. Larry’s eyes were full of love as he gazed at his wife and his son.

Callen never looks at me like that, the thought hit me unexpectedly.

I watched as Lena and Larry gushed over their little boy. All the while my mind kept whispering things I didn’t want to hear. My throat closed, making it hard to breathe, my chest tightening, tears threatening to appear.

What was wrong with me?It was my wedding day!

Lately, I felt like I was falling apart. It was wedding jitters that everyone talked about.It must be.

I focused on the three individuals who were such an important part of my life. You could just feel the love surrounding them. It was the kind of love everyone dreamt about and hoped for. It was the kind of loveIhad been dreaming about since I was a little girl.

Larry’s eyes lifted, meeting mine. “Livy, you look beautiful.” His voice was soft with just a hint of worry there. “If he ever makes you cry, I will have to beat him up. Regardless of how good of a guy he is.”

I had to smile despite my current emotional state. “Thank you, Larry.”

For the oddest reason, I felt so alone today; although I barely had a moment alone since I opened my eyes this morning. I missed my mom. I needed her assurance, her voice telling me I was doing the right thing. She told me once that life was only worth living with a person that consumes all your feelings and all your passion. Lately, I only felt consumed by worry.

“Livy, is something troubling you?” Lena’s voice brought me back to the present. Her eyes drilled into me. “You ought to be over the moon on your wedding day, and all I see in your eyes is worry.”

I quickly forced a smile. “Oh, no. Everything is good.”

Layla burst through the door at that moment, and I felt saved again… at least for the moment.

“Hey, you gorgeous, sexy woman,” she exclaimed loudly. “I can’t believe I am the last single one in the group. You better not get knocked up like Lena. Then, I’ll really be pissed.”

I rolled my eyes at her. Some days she still acted like we were in college, single girls who were only interested in passing the semester and partying hard.

A knock on the door had us all turning our heads towards it.

Callen’s blonde hair peaked through. “Liberty,” he called out, his voice full of worry.

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