Page 20 of Forever Oblivion

“He’s so cute,” I cooed as I hopped from the bed. “I can’t believe he’ll be seven months old soon.”

“I was sleeping,” Kate muttered from the other side of the king-size bed. We’d all passed out last night in the middle of a movie, just like one of those slumber parties I’d never had before. Jenna must have turned off the TV when she collected Cash for his morning feeding.

“Gawd, girls. Eight full hours of shuteye. Delicious,” Kate said.

“Do it again later,” Jenna said with a shrug. She smiled at me, her eyes bright, though surrounded by fatigue. I guessed baby Cash hadn’t slept as well as Kate…or me.

“So, you’re getting married today,” Jenna said with a grin.

I bounced on the balls of my feet. “I am.”

Kate yawned. “I smell something good. Guess Mama and Steve are dueling it out for kitchen supremacy. I need some coffee and whatever yummy baked goods they’ve concocted. I’ll get yours, Aya, while you get in that gorgeous soaking tub. Jen, you want me to take my sweet nephew down to Mama so you can hop back in bed?”

“Please. And bring me at least two of something. Cash is sucking calories out of me. But make the coffee—”

“Decaf, I know. You can have that after your cat nap,” Kate said as she pushed her wild, fiery hair from her face. She headed to the bathroom and cleaned up there before going down to grab some food.

I offered Jenna the bathroom first, and as she stepped inside, I beamed—thrilled all over again to know I had these two women in my life. We were closer than friends. They could have had their own rooms, but they felt the connection, too, and had opted to stay with me.

After a few minutes Jenna strolled out of the bathroom and collapsed on the bed, pulling one of the pillows over her head. I left her there, hoping she’d sleep a bit more. It was barely eight, so she had some time. We’d planned the ceremony for eleven in yet another attempt to beat the paparazzi.

I set myself up in the beautiful tub and soaked in warm water until I heard a knock on the door.

“Time to hop out, honey,” Kate said. “We have to get you all gussied up.”

I stepped out of the tub, laughing softly at Kate’s word choice. She typically did it with a smirk and a wink because her Texan vernacular drove Rye wild. Maybe I’d pick some up to see if it had the same impact on Nash.

I stepped out of the bathroom wearing my wedding undergarments and wrapped in a red silk robe—a gift from Nash. My dress was laid out on the bed, and a plate of food sat next to the small Victorian vanity tucked near one set of bay windows.

“Eat up,” Kate said around her last bite of pastry. “I’m hopping in the shower. Then we’ll wake Ms. Bedhead over there.”

I sipped the tea—an herbal Steve had brought for me—and ate the delicate raspberry and white chocolate muffin, letting the flavors linger.

After a while Kate strolled out in a thick, white bathrobe and prodded Jenna to her feet. Jenna stumbled down the hall to another bedroom where she planned to get ready.

“Have you seen Nash?” I asked.

Kate nodded. “He’s downstairs, pacing. Cam and Rye are out on the property with Maddox, Bridger, and Jax.”

“Oh? Did Bridger bring a date?”

Kate shook her head.

“Huh. I wonder what happened to the woman from Nepal. They were thicker than thieves.”

“Maybe Bridger didn’t think this was the time to introduce her to all his friends.”

I let it go for now. I’d get the full story later.

Kate had wrapped my thick hair in rags last night to give it more wave. She began the process of removing the strips of cloth, cooing over the fat curls falling around my shoulders. I devoured a second muffin and finished my cup of tea before she finished braiding the sides and twirling certain strands back.

“I should have been a hairdresser,” she crowed. “Now, let’s get you in the dress.”

10

Nash

“Buying an island is pretentious,” Bridger said from his seat next to me.

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