Ashlyn's eyes fly up, and she bites down on the corner of her lip. "The Pinterest boards."
"Your family expected this. Everyone did. You're the only one holding out. Stop denying it, baby. We're getting married. Time to embrace reality."
"I'm ridiculous, you're rubbing off on me."
It's on the tip of my tongue to comment about rubbing off in her, but I refrain. "You ready to go inside? Not sure if you noticed, but we've got an audience."
Her head swivels to the front window where my family is shamelessly watching, most with cocktails in their hands.
She nods, linking her hands with mine.
The instant we hit the bar area, she's surrounded by Darby, Maya, Stephanie, Mom, Annie, and Lynda. Maya reaches for her hand first.
"Nice job, Uncle Miller. Dad was wrong about her having to trade up."
This brings a chorus of howls from every man in the group. My niece looks at her dad, and I know he did this on purpose.
"No, Maya, she won't be trading up." I sucker punch Pierce in the arm.
He grunts, giving her a fist bump. She shines under his praise. An unfamiliar form of envy rises in my chest and I immediately know why.
My hand tugs Ashlyn from the group of women. All eyes are on us as I thread my fingers through her hair, then bring her forehead to mine, talking low. "You talk with these women tonight and figure out a way to get married soon. Whatever you want, but quick."
Her breath hitches, and she squeezes my hand. "How quickly?"
"Valentine's Day."
She wobbles, using me for balance. "No way."
"Yes!" Annie claps her hands, obviously hearing me. "We can do this!"
I kiss her again and twist her toward the gaggle of women, noticing my mom's eyes glistening. "Take care of her."
A loud roar of conversation erupts when I turn to the men. The only thing I distinctly hear is the weary cry from Ashlyn. "I'm marrying a man who never even asked."
At that, my Dad wraps his arm around my shoulder and heads to the bar where Todd and Edward are waiting with shots lined up.
"Excellent job, son." Dad approves, handing me a shot glass.
Chapter 28
Ashlyn
The party is in full swing. My parents' backyard is crowded with people celebrating my upcoming nuptials.
Tomorrow is my day. It's not only my wedding day, but it's also the anniversary of the night I met Miller. It's not the Valentine's wedding he wanted, but when I explained the significance of the date, he accepted it testily.
After law school and starting at Redmond, my time became so scarce, and I lost touch with most of my classmates and friends. Therefore, I missed all the wedding craze in my twenties. Maybe if I’d paid better attention, the planning wouldn't have been overwhelming.
Annie, Jill, and Mom have been relentless in their planning, making sure I have everything any bride could imagine. With Darby on maternity leave, she's been by my side every step of the way. If I thought I'd be bored after the house was complete, I was mistaken.
There's a reason brides take six to twelve months to plan a wedding.
Then again, those brides aren't marrying Miller Kendrick. Many times, I fell into bed exhausted and ready to elope. He'd take away the stress and convince me to deal with the insanity.
And that's what this is. Insanity.
That's why I'm hiding in my parents' kitchen, staring out the window at the party. The rehearsal went off without a hitch, but after dinner, when the formalities were over, I snuck off for a few minutes alone.
My mind races, traveling back in time. One year ago, I had no clue how my life would implode. Even October seems like a lifetime ago when I drove into Charleston to reinvent myself.
Tomorrow, I'm marrying the man who gave me my life back.
It's overpowering and beautiful all at once.
"Ashlyn?" Cole's quiet call breaks me out of my seclusion.
"Hey, sweetie, what's up?"
"Why are you in here? You're missing your own party."
"I stepped away to check on something in the house."
His blue eyes pierce into me, and like his uncle, he can tell I'm lying.
"Uncle Miller sent me to bring you back."
"Ahh, you were sent on a mission."
He shrugs.
In the seven months since I've known Cole, it's amazing how much he's changed. Sometimes he's a goofy eleven-year-old acting his age, but right now it's like staring at a mini-Pierce. He's young, yet handsome in his own way.
"Should we practice for tomorrow?"
He hitches his elbow my direction, and I link my arm through it. "You will be an excellent usher."
He rolls his eyes at my praise. "I'm gonna rock that tux."
My mouth splits into a wide smile. "You definitely inherited the Kendrick cockiness."
"Dad says it's not cocky if it's true."
"Mmhmm." I bump his shoulder, letting him lead us outside.
Miller grins approvingly when he spots us.
"She wasn't running away," Cole tattles.
"Of course I wasn't running away. It was a quest for a little time alone."
"Yeah, right," Cole mumbles, dislodging my arm and tipping his chin before leaving.
"Freak out over?" Miller brushes his lips over my knuckles.
"It wasn't a freak out. It was a few minutes of reflection. There's a vast difference."
"I want to dance with my fiancée." Miller leads us to the middle of the set-up dance floor, wraps his arms around my waist, and presses me close. "Did I tell you how gorgeous you look tonight?" His mouth grazes along my ear.
"You may have mentioned it."
"Did I also mention I fucking love your shoe collection?"
I smile against his cheek, remembering the way his eyes smoldered when he saw the rhinestone stilettos with the dress. "Wait until you see what I have packed for our honeymoon."
He moans, his chest rumbling against mine. "I'd planned on a naked honeymoon, but go ahead and pack the shoes."
I angle my face to his, ready to comment, but the smart remark dies on my lips. He's gazing down at me with a look I've seen many times over the months. Most times,
