“Alright, time for the first look! Ladies, go wait with the gentleman over there.” The photographer pointed toward Luca, who’d looked like he’d come out of a fashion magazine. My heart sped up as I stared at the man I knew I loved. “Faith, come with me for a second.” She whisked Faith away.
We walked across the sand over to Luca, and he hadn’t taken his eyes off me. There was something in his stare that wasn’t there before.
Eve nudged my arm with hers. “Is it just me or does Luca seem different?”
I shrugged before I walked straight up to him, grabbed his shoulders, and placed a kiss on his cheek. She was right, he did seem different, but whatever it was wasn’t something bad.
He reached forward and rubbed his knuckle down my heated cheek. “I missed you last night.”
“I missed you more,” I breathed, glancing back toward the beach.
Asher came out and a man faced him toward the crashing waves of the sea. A few minutes later, Faith came back out and walked toward Asher. She looked back at us with a giddy smile before she tapped on his shoulder. Even from back here, I could see them both shaking.
Luca let out a breath as Asher turned around. His reaction to seeing Faith made me tear up. His smile was the kind where you could watch his happiness grow. I could see how it came from deep inside his soul to brighten his eyes and spread into every part of him. A person smiles with more than their mouth, and I heard it in his voice, in the choice of his words and the way he gazed at my best friend.
“You look amazing,” he told her. “You’re always beautiful, but damn baby. This is stunning.” He grabbed her hand and helped her twirl around as he stared at her mesmerized.
She let out a sob of pure excitement as she wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, Asher.”
“I love you, Faith. So damn much. I wish I could kiss you.” He cupped her face in his hands.
“No kissing!” Eve shouted, and they laughed. You could actually see the pain in their eyes from not being able to kiss.
I hoped someone would look at me the way Asher looked at her, like she was everything. I glanced at Luca who was staring at me with his own breathtaking smile. There was something behind it that made me weak in the knees. “What?”
He shook his head, not taking his eyes off me. “Nothing.”
The corners of my mouth twitched upward. Maybe, I already had someone who looked at me as if I was his world—and that thought melted my heart.
Day Six
1:15 PM - 1:35 PM - Ceremony
The sun was high in the sky, beating down on us. It was a perfect summer beach wedding. On either side of the aisle, the guests sat in those white chairs on the sand. Asher and the officiant were already waiting at the altar. We had just a couple of minutes before the wedding ceremony started.
“Okay, Faith, you need to breathe.” Jamie fanned Faith with a piece of paper.
“I can breathe.” Faith took a few calming breaths as Eve rubbed her back. “Shoot, I didn’t think I’d be this nervous.”
“Of course you’re nervous. But guess what? In a few moments, you’ll be Mrs. Wells.” Mags gave her an encouraging smile from beside me.
“You’ve wanted to be with Asher forever.” I stared at my panic-ridden cousin. “He’s just as excited to get married as you.”
That got her to smile. “Thanks, Luca. You’re right. Maybe the next wedding we all go to will be yours.”
I chuckled as Mags’ cheeks burned red. “Maybe it will be.”
A little gasp escaped her as she whipped her head toward me. I gave her a wink. “It’s starting,” I said as the music filtered over to us.
We waited inside an enormous white tent so nobody could see Faith until she walked out. I understood the reason, but it was stuffy as hell. Mags reached up and adjusted my tie. Three little words were on the tip of my tongue, but I had to wait for the right moment.
The flower girl, Asher’s little cousin, went first and lined the path with white petals. Next up was Jamie, followed by Eve.
“Okay, Luca and Magnolia, you’re up.” A woman guided us to the opening of the tent and sent us down.
Mags’ arm was linked securely with mine as we walked down the aisle. I glanced down, mesmerized by the way her blonde hair shimmered in the sun. My breath caught in my throat as she threw me a dazzling smile.
We parted, and she stood by the rest of the bridesmaids as I took my spot beside Asher.
The man oozed impatience, and I could understand why. He was finally about to marry the love of his life, and I only just understood what that meant.
I clasped his shoulder. “Just a few more seconds.”
Fuck if I knew why, but I just could not tear my eyes off Mags. She gazed down the aisle with the biggest damn smile on her perfect lips.
The air buzzed with excitement as the officiant’s voice boomed, “Please stand for the bride.”
I managed to take my eyes off her for a moment to focus on my cousin and my best friend.
Faith only took two steps out before she was greeted by her dad. Whispers from the guests exploded as they saw her; she looked like a princess.
Uncle Joeseph escorted her down the aisle, and they glided. Faith and Asher never took their eyes off one another. At the end of the aisle, her dad hugged her and whispered something that
