“Yep. That about sums it up.”
I nodded, a slow smile spreading across my face. I liked the idea the more and more I thought about it. “Okay. I’ll pull it together. Anything special you want?”
“Simple but romantic.”
“Got it. I can do that.” In my mind, I was already making lists of things we would need to do.
“Thanks, Ev. I know this can’t be easy for you.”
No, it wasn’t easy, and Noah didn’t know the half of it. How was I going to tell Alex?
As if my thoughts conjured him, my phone rang, and his face popped up on the screen. I couldn’t help the giddy excitement that swept through me, any more than I could help the cheesy grin that spread across my face. I was so ready to hear his voice. The only thing that could make it better would be having him here with me.
“Hey, you,” I answered, trying not to show how much I wanted and needed to talk to him.
“What are you up to?”
“Planning Noah’s wedding. You?” I wedged the phone between my ear and shoulder as I grabbed a notebook to start putting my lists onto paper.
“Noah’s getting married?”
“Yeah. He said he doesn’t want to wait any longer.”
“When’s the wedding?”
“Valentine’s Day, at the house. It’s going to be small, just family and close friends.”
“Nice.”
“What are you doing?” I asked again when he stayed quiet for a minute.
“I’m sitting on the beach, watching the sunset. Wish you were here with me.” My heart melted at his words.
“I wish I was there, too. You going to be in California for a while?”
“About another week before I hit the road again.”
“Damn. I was actually thinking to come out there to see you.” Iwasthinking about it. The baby wasn’t something I wanted to tell him about over the phone, but if he was leaving California again, I didn’t know when I’d have a chance to talk to him.
“You were?” I could hear the smile in his voice as he asked the question.
“Yes. I miss you.” That was as close as I could get to telling him I loved him. The words burned in my throat and chest. I longed to say them to him, but fear held me back.
“Maybe we can get together soon?”
“I’d like that.” This was the closest we talked about maybe—possibly—something more. I didn’t know how the hell it would work, but I wanted him enough that I was willing to try anything to keep him in my life.
* * *
“I still can’t believe you asked me to be your maid of honor.” Grimacing, I pulled at the top of the red dress that was the opposite color scheme of the bride’s gown. It was a little snug but would work.
“You were the right choice.”
Penelope looked amazing in her white dress with red trim. I’d gotten her size from her mom, who was sworn to secrecy. I also bought a few gowns for the bridesmaids in different sizes, that way we could easily return the ones that didn’t fit whoever she chose. I was shocked, but thrilled, when she asked me to stand up with her.
“You ready to head down there?”
“I’ve been waiting to marry your brother for a long time, Ev. He made a promise to you a long time ago, and he never went back on it. That’s how I knew he was a keeper.”