Everly sniffed as she looked around at the women in the room. “We all deserve it.”
Hadley made a tsking noise. “Don’t start crying. If you ruin my makeup job, I’m going to be pissed.”
Everly fanned her face. “No tears. Raccoon eyes just aren’t appropriate for saying ‘I do.’”
I snorted and ran my fingers through my hair, loosening the curls. I stood and nearly tripped over my dress. “Everly Easton, if I trip and fall on my face, I will never forgive you.”
Ev snorted, and then her eyes filled again. “Everly Easton. It’s my first time hearing it out loud.”
“Hell,” Hadley cursed. “You’re determined to ruin my makeup.”
The door opened, and Mom stepped inside. “Shy, Ramsey and the boys are looking for you.”
“Everything okay?”
Mom gave me that gentle smile that she only had for one person. “I think Elliott wants to go over hisjobone more time.”
My mom and El had become best pals. He spent more than his share of afternoons learning to garden and cook with her. I think it was his innocence, unmarred by everything he’d been through, that had drawn my mother in. He reminded her of all the hope there was in the world.
“I’ll be back,” I called, heading out the door and down the hall.
“I just want to show her how I’m going to hold it one more time.” Elliott’s voice sounded from around the corner.
Aidan sighed. “You’ve practiced like a hundred times.”
I grinned at the bickering tone. Most people wouldn’t revel in that sound, but I did because it was a brotherly one. For so long, Aidan had been forced to play the role of father to Elliott, but now, a month after the boys had come to live with Ramsey and me, they were finally settling into a true brotherly dynamic.
I rounded the corner, and three heads turned in my direction. All of their jaws dropped.
“Lolo, you look like a fairy,” Elliott said in a reverent tone.
I tried not to scowl at that. The blush dresses Everly had chosen for the bridesmaids were beautiful, but so not me. The only thing that made the garment feel like itfitwere theembroidered specks on the fabric that made it look as if I were clothed in a twilight sky.
Aidan coughed to hide his laugh. “He’s right. You look beautiful, Lolo.”
The use of the boys’ nickname for me had me softening. “Thanks, but I don’t think you should get used to it.”
Ramsey’s onyx eyes blazed as he moved in close. “Most beautiful sight I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
My heart skipped a beat. It didn’t matter how often those eyes met mine; I could still get lost in them. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
Ramsey wore a white dress shirt and black jeans that fit him just right. While Hayes had given Everly her every heart’s desire when it came to the wedding, he’d put his foot down when it came to the groomsmen. Black jeans, white button-downs, and boots. It somehow worked.
Ramsey leaned in close and whispered in my ear. “Your parents are taking the boys tonight, right?”
I shivered as his hand skated over my bare back. “Yup, they’re going camping this weekend.”
“There is a God in Heaven.”
I couldn’t hold in my laughter. Alone time had been a little harder to get this month.
“Lolo, look. Like this, right?”
I turned in Ramsey’s arms to take in Elliott. He held the ringbearer’s pillow with focused attention.
“I think that’s perfect. You’ve got this. You could do it backwards and in your sleep.”
He scrunched up his face. “But I don’t have to, do I?”