Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
It was the kind of beauty that didn’t really exist, the kind that seemed fake if you saw it online or in a magazine. It vibrated off her, around her, strengthening with every smile she flashed.
Timeless, that’s what she was.
And also… slightly pissed.
“Aleks!” Her voice rang out, snapping me back to reality. “You’re not supposed to be standing there! Cover your eyes or something!”
I scrambled to obey, turning toward Charlie with a sheepish grin as I raised a hand to shield my face. He laughed, shaking his head as he pulled me into one last hug.
“You’ve got this, son,” he said, his voice gruff with emotion. “Now get up there before she yells at you again.”
He clapped my back as he let go, and I hurried into place next to Daddy P, who raised a brow at my flustered state.
“Smooth,” he muttered under his breath, smirking. “You going to cry next?”
“Like you won’t fold like a faulty skate blade when you and Chloe finally tie the knot.”
His eyes flicked to his bride-to-be then, a watery smile finding him as he watched her holding his daughter’s hand.
“You’ve got me there.”
The violinist in the corner shifted seamlessly into a new song, the soft melody drawing the room to silence. Holly pressed a kiss to her daughter’s cheek before taking her seat, and Charlie climbed the stairs to offer Mia his arm.
The moment she slid her hand into his, he glanced at her with a look that could have melted the snow piling up outside. They shared a brief, private exchange—words I couldn’t hear but could feel in the way her shoulders relaxed and his chest lifted with a steadying breath.
And then, together, they began their descent.
My eyes stung as they drew closer, the weight of the moment sinking in. This wasn’t a dream or a fantasy. This wasn’t a show we were putting on for the cameras — although, Isabella did conveniently give a few of her favorite shutterbugs an inside hint about where they could hide to get the first look at the intimate affair.
It was real.
She was real.
And she was walking toward me.
Mia’s dress was pure elegance, a breathtaking combination of modern design and timeless romance as she made her way toward me. The strapless bodice hugged her figure, the sweetheart neckline emphasizing the delicate curve of her collarbones and shoulders. The fabric was structured yet soft, folding into flawless pleats that cinched her waist and flared into the skirt.
From the waist, the gown flowed in a cascade of creamy silk, its dramatic side slit revealing a hint of her leg as she walked — a bold, yet graceful touch. The asymmetrical draping added movement and texture, catching the light with every step. The cream silk against all the greenery and the white and red flowers filling the space pulled together the holiday feel of the affair.
It was only November, but it felt like Christmas. It felt like a snowy morning in Berne with Annaliese and my foster siblings. It felt the way she always made it feel no matter what it took her to do so — special and warm.
My heart ached at the absence of her. I longed for a different reality, one where she could be in that front row next to Holly. My hand floated to my chest, pressing hard enough into my suit so I could feel the chain necklace she gave me beneath it.
She was always with me, even if I couldn’t see her.
When they reached the altar, Charlie turned to Mia, cupping her face with one hand. His lips brushed her cheek, and though his words were soft, I caught them anyway. “You’ll always be my little girl,” he murmured.
Tears blurred my vision, and by the time he placed her hand in mine, they were spilling over.
I knew it was useless to try not to cry, but fuck, I didn’t even make it to saying our vows.
“You weren’t kidding, huh,” Mia teased, her voice low and warm as she stepped closer. “You’re really going to lose it before the ceremony even starts?”
“I told you I would,” I replied, a smile breaking through my tears. “And no one’s going to think this is fake after they see me like this.”
Mia shook her head, her own eyes glistening now. She pressed her free hand to my chest, her thumb brushing against the fabric of my suit, against the chain beneath it like she’d caught me just moments before and wanted me to know she understood.
“I don’t care what anyone else thinks,” she whispered. “I only care about you. About this moment right here, right now. About us.”
My heart clenched at her words, and before I could stop myself, I dipped my head and kissed her.
The room erupted into murmurs and soft laughter, Carter yelling out a deep, “Atta boy!”. To my right, Will groaned dramatically.