Look After Us (10 page)

My feet ache. No, actually, ache is an understatement.

My feet feel as if I’m walking on heated coals and broken glass all at the same time. The sweltering Texan heat isn’t helping either, making my choice of wearing Converse this morning a regretful one. Blisters feel like the bane of my life right now.

I’ve been helping Alana and Mia with wedding errands all day, getting everything ready for the big day tomorrow. I had no idea what went into planning a wedding, but with the flurry of different deliveries of flowers, hired tents and furniture, decorations, twinkly lights, and not to mention all the last-minute additions that seriously make your head want to explode, I most definitely underestimated the planning behind it all. It’s definitely an eye-opener for when I finally plan my wedding. Although, if this is what it takes to make one day run smoothly, I’d rather elope to an exotic beach somewhere with a handful of our family surrounding us.

After returning from one of the many errand trips of the day, hauling a garment bag with Mia’s wedding dress inside—a dress that probably weighs more than she does—I head on upstairs and hang the garment bag on the back of the door of the guest room. Alana and Mia follow, each carrying two garment bags containing the bridesmaid dresses, and hang them on a garment rail. I frown, confused, when I take in the four garment bags. I was certain Mia was only having three bridesmaids—Riley, Jo, and her cousin Rachel—but maybe the fourth garment bag is Alana’s mother-of-the-groom outfit.

Mia lets out a long yawn, her eyes brimming with tears. She still looks terrible with her pale complexion and dark bags prominent under her eyes.

“Why don’t you go and lie down for a little while?” Alana says to Mia, whose eyes look as if they’re struggling to stay open. She gives a shake of the head but before Mia can argue, Alana beats her to it. “I’ll finish up … we haven’t got that much to do now. I just have to go through the seating plan again and speak to the caterers to make sure everything is on schedule for tomorrow.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Go and rest for a little while.”

Mia smiles and presses a kiss against Alana’s cheek. “Thank you.” She begins to walk away but suddenly halts in her steps as she turns back to face us.

“Oh, I nearly forgot.” She wanders over to the garment rail, and after a moment of looking through each garment bag, she finally stops at the dress on the far end. She begins to unzip the bag, removing a caramel colored gown from inside. It’s only when she holds it up do I finally see just how stunningly beautiful the dress really is. It’s a strapless gown with a plunging neckline. The bodice is tight-fitting, leaving the rest of the dress to flow flawlessly to the floor. The sheer material has a lace overlay with exquisite gold and caramel beading and sequins adorned into the lace. The beading, with very few sequins, dominates the bodice, but the beading and sequins seamlessly scatter and fade away with the flowing material.

“Wow, it’s beautiful,” I say with an awe-filled whisper. If the bridesmaid dresses are this breathtaking, then the wedding dress must be out of this world.

“This is your dress.”

I look at the dress then back at Mia with my mouth agape in utter shock. “Mine?” I barely mutter.

“Yeah. I got your size from Ashton and from the picture he sent me, I knew you’d look amazing in just about anything.”

“I don’t understand though,” I begin as my eyes admire the delicate beading on the bodice. “You barely know me.”

“You’re family … well you will be when Ashton finally walks you down the aisle, and that’s all that matters. You get to be the sister I never had and I’ve always wanted a sister. Instead I was given a brother who irritates the crap out of me.”

A bubble of laughter leaves my mouth, and I can’t help the tears that begin to fall at being welcomed into Ashton’s family with open arms. I’ve been in Alana’s home for just a little over a day now, and I’ve felt more love in the past twenty-seven hours with Ashton’s family than I have ever felt with my own—well, my mom and my brother anyway. He did love me, but in a skewered way that comes in the form of a psychopath.

Pushing away all bad thoughts of my fucked up family to the side, I force my focus on Mia, trembling with a smile as I do.

“I’d be honored to wear it, thank you, but I didn’t actually bring any shoes that will match that dress.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered. Kudos to Ashton, he knows almost everything about you, including your shoe size. I’m surprised if Tyler even remembers the color of my eyes. I sometimes think maybe I picked the wrong brother.”

We all cry out in hysterical laughter, then from the hallway we hear, “They’re brown, babe!” which has Mia slapping her hands over her mouth stifling more laughter.

“Wrong! They’re blue actually,” shouts Mia once she’s controlled her laughter.

Suddenly Tyler’s head pops around the door with a beaming grin on his face. “Of course I know what color your eyes are, and that’s why I know they’re actually a mix between blue and green with little flecks of gold,” he states confidently with a beaming smile, and before she can say another word he’s gone.

Mia looks between the both of us with a huge smile on her face, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of content and love—the same head-over-heels smile I find myself doing every single time I think about Ashton or whenever he’s in my presence. “Okay, so … I guess I’ll keep him.”

Handing the dress to Alana, she pulls me into a hug and squeezes me tightly. “Thank you for helping today. I really appreciate it.” We eventually separate and she has to fight back another yawn. “Okay, I’m going to have a nap before I pass out. I’ll see you guys later.”

She turns towards the door when Alana stops her in her tracks and says, “Don’t forget about what Riley has planned tonight.”

Mia rolls her eyes. “I swear if there are any more strippers, I won’t have a maid of honor tomorrow.” I laugh at her mocked threat as she tiredly leaves the room.

Alana gently places the dress back into the garment bag and returns it to the rail, smoothing the bag down with her hand to ensure the dress doesn’t become creased.

“What does Riley have planned for tonight?” I find myself asking, a little less than thrilled at having to spend another evening with Ashton’s ex.

“Just a slumber party. I think after last night we need a relaxing night in, especially Mia—poor girl is exhausted with all of the wedding planning.”
Yep … having a big wedding? I’m not convinced.

“A slumber party sounds perfect,” I agree. “So,” I begin after a moment of silence, “is there anything else you want me to do?”

“No, doll … you go and enjoy the rest of the day. I can do the rest.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind,” I say with an honest smile. Even though the whole wedding preparation has opened my eyes in a negative way, I have to admit I’ve had a pretty fun day hanging out with Mia. I’ve never had a girlfriend, or been the type of girl to ever be surrounded with friends; I’ve always been a loner, but today and yesterday at the bachelorette party, I realize just how much life I’ve missed. Hopefully that will change since I feel like I’ve already made incredible friends in Mia and Jo.

“I’m sure. You’ve done more than enough today. Go and find that handsome son of mine and enjoy the sunshine.” Her eyes glimmer with happiness, and with that I can’t get out of the guest room quick enough.

I change out of my Converse and slide my blister-covered feet into a pair of flip-flops before heading outside in search of Ashton.

As I walk out onto the veranda, I hear the sounds of splashing coming from the swimming pool, and when I squint my eyes through the bright sunshine, I see Ashton playing with Junior. I chuckle when I see Ashton lift him up into the air before launching him into the water. Junior rises from the water’s surface, giggling hysterically before shouting, “Again!”

I walk over to them and just as I’m nearing towards the swimming pool, I almost halt in my steps when I see Riley in the pool too, floating on an inflatable lounger watching Ashton and Junior with an amused grin on her face.

My calm interior flames up with jealousy as my eyes take in what she’s wearing—or the lack thereof. The bikini top barely covers her nipples and as for the piece of string that covers her bottom, it can hardly be classed as a bikini. It’s hardly appropriate swimwear to wear around a six-year-old or a man who’s engaged to another woman—
me
being the other woman.

Seriously what’s with this chick?
She’s so fricking obvious; she might as well be wearing a flashing neon sign.

I’m just thankful that Ashton seems oblivious to her
not-so
subtle come-ons. It makes me less worried that my jealousy is anything other than my overbearing insecurities, and not something to actually be worried about. My teeth clench together as I step closer to the pool, but when I see Ashton smile at my presence, I manage to bite back my irritation with a matching smile.

“Hi, baby. Finally free from my mom’s torture, huh?” he says with a chuckle, and the sound of his laughter is enough to loosen my muscles from their tense stance. Although I can’t say I don’t miss the scowl on Riley’s face when her eyes finally latch onto me, it only lasts a split second before it’s replaced with a fake smile.

Focusing on Ashton, I laugh before sliding my feet from my flip-flops, perching myself on the edge of the pool. I dangle my legs into the water, sighing at how wonderful the cool water feels against my aching feet. He swims over to me and rests his arms on the tops of my thighs, his green eyes piercing into mine, the unique emerald hues even more breathtaking from the sun bouncing off the glistening water. My eyes roam over his broad shoulders and masculine chest, watching the droplets of water run freely along his skin before finally looking at his handsome face, which is now spread with a huge-ass grin.

“Are you checking me out?”

A giggle bursts from my lips as my finger disperses the water dews that linger on his shoulder. “Yeah. Do you have a problem with that?” I raise my eyebrow, my mouth tilting to the side with a smile.

“No, ma’am. You can check me out whenever you want,” he says with a mischievous grin. Small splashes can be heard and I look behind Ashton to see Junior paddling towards us.

“Uncle Ashton,” he begins, out of breath. “Throw me in the water again!”

Ashton pushes down both hands on either side of me and raises his upper body from the water, causing water to splash all over me in the process, and gingerly presses a kiss against my lips. My lips tingle from his mere contact as he sinks back into the water. Leaning back onto my hands, I watch with a contented smile as he swims towards Junior, lifting him over his head before throwing him into the water with a huge splash, the sound of more hysterical giggles coming from Junior when his little body remerges from the water moments later. After a few more times of throwing him into the water, Ashton decides to call it quits and Junior begins jumping in and out of the pool, much to my delight splashing Riley every time he bombs into the water.

Ashton leisurely swims back over to me, his fingers capturing my legs in the depth of the water, causing a gasp to leave my lips at the sudden contact. “You okay? You look a little tired. Late night?” he asks suggestively, knowing very well I had a late night … a late night with him. I can’t resist pushing at his chest with the tips of my toes before playfully splashing him with my feet. He glides closer to me, his fingers latching onto my legs again, his thumbs gently caressing against the smoothness of my skin.

“Yeah, just this heat is getting to me a little bit,” I say wiping away the perspiration I feel forming against my forehead.

“You should come in the water.”

“I don’t have my bikini on.”

“So?” He wiggles his eyebrows and I shift away from his hold with a shriek of laughter, knowing from the wicked glint in his eyes what he’s moments away from doing.

“Don’t you dare. My phone is in my pocket.”

He laughs holding his hands out in surrender. “Okay, I promise not to drag you in the pool. So …” he begins, resting his arms on the side of the pool, slanting his head to the side. “How many times have you spoken to Sebastian today?”

I try to mask my sheepish smile, but fail miserably when his eyes wrinkle with the widening of his full-blown grin.

“Um … four times.”

Ashton’s head falls back in amusement. “You’re getting worse,” he sputters through his laughter.

“Well in my defense he didn’t answer the first
three
times.”

He shakes his head with disbelief, his wide smile still in place. “What am I going to do with you?” I match his grin as my fingers run through the thick tendrils of his wet hair. “Is Lily okay?” he asks seriously a few moments later.

“Yeah. She’s perfect. Although I should feel jealous of you since the first words out of her mouth when I spoke to her were
‘Where’s Ashton?’
not
‘Hi, Mommy’
or
‘I miss you, Mommy’.
”

More laughter howls from his mouth and I can’t help the pout that forms on my lips, my arms crossing defensively over my chest, especially when he says, “That’s my girl.”

When he locks onto my unimpressed glare, he moves closer until both his arms are placed on either side of my thighs. “You don’t need to be jealous, baby,” he says with a hint of amusement, amusement that has my lips curling up in a smile. “But what can I say … I’m obviously more missed than you.” The pad of my feet make contact with his chest and in one smooth movement I push him away from me, splashing him in the face, causing him to cough-choke on his laughter.

“You’re such an ass!” I exclaim, staring daggers at him with a full-blown smile, noticing how his eyes still crinkle with merriment, along with the signature smirk that I see slanted to the side of his mouth.

“
Your
ass,” he affirms with a raised eyebrow.

I roll my eyes and say, “Yes,
my
ass.” Just as I say this I happen to take a glance in Riley’s direction, my eyes locking on hers with a look that says ‘stay the hell away’. She seems to understand my warning perfectly as she slides off the inflatable lounger and makes her way out of the pool with a soured pout. Just as she grabs a towel and walks into the house, I hear Jo shout out from the veranda, “Junior, babe … that’s enough. Come and get dry please!”