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GEORGIA

“A bachelorette without a blow-up penis in sight?” Across the table, I raise my eyebrows at Hazel. We’re finishing up our drinks after dinner. “This is your send-off. We need to make sure you have a good time.”

The guys are out having their bachelor party, but they didn’t say what they were doing.

Hazel grins. “No blow-up penises. Not my style.” Her eyes move around the table, from her sister to Darcy to Jordan to me. “This is perfect. Besides, I don’t feel like I’m marching to my grave or anything.” She shrugs, a soft smile pulling up on her mouth. “I’m excited to get married.”

Jordan raises her eyebrows, skeptical.

“Before Rory, I didn’t think I’d want to.” Hazel looks down at her drink, a funny smile on her mouth. “But it’s so easy with him. The easiest thing in the world. He’s my best friend.”

My heart pangs with yearning, and even though we’ve spent every second of the past week together, even though I saw him two hours ago, I miss him.

Somehow, this man I used to hate has become one of the most important people in my life.

Six more months, my brain whispers. I don’t know why I said that. I don’t know why I’m prolonging something that’ll hurt me either way .

Maybe it’s because I’m in love with him. I think about things ending with Alexei and something crumples in my chest.

If he was traded, or retired and got a job in another city, maybe as an analyst or in player development on another team, I’d want to go with him. I couldn’t, though, because I have the hospital program, but I’d want to.

That alone is cause for concern. Am I repeating the past? Am I handing over everything for a man again?

I was never in love with Liam, though. I thought I was, but we never laughed together the way Alexei and I do. I never felt the deep sense of comfort and peace that I feel with my husband. And with Alexei, I never feel the need to make myself small and invisible. To lessen my accomplishments.

He could crush me, if he doesn’t feel the same way. He could hurt me so much worse than Liam did.

Pippa gives me a soft smile. “Are you two having a nice honeymoon?”

My face warms. “Yes. We love it here.”

The mountain town is small, charming, and quaint, with crisp, fresh air, sparkling lights in the trees, and vintage-looking streetlamps, like something out of a Christmas movie.

Pippa mentioned they film a lot of Hallmark movies here.

Our suite overlooks the Silver Falls lake, frozen solid, surrounded by snow-covered mountains.

“What have you two been doing?” Hazel asks.

We haven’t left the suite once.

All we do is have sex, sleep, order room service while watching The Vampire Diaries, to which Alexei is addicted but won’t admit it, before we’re making out and undressing each other again.

We can’t keep our hands off each other. Clothes are unnecessary when you have a big warm enforcer to cuddle with.

I feign nonchalance. “You know. Touristy things around town.”

“You must have seen the steam clock, then, in the main square. ”

Hazel and Pippa know Silver Falls because their parents moved here for retirement a few years ago. They visit several times a year.

Darcy frowns. “Steam clock?”

“Yes,” I lie. “We saw it.” I have no idea what she’s talking about.

“Cool, right?” Hazel’s eyes sparkle.

“Supercool.” I give her a bright, confident smile. “I think I remember it from a movie.”

Pippa puts her hand over her mouth, and Hazel gives me a knowing look. “There’s no steam clock. I’m fucking with you.”

Pippa bursts out laughing.

“Busted,” Jordan drawls, smiling.

“He’s sent me flowers every day,” I blurt out. I’ve already told them about the shoes. I’m wearing them now. “They have meanings. His mom gave me a book.”

“Every day?” Darcy asks, leaning in.

“Every day.”

The book is tucked into my workbag, although I hardly need to check it anymore, I have so many of them memorized.

Hazel makes an impatient go on gesture.

“The first day was sunflowers.” They all wait.

“ Adoration . Daisies. I love you truly, ” I add.

“White lilies. My love is pure .” Darcy’s jaw drops.

Pippa and Hazel exchange a glance, and my pulse trips.

“Red chrysanthemum. I love you .” Jordan’s eyebrows go up.

“And today, red tulips. Declaration of love .”

A long pause of silence.

Jordan’s eyebrows lift. “The guy’s got it bad for you.”

No one says anything, and when I look up, they’re all smiling at me, even Jordan.

I look down at my hands, trying not to think about the end. “I’ve got it bad for him, too.”