Page 80 of Make-Believe Match

She met my eyes in the mirror. “Maybe. What was she like, your mom? Maybe it would help if I knew something about her.”

“Hmm. She was outgoing. She was funny. She had rules and she’d definitely stay on you about them, but she was also understanding and kind. She was always giving us hugs. She loved her roses, she loved cooking, she loved my dad.”

“What was her name?”

“Susan.”

“Susan.” Lexi touched the earrings dangling from each earlobe. “I saw her photo earlier. She was very pretty.”

“She was.”

“You have her eyes. And her smile.”

“That’s what everyone says.”

“I’m giving these earrings back to you as soon as possible.”

“We don’t have to think about that now.”

“I know you think I’m being ridiculous about this, but—”

“I don’t think that, Lexi.” I turned her to face me. “Not at all. If you didn’t think it was a big deal to wear my mom’s earrings, I’d think you had no feelings.” I grinned. “And we both know that isn’t true. You have an absurd amount of feelings. Massive overstock. You need a feelings clearance sale.”

That brought a smile. “Right.”

She was wearing lipstick, so I kissed her cheek. “Ready to go, Mrs. Buckley?”

“It’s so weird when you say that.”

“Why? That’s what you are,” I said, following her out of the bedroom. Then I gave her a little spank on the ass. “Wife.”

* * *

I’d never loved wedding receptions, but I had to admit, ours was a lot of fun. My family had all pitched in for food, and there were platters of delicious bar snacks—sliders and buffalo wings, fried pickles and loaded potato skins. Ari had baked us a three-tiered wedding cake, topped with little Elvis and Priscilla wedding figurines.

“Oh my God, that’s adorable! Where did you find that on such short notice?” Lexi asked.

“I lucked out—when I went to get some baking supplies for the cake, the shop also had some toppers, and I couldn’t resist! It even looks like you guys!” Ari said with a laugh.

I had to admit, it kind of did.

Xander had moved some furniture to create a little dance floor, Veronica and Kelly had come early and decorated with centerpieces and balloons, and my Aunt Faye had brought Lexi a little bouquet from her sister’s flower shop. “For tossing!” she said, giving Lexi a hug. “You shouldn’t miss out on all the fun bride things just because you eloped!”

So after we cut the cake and danced to Elvis’s “It’s Now or Never,” Lexi stood at one end of the room and flung the bouquet behind her—which Veronica caught.

We ate, drank, danced, and celebrated long into the night, surrounded by people who were genuinely happy for us and totally unconcerned that we’d rushed into marriage after knowing each other only a few weeks.

“Don’t let anyone tell you there’s no such thing as love at first sight,” said Gus. “I knew the second I laid eyes on my Betsy, she was the one for me.”

“And don’t let people who say it won’t last get you down either,” Betsy added. “We met in ninth grade, and we’re still together.”

I thought all the generosity and goodwill was going to get Lexi down, but she seemed to have a fantastic time. She practically skipped out to the car, and she chirped like a robin the entire ride home.

“I love this town! The people are so nice! And your family is amazing. I wish your other brother and sister could have come. I wish Gran could have come. I wish Winnie and Ellie could have come. I even wish mean old Tabitha could have come—maybe some of the niceness around here would rub off on her.”

“Yeah, she could use a little small-town kindness. Why do you put up with her again?”

“I don’t know. She definitely drove me crazy when we were kids, but I gave some back to her. And as I got older, I could see how being abandoned by both her parents had affected her. I know it’s not the same as what I went through, but it still sucked. Plus . . . family is important to me, and I don’t have a lot of it like you do. No siblings, no other cousins. She’s what I got.” Lexi shrugged. “I feel the need to try to make the best of it. I think my parents would have wanted that.”