Page 46 of Olivia’s Only Pretending (Sweet River #3)

Thirty-Four

Victor

I can’t wait to see you, my official wedding date

T his wedding wasn’t mine, or even in my family, yet I felt giddy as I slipped my silky burnt orange dress over my head.

My auburn hair was in waves down my shoulders.

I’d stayed up late last night with Victor’s family at the rehearsal dinner, sitting around the table drinking champagne and laughing as they shared stories about Emma and Gabriel.

Everyone kept saying, Tomorrow’s the big day, we need to get home , but no one moved from the table for hours.

Coffees and Commas was owned by Katie, so there was no closing time.

I loved having you by my side tonight , Victor had whispered after he’d given me a kiss on the forehead, his breath warm against my temple. I love … But he didn’t finish the sentence.

He loves me , too . I could feel the love in my bones, in his kiss, in the air between us, like it was a tangible thing, heavy between us. Something we carried together, shared back and forth.

I kept replaying that moment in my mind as I drove through Sweet River to the Grenseman Hotel. The wedding was taking place at an old hotel built during the roaring twenties. It had recently been refurbished back to its old grandness.

As I walked through the doors, it felt like stepping back in time to a lavish, grand party in the ’20s with shiny wood floors, opulent mirrors, and art deco stylings lining the walls.

I slipped into the ballroom, searching the seats for Lucy, Adam, and my mom. The ballroom was lavish and filled with autumnal flowers and decorated in rich golds and copper tones.

Lucy caught my eye, waving her hand in the air. I nodded to her and made my way to the seat they’d saved for me.

I smiled at my mom when I noticed a fellow professor from my department was sitting next to her. I recognized that gray hair and thick black glasses. “Charles?” I said, in a tone of surprise. How funny he was invited to this wedding.

“Olivia?” Charles said, his mouth hanging open in question. “Olivia Rhodes .” He said my last name slowly, like it was the answer to a question.

My mom laughed curiously. “You two know each other?” She said this as if she were the one who knew Charles.

I blinked at her.

Charles swallowed, looking at Mom. “We do.”

Oh. Charles was my mom’s date. My coworker was dating my mom.

Charles, who was known for rambling during his lectures and absentmindedly leaving his things around the history building.

I would try to avoid getting stuck in conversations with Charles because they were hard to escape and always went longer than I wanted.

“We work together, Mom,” I said. Why couldn’t sweet Jeff be Mom’s date to the wedding?

“You know, you did put you were a history professor. Why didn’t I think to ask which school you worked at?” Mom chuckled to herself. “Well, that’s great. You know two people at this wedding now!”

Charles beamed, obviously smitten with Mom already. I shot a glance at Lucy, who gave me an apologetic wince. Adam was trying not to laugh.

“How’d you two meet?” I asked.

Mom and Charles explained what I’d already assumed, that this was another one of Mom’s LoveLocal matches. I tried not to imagine a future where Mom and Victor carpooled to have lunch with Charles and me at the school.

We made small talk until a soft, sweet love song began to fill the room, and one of Victor’s cousins walked tiny Grandma Hernandez down the aisle.

Katie walked down in an amber-toned bridesmaid’s dress on Terrence’s arm.

Victor walked out next, in a black suit and amber tie, his wavy dark hair swept back, making my stomach flip.

He had a bridesmaid on his arm and his eyes straight ahead, but when he took his spot at the front of the room, his head turned.

His eyes searched the crowd for me. A grin spread across his face when he saw me. He dramatically clutched his hand to his chest, and he mouthed, Drop-dead gorgeous. I giggled in my seat. My cheeks and neck flushed.

The wedding processional continued, the room rising to their feet, as flower girls tossed flowers before Emma stepped through the doors, on her dad’s arm.

Her blonde hair was swept back into a low bun at the base of her neck. She wore an A-line dress embroidered with lace and tiny beads. Her face was serene and intent on her groom, waiting at the front for her.

I stole a glance toward Gabriel, who was swiping a tear away. His eyes were so full of love.

Emma and Gabriel exchanged self-written vows that made the room break into laughter and tears.

The wedding ceremony came to an end. The wedding party exited to prepare for photos, while the rest of us were to begin the reception in the hotel’s garden with a cocktail hour.

I headed down a hallway, hunting for the restroom, when I spotted Victor walking off with the bridal party. He must’ve felt my stare, turning his head to me. We locked eyes, his caramel to my green. His grin was confident and cool. He shot me a wink that made me melt right there on the spot.

He turned back, keeping pace with the wedding party, leaving me standing there, shaking my head. I loved that man.

I pushed open the bathroom door to find Emma standing in front of the mirror, her wedding dress billowing around her like icing on a cupcake. “The bride needed a bathroom break,” her friend said from behind her, laughing.

“It’s a whole event when I go to the bathroom,” Emma said, gesturing to the gown. “I require assistance.”

“Well, you look beautiful. The wedding—your vows.” I touched a hand to my heart.

Emma took in an excited breath. “I can’t believe the ceremony is done. I’m Gabriel’s wife.”

Her friend squealed. I squealed, too.

“Oh, I’m getting a phone call from Katie. One sec.” Her friend answered her phone, taking a couple of steps away from us. Katie was the maid of honor, and from what Victor said, had been running the show.

Emma looked back into the mirror. “It was fun to have you at the dinner last night. You had Victor glowing in a way I’ve never seen, and I’ve known him since he was a little kid.”

I bit my lip, smiling down at my feet. “He makes me glow, too.”

“I’m glad you two went for it. It’s easy to get stuck in the What Ifs, holding back what you feel to keep things feeling safe and easy. But take it from a bride who is so glad she finally stopped hesitating: say how you feel when you get the chance.”

“Say how you feel,” I repeated. The friend was still on the phone. We were in the bathroom for a moment, so I cleared my throat and asked. “How did you stop hesitating?” The feeling of the word love stayed stuck in my mouth, fresh in my mind.

“Oh.” Emma thought about it, eyebrows furrowed. “I guess I just forced myself to say what needed to be said. Like jumping off a diving board, you just make yourself leap.”

That was the thing about love. It didn’t come made to order, all safe and going out of its way to make you feel comfortable. It had a mind of its own. It showed up whether you were ready or not. It challenged you. Love asked you to be brave.

“That’s vague, huh?” she said, her nose scrunched. “Does it help at all?”

“It does help. It’s true. You just say the scary things,” I said, running my fingers over my own satin dress, taking a glance in the mirror.

Her friend ended her call before I could say anything else, walking over, rattling off an update from Katie about the photoshoot. She helped Emma with her train as they exited the bathroom.

Lucy walked in right after they left. “Hey, here you are. I was wondering where you’ve been.”

“I was getting a pep talk from the bride.”