Page 22 of The Marriage Deal (Sunset Falls #1)

THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF MY LIFE

LILAH

“That’s the last of it.” Dad wipes his hands of imaginary dust as he strolls up the walk of my childhood home.

I have all of six boxes tucked into my small nineties car.

It still smells like the old lady I bought it from a few years back, despite the myriad of air fresheners I’d hung from the mirror.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“I do find it weird the man isn’t here to help.” Dad frowns.

“I asked him not to come.” I give Dad a smile that wobbles. Mom catches it and doesn’t attempt to hide the mirroring frown that puckers her brow.

Dad’s head tips to the side. “Why would you do that, kiddo?”

I shrug, but I suddenly feel so very vulnerable. “It’s my last morning with you guys.”

“Oh.” Mom tucks me close. “Baby, it’s not our last morning.”

“Best believe we’ll have ourselves out at that big house for breakfast, kiddo.” Dad joins in the hug. He drops a kiss to my hair like only Dad can. “You might be moving forward with your life, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be there with you every step of the way you let us.”

“You don’t think it’s too soon?”

Mom barks a laugh. “We’re not the ones to ask on that. I moved in with your father after only a couple months.”

Dad gives Mom a grin paired with brows that jump suggestively. He looks like a clown. But one that’s in love. “Too soon worked just fine for us.”

Mom peers into my eyes, mostly ignoring Dad. “Do you love him, honey?”

My heart tightens. I hate that I have to lie to her about something so serious. I hate that I have to lie at all. Instead, I force myself to think of the way I feel when he kisses me.

“Yes,” I croak.

Clearly it does the trick, because Mom’s smile turns soft. “Then leap, baby.”

“Oh, I’m leaping.” They have no idea just how far the fall is from this leap. I’m not sure, if they knew, they’d be cheering me on like this.

Dad pats my back with his big hand. The same hand that bakes all the delicious treats he loves so much.

But those hands are more than baker’s hands.

They’re my father’s hands. The hands I always fall back into when the world feels unsafe.

The hands I always find the courage to leap from again and again, trusting with the trust only a child can give to her father, that she can always come home again if that leap turns bad.

I press a kiss that trembles onto his cheek. He chuckles softly, feeling the same overwhelm of emotion that I feel, no doubt.

“You’re going to be fine, kiddo.”

“And if I’m not?”

“You come home,” he confirms what I already know. “You can always come home.”

“You guys know you’re the bestest parents a girl could ask for, right?”

“Oh, we know.” Mom slides her arm around Dad’s back as she snuggles into his side. Like always, he drops an arm over her shoulders to hold her just as close.

It’s natural, the two of them. They come together like water.

Easy and fluid. A melding that is simply meant to be.

I can’t imagine one without the other, and I’ve always wanted what they have for myself.

Always thought I’d find it. That great love that hits fast and hard and blends into a seamless life of lasting love. Affection and devotion. Beauty.

Am I sacrificing my chance at ever finding a great love for myself by doing this with Briggs?

My heart squeezes in my chest. It’s painful and raw.

I force a bright smile through it. “Well, this is it.”

“The first day of the rest of your life.” Mom beams through the words she’s said more times than I can count. First days of school, first dates, graduations, and now…moving in with the man who is to be my husband. Only, she doesn’t know the divorce is already pre-planned. Set in stone.

I swipe my car keys from the deck railing and give them a little wave before I start to cry.

I’m relieved Dakota is on a job in Kelowna, or this would be even harder.

He has an uncanny way of seeing through my bullshit in a way that Mom and Dad just can’t.

He’d know something was off. And then he’d dig until he found out what that something was.

Then he’d flip.

I’m going to have to figure out a way to keep the sham of my marriage from him, because he wouldn’t be so willing to go along with this adventure as Madelyn.

Giving my parents a wave behind the glass of my car window, I send up a little prayer to the universe that, as much as I adore my parents, I’ll never find myself seeking sanctuary in their home again.

Mom blows a kiss that I pretend to catch. The door to the house beside ours opens and Opal steps onto the front porch with a scowling May on her heels. I should have known they’d be watching the events of the morning.

Within just a few hours, the town will know I’ve officially moved out of Mom and Dad’s house. They’ll know I’ve moved in with Briggs.

I give my parents and Opal one final wave, then I drive away to begin the first day of the rest of my life.

Briggs is already standing with Madelyn under the sprawling covered front porch. A beautiful golden dog who is sitting prettily on his rump close to Madelyn’s side, looking a little unnerved at the change in his whereabouts flaps his tail on the stone as I stand from my car.

I shoot a big, beaming smile at the pooch to hide my nerves as I crouch and call, “Senior!”

Senior’s rump lifts from the stone and tail wagging, he moves to me.

It’s not a run, but there is a boogie to his walk that lets me know he’s happy to see me.

If it weren’t for that tail wagging boogie, I’d know by the sloppy kiss he lands on my hand before I give him the scratch behind his ears that he loves.

“Hey, boy,” I coo as I greet. “I’m happy to see you, too.”

“I brought a bag of food and the brush he likes. You’re going to want to keep up on brushing him. He’s a shedder.”

Briggs makes a noise. I pretend I don’t hear it. In fact, I’m having a hard time acknowledging him at all.

Goodness, I’m moving into the man’s house, and I can’t even summon the courage to look at him. What is wrong with me?

A lot. A lot is wrong with me. If there weren’t so much wrong with me, I wouldn’t be doing this. Wouldn’t be moving in with a man I hardly know—marrying him—for money!

I ignore my inner monologue and stand to face Madelyn. “Thanks.”

She bobs her head. “Want me to help you unpack?” She winks at me but says loud enough for Briggs to hear, “Or would I just be interrupting shag time?”

“I’m good,” I tell her. “If you reference Austin Powers right now, though, I’ll never talk to you again.”

Briggs chuckles and my eyes flick to him but land back on Madelyn as she huffs, “It’s a classic, admit it.”

“Never.” I am laughing now. “It’s terrible.”

“It’s shagadelic, baby.”

“Ohmigawd.” I groan as I cover my face. Senior whines, tail dusting Briggs’ drive.

Madelyn laughs as Briggs joins us. I admit, his step is a little cautious, like he’s not sure if he wants to enter this conversation. Still, not one to put a crack in the show of us, he slides an arm around my waist that has my heart lodging itself in my throat.

He tucks me close, like Dad tucks Mom close. My heart gives a little squeeze. It’s a little painful.

“I take it that movie won’t be on the roster come movie night?” Briggs asks, and I wince as my gaze flashes to Madelyn.

She plays it off in a way Dakota wouldn’t. “Lilah doesn’t do a whole lot of TV. She prefers books.”

“Huh.” Briggs’ hold tightens around me. “I didn’t know that.”

Madelyn appraises him. “You guys are moving fast, but you’ll learn.”

Briggs doesn’t reply and Madelyn sighs as she tosses me a grin that says ‘good luck’ as she gives Senior some love before she tosses us a wave. “I’ll see you soon.”

We watch as she leaves, and as soon as her car is out of sight, Briggs drops his arm from around my waist.

He gives Senior a look and mutters, “So, this is the dog who needed a home.”

“Senior,” I tell him. “We think he was dumped but can’t find any info on his owner.”

“Doesn’t have a tattoo?”

“It’s illegible.”

Briggs grunts as he looks up at the darkening sky over the house. “Better get your things inside before the rain starts. They’re calling for a storm.”

“I don’t have much,” I say, but Briggs is already heading for my car.

I hate that I notice the way he looks walking away in the dark jeans that fit him a little too right.

I force myself to look down and find warm amber eyes looking back up at me. “Well, Senior, this is the first day of the rest of our lives.”

Senior gives me a doggy huff, like he knows exactly what I said and he’s gearing up for what will undoubtedly be a hell of a ride.