Holding You

Page 103

Doing what she said, I closed my eyes. “Why am I so nervous?”
Chuckling and dropping my hand, Ellie placed her hand on my arm and said, “Let me tell you a story.”
Opening my eyes, I focused on Ellie. “Right before I married Gunner, I had a serious panic attack. I couldn’t breathe and no one could calm me down except for him.”
Grinning, I asked, “Really?”
Nodding her head, I watched as her eyes filled with happiness as she recalled the memory. “The way you’re feeling right now, sweetheart, is so normal, but I promise you, the moment you look into those beautiful eyes of Colt’s and he smiles at you, your fear will melt away. The nerves will disappear and you will feel nothing but contentment. A sense of peacefulness will wash over your body.”
And I’ll wanted to do was jump on him and probably hump his leg. I guess we had gone too long without sex. What in the hell was I thinking? Why did I tell him I wanted to wait? Oh my glitter. He’s going to be in a tux. Colt in a tux. The last time he was in a tux was at Alex’s wedding and it was all I could do not to attack him and undress him on the spot.
Shit. Shit. Double shit.
Placing my thumb in my mouth I began chewing my nail like mad. Ellie reached up and pulled my hand down as she chuckled. “Lauren, you’ll be fine.”
Standing up, I nodded my head. “Right. I’m going to be perfectly fine. I just need to not look at Colt, cause if I look at him I’m going to want to have sex with him and—”
Slamming my hands over my mouth, my eyes widened in horror. My mother walked up and reached with her finger to close Ellie’s mouth that was gaped open. “I didn’t need that visual, Lauren,” Ellie whispered.
Closing my eyes, I shook my head. Where is the closest rock?
“Well, now that we know what’s on my daughter’s mind, shall we get her married off?”
Ellie attempted to hold in her laughter but lost the battle. Soon, all three of us were laughing as my father walked into the room. Stopping dead in his tracks, his eyes traveled over my body as tears began to form. “Lauren, my God you’re beautiful.”
Kissing me on the cheek, my mother placed her hand on the side of my face. “My baby girl, getting married. I don’t believe it.”
My mother’s touch instantly warmed me. She always had a way of making me feel so loved. “Mom, I love you.”
Pursing her lips together, she nodded as her voice cracked. “I love you, too.”
Ellie walked up and adjusted my blonde curls one last time before she kissed me gently. “Lauren, I’m so excited you’re going to be my daughter-in-law. I love you, darling.”
Oh no. The tears. The tears are coming. Move this wedding along before I lose all control.
“Ellie, I . . . I . . .” Lifting her hand up to my face she shook her head.
“I know, Lauren. I know.”
My mother and Ellie both turned and left the room. Closing my eyes, I prepared myself to look at my father who I knew had tears rolling down his face.
Feeling his hand on my shoulder, I turned to him. Yep. There they were. Tears. Keep. It. Together. Lauren. Mascara. Don’t smudge. Don’t look in his eyes.
Placing his hands on my shoulders, I felt his body shudder briefly. Peeking up, I looked into his eyes and saw a single tear roll down his face.
Oh my glitter. Blinking rapidly I tried to keep my tears at bay.
“Oh, Lauren. You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.”
Laughing, I rolled my eyes as I carefully wiped a tear away. “Mom would be really pissed if she heard you say that.”
Letting out a strained chuckle he nodded his head. “Your mother was breathtaking. I can close my eyes and still see how beautiful she was.”
“Daddy,” I whispered.
“I need you to know something, Lauren. Before you walk down that aisle and become Colt’s forever, I need you to know you were mine first and you’ll always be my little girl. My life is for you and your mother and no matter what you need, I will be there for you. Always.”
Throwing myself into my father’s arms, I held onto him tightly. “Daddy, I’m so happy you’re here!”
“Me too, baby. Me, too.”
My father held me for a few minutes before there was a knock on the door. “It’s that time!” came a muffled voice from the other side of the door.
Stepping away I turned to the mirror to check my makeup. My mother was of course a step a head of me. She used waterproof makeup.
Holding his arm out for me my father asked, “Shall we?”