Page 86 of Heartstrings & Horseshoes

“I know, sissy. I think about it sometimes too. But look at the family you’ve built for yourself. Your life is full of support and love, and we’ll always have each other,” I say.

Izzy turns around and wraps me in a soft hug.

“I love seeing you so happy,” I say to my sister, choking back tears.

“None of that, I don’t want to redo my makeup.” She laughs. “You look amazing. Connor’s going to lose his mind when he sees you.” Izzy fluffs my breasts, and I slap her hands away.

A knock sounds on the door and Livy shouts from the bathroom, “Five minutes!”

I open the door to find Mrs. Andersen’s smiling face—the kind of mother I wish we’d had. Izzy exits ahead of me and her future mother-in-law brushes a tendril of hair from her face.

“Oh honey, you look lovely. My son’s a lucky man.” They leave to set up before the ceremony and I follow behind, Livy still shouting from behind the bathroom door.

I bump into a wall of muscle, and Connor’s arms shoot out to catch me.

He immediately yanks his arms back, nearly dropping me, to dramatically cover his eyes.

“It’s bad luck to see the maid of honor before the wedding,” he says.

I have no such qualms. Connor’s edible in dress cowboy boots beneath tailored dark grey slacks and my favorite white pearl snap. His hair’s slicked back, and I have an uncontrollable urge to dig my fingers in to mess it up and grip it while he kisses me.

“Ok, studmuffin,” I say, patting his firm chest on my way past.

“See you in a few,” he says, still dramatically covering his eyes.

“I’ll be the one next to the bride.” I slap his tight ass and saunter off to find the rest of the wedding party.

39

The ceremony’s set to take place before the magnificent fireplace I’m told has special meaning for Izzy and Reid.

Simple flowers and candles adorn the mantle. A funny little bobble head armadillo sits proudly front and center.

The dining room chairs are set in a neat arc around the fireplace, each with a pink satin bow tied on the back. A photographer dressed in all black moves through the space like a phantom.

Mr. Andersen walks his wife to her seat, kisses her reverently, and takes his place in front of the fireplace, hands clasped in front of him. I sit on the end opposite of Mrs. Andersen, leaving room for the family between us.

Harper’s a little princess in her puffy pink dress and glimmering tiara, sprinkling rose petals on her short walk to the fireplace and comes to sit beside her pseudo-grandma.

I don’t know a ton about Reid’s history, but from what Delilah’s told me, he used to be extremely private as a result of an accident that disfigured his face.

There’s no trace of that insecurity as he walks in. His longer hair is slicked back away from his face, beard is neatly trimmed, and his dress shirt’s unbuttoned at the top to not irritate the scarring on his neck.

The groom comes to stand beside his father, who claps him on the back proudly. My heart jolts, grief flooding me from missing my dad. Who he used to be, who he’ll never be again, and most of all, that he won’t remember when I get married.

James leads Delilah to her place beside the makeshift altar. He flanks Reid with a squeeze to his shoulder.

I can’t take my eyes off my girl. Her dress is slinky pink satin, draped like water across her fair skin. A cowl neck teases her breasts, making my mouth water. Her hair’s pinned to one side, revealing the delicate column of her neck.

She’s breathtaking.

Greyson leads Liv to the altar, and they take their places beside their rightful best friends.

A sharp intake of breath has people turning to watch Izzy walk to the altar, but I look at Reid. It’s earth-moving when a man so openly loves a woman. He beams with joy as she makes her way to stand before him.

He pulls her into a hug, unable to resist touching his bride and kisses her tenderly. They whisper sweet nothings to each other; they deserve as many private moments as they want on their wedding day.

Warmth spreads in my chest seeing Izzy so confident in her own skin. She suffered for so many years at the hands of cruel, ignorant people and disappeared behind a façade. She looks like the Izzy I grew up with, but older and herself again.