Page 41 of Found in Wild Sage

Not really. Obviously.

“I mean, I get it, but please.” May gives me a conspiratorial look. “To so much love and happiness for you both.”

We all touch glasses, and I swallow down the lump in my throat along with the bubbles of the champagne.

“I’ll cry if I say too much, but let me just say thank you. So much. This has already been a dream come true.” I mean it.

I’ve anticipated the nerves and maybe even a sense of dread, but I don’t feel it. It never comes. I walk to a grassy lane behind the Ryan family home and wind my way around a corner marked by giant, blooming hydrangea bushes. Most of the flowers are native to Utah but these are apparently Mary’s favorites. She babies them, and they’ve rewarded her with bursts of purple and periwinkle blossoms. Their vivid green leaves create a stunning offset to the pastels of the blooms.

A bee dips and time slows down. It drops to the flower, a faint buzz against the violin floating on the breeze. I can’t say why, but this little bee feels like a confirmation. Somehow, he’s doing what he’s supposed to do, and in marrying Declan, so am I.

Again, it doesn’t make sense, but it’s what I know. So I keep going, farther around the bend, perfectly trimmed stalks of grass tickling my toes left bare by the straps of my sandals, to find him.

Declan.

He’s standing there, hands in the pocket of his slacks, gaze locked on me the moment I appear. His dark hair is styled neatly, his face shaved perfectly clean, and his blue eyes are brighter than ever under the vivid sapphire of the Juniper View sky.

He visibly swallows. In some part of my mind, I detect a shutter snapping. The photographer was pre-positioned with him so they could capture our meeting—his first time seeing me in my dress.

But I only see him. He moves when he sees me wobble. I’m wearing wedge sandals so my heels won’t sink into the grass, but he’s knee-weakeningly gorgeous.

“Evie.” It’s a breath, full of what sounds like wonder.

“Hi.”

“You’re… you’re—” He shakes his head.

Is this stunning man speechless over me?

Because, same.

“I’m so nervous,” I say, the words jumping off my tongue. It’s not really what I mean to say, but it’s not wrong.

His face changes. “We can call this off. We⁠—”

I grab his hands. Cling to them. “No. Not that kind of nervous. It’s just…” I look around at the garden teeming with blooming flowers. Farther into the backyard, white wooden chairs are set up, then at the front, there’s an arch of flowers ornately woven to frame us. “It’s all so beautiful.”

“It is. And none of it comes close to you.”

My heart flutters. “I could say the same for you. You are incredibly handsome, Declan.”

He gives me a half smile. “I’m glad you think so.”

There’s something to those words that make it feel like he literally doesn’t care what a single other person thinks as long as I think he looks good.

“Two minutes, guys.”

I have no idea who has spoken, but it sends my heart racing.

“Give us one minute, please?” I request this of the photographer, and she nods. “Can we do something really quick?” I keep Declan’s hand in mine and pull him with me, trotting as well as I can in my sandals to slip around the side of a tree. I need a few seconds of privacy. I cannot proceed without addressing this.

We come to stop and I square my shoulders. “I don’t want our first kiss to be in front of everyone.” I exhale sharply, relieved and a little terrified now that I’ve finally said the words.

I’m not sure what I expect from him. Maybe some logical discussion about how it’ll just be a peck and of course no one expects a performance for a wedding kiss. Or maybe an easy acceptance of the idea, a “sure, the better to support our ruse” type comment.

“Good idea.”

Wait, what? Like⁠—