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20
“What’s with the mascot?”Beck asks as he makes his way across the beach to where the group of us is gathered.
“He’s a friend,” I say, nodding to Hugo in his cage, whom the staff let us borrow. He twitters in response.
Beck goes to join the others, but I turn toward the sea. For the rehearsal, it’s supposed to be our close friends, plus Haley and Dad and the kids. The officiant doing our service will walk us through. It’s going to be short—half an hour—but the importance of it feels much bigger.
I’ve always loved the sunrise more than the sunset. It’s the promise of something new.
But the sunset tonight was supposed to be something to savor—a symbol of the last day of my life alone and a chance for us to watch the stars.
On the beach, the sun glowing like orange and pink embers on the horizon, my simple white linen dress blows in the breeze…
But there’s no Tyler in sight.
He’ll be here.
The officiant arrives, holding a book under her arm. She smiles. “How are you all today?”
“A couple of bodies short,” Elle notes, scanning the row of villas for some sign of movement.
Uncertainty ripples through my stomach. It’s almost time to start.
Haley appears around the corner, and the nerves dissipate.
“Are Dad and Tyler on their way?” I ask, my brows tugging together. “They were supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago.”
My stepmom stops in front of me, Mason in the stroller. Sophie spots Hugo and makes a beeline for his cage.
“You haven’t heard from them?” Haley guesses.
“No.” I swallow hard. “We’re going to lose the sunset.”
The emotions in my stomach are reflected in her eyes. Disappointment, disbelief, anger, grief.
Over my shoulder, the sun seems to sink another inch closer to the calm sea, and my hope descends with it. He was supposed to be here.
Haley squeezes my shoulders, and my throat fills. I knew going in that I was marrying someone whose public star would shine brighter than mine. I even told myself I was okay with it… and I am okay with him being known, recognized, appreciated.
Because he always knows, recognizes, and appreciates me.
“I’ve been thinking all week about what you said. I’ve been trying to be mature, to let him take on this responsibility,” I murmur to my stepmom, emotion filling my voice.
I don’t care about money.
I don’t care about the legacy we leave behind.
I need him.
“This isn’t about maturity anymore, Annie. Excuse me one minute.”
Leaving Mason in the stroller, Haley stomps across the sand toward the villas. Her hair billows in the breeze behind her.
Elle looks dismayed. Pen is pissed. Harrison—standing next to Rae—seems to have a hard time dragging his attention from her while her hands are clutched in fists at her chest, dark expression unreadable.
“I’m going to watch,” Beck decides, but Elle grabs the back of his shirt.
“This is a family moment.”
