“Really?”
She nodded. “Matthew’s going to love it.”
“Then why are you crying?” I said and tried to laugh through my own tears welling in the corners of my eyes. But it was no use. The tears started falling down my cheeks.
“Because I was just thinking about how much I’ve always wanted a daughter. And I know that the circumstances that led you to New York were awful. But I’m so grateful that you met my son.” She stepped up onto the platform with me and squeezed my hands. “I know your mom and uncle can’t be with us on your wedding day. And I wasn’t lucky enough to meet either of them. But I have a feeling they would have said you looked beautiful in this dress too.”
I nodded through my tears. It was exactly what I’d needed to hear. I looked back in the mirror, ignoring my tear-stained face. My mom really would have loved this dress. If she’d ever gotten married, I could picture her wearing something just like this. Something light and flowy that she could dance the night away in. I smiled, remembering the way that we used to dance around the kitchen. It was like a little piece of her was in this dress. And I think it’s why I loved it so much.
I’d wondered what my mom would have thought about me getting married so young. But she’d fallen in love with my dad when she was a teenager. And she’d fallen in love with me too. She was brave and strong and knew exactly what she wanted. I wasn’t sure I was nearly as brave or strong as her. But I was trying to be. And I did know exactly what I wanted. Matt.
Chapter 34
Wednesday
I wasn’t sure how Matt and I could get any closer. But as the days turned to weeks, and the weeks to months…we were completely inseparable. I didn’t even feel like myself unless we were touching. Which was why I always practically ran to lunch.
I spotted Matt laughing with Mason at our usual table. It still felt surreal to me that I was dating Matthew Caldwell. I wasn’t sure when that feeling would disappear. Hopefully never.
“Hey,” I said when I reached the table. I leaned down to kiss Matt on the cheek. But he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me onto his lap. Yeah. It was so much easier to breathe when we were close.
Kennedy snapped a picture of us. “I’m going to make you the most amazing pre-wedding album,” she said.
“Pre-wedding album?” Matt asked. “Is that even a thing?”
“It is when I have thousands of pictures of the two of you being ridiculously adorable.” She stole one of the fries off his tray and he didn’t even complain. “I can’t wait for Friday’s Thanksgiving. Are you sure you don’t need us to bring anything?”
“Nah, my mom said to just come hungry,” Matt said.
Kennedy and her mom were both coming to our second Thanksgiving on Friday and I was so excited. I’d already agreed to go to my dad’s tomorrow to celebrate with his family, so the Caldwells had been so sweet to change their celebration to Friday so that Matt and I could attend both. And I was thrilled when Mrs. Caldwell had extended the invitation to Kennedy and her mom too. She’d dubbed it “Friendsgiving,” and she was going all out as usual.
It was going to be a perfect, relaxing long weekend. Just as soon as real Thanksgiving was over. I was excited to spend time with my dad. But I hadn’t stepped foot in his apartment since homecoming. I’d be entering Isabella’s turf, and both she and I knew it.
“Are you nervous about tomorrow?” Kennedy asked. “Entering Wizzy’s lair once again?”
I looked over at Isabella. She’d calmed down over the past month. She’d only left me one threatening note in my locker a day now. Sometimes two. But at least there weren’t any dead animals. I’d never be able to forgive her for that. Matt and I had buried Sir Wilfred in the Caldwells’ backyard. And I felt guilty the whole time since I’d originally hated the little guy. God, just thinking about his body on Matt’s bed made me feel sick to my stomach.
“No, I’ll be fine,” I said. “I’ll have Matt there with me.” I smiled up at him. “Honestly, I’m mostly nervous about meeting my new extended family.” And I was a little nervous about the prank James, Rob, and I were planning on pulling on Isabella. But they promised they had everything covered. I just had to sit back and laugh. And hopefully get the Caldwells and Hunters to finally make up.
“What if all your new relatives are as terrible as Isabella?” Kennedy asked. “Yikes.”
“What’d I miss?” Felix said and sat down next to Kennedy.