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Chapter 155

I was only falling in love

— Ry X, Only

. . . .

"Wow, this is beautiful," I ogle over the scenery as we walk up the pathway from the car. The tiny pebbles crunch under our feet as we walk hand-in-hand towards the venue.

The weather is beautiful today, perfect for an outdoor wedding. Alec had shown me pictures of this place several months ago when she told me Noel proposed, but none of those photos are doing this place any justice. The location is nestled back in the middle of nowhere on a hill. The paved road leading up here ran through trees and fields, leading to a gravel patch for a parking lot and a bit of an uphill walk to make it to the building.

Other guests are showing up sporadically. The wedding doesn't start for a half-hour, but we wanted to be close to the front and see Noel before the ceremony started. We walk through the footpath lined with dark green bushes with blooming bright pink and red flowers. Trellises are aligned overhead, making it a tunnel through which I presume Alec will be walking through to get to her groom. A man at the opening hands me a pamphlet with Noel and Alec's picture on the front.

Noel's at the front with two other men, one older and one around Noel's age. Harry and I wait off to the side while Noel finishes his conversation. The two other men walk back in the direction we just came from, and Noel turns to us, his smile lighting up.

"Violet!" He exclaims, his grin expanding. He opens his arms to me and welcomes me in a hug. "I'm so glad you guys are here. Harry, it's great to see you again."

"You as well," Harry hugs him too. "Congratulations, by the way."

"Thank you."

"Are you nervous?" I ask him.

"Not a bit. She's the one."

"I'm sure she's going to be beautiful."

"I have no doubt about that," his smile persists. His eyes drop to the bag I'm carrying, and his brow lifts upward. "I thought we said no gifts."

I shrug, and he cracks a smile despite me breaking the rules. "You both have done so much for me. This simple gift is hardly enough to say how thankful I am for both of you. Plus, I already bought it and threw out the receipt, so you might as well just accept it."

Noel looks at Harry and says, "She's sassy."

"Yes, she is."

"Also, while we're on the topic of being grateful for one another and so on, you've been so great to us, specifically to Al. You've helped her quite a bit. I think being able to talk to someone other than me or her therapist about the baby has really helped. We're not having bridesmaids or groomsmen, but she said you'd be one of them if we had gone that route with the wedding."

I hug him again, and when we break away, Alec's mum comes over and politely asks to steal Noel to discuss the reception. He thanks us for coming and heads up towards the beginning of the aisle with his soon-to-be mother-in-law.

"Let's take our seats, babe," Harry suggests and keeps his hand on my lower back.

We find seats at the front without an issue as most of the people are either standing around talking or are still arriving. Our seats are the third row back, aisle end.

"I don't think I've told you how beautiful you look today." Harry drops his hand down on my left knee that's crossed over my right and squeezes.

"You have three times already, but I never get tired of hearing it," I reply with a wide smile on my face. "Thank you."