We Had the Right Kind of Love // L.S.

Chapter 23. Beloved

(sorry for all the straight fluff (lol) but it's important for the story. hang in there besties)

This is really going to happen; I think to myself as I stare up at the white ceiling of our hotel room. The rehearsal and dinner had all gone smoothly yesterday and now the hours were the antagonizing long hours before the actual ceremony. Just the thought of this afternoon has my heart jumping out of my chest as I roll out of bed and shuffle to the bathroom where I can hear Diana humming to herself as she gets ready.

Traditionally the bride and groom aren't supposed to see each other until the ceremony though Diana and I never had the intention of doing things the traditional way.

"' Morning sleepy," she says as I open the bathroom door, threads of steam from her shower wafting out from the humid room.

"' Morning yourself," I say, snaking my arms around her face and nuzzling into the crook of her neck. Her damp hair smells like her green tea-infused hair care and her skin like vanilla. "You smell nice."

She giggles under contact as my nose trails down her lean neck, "Ok creep," she says, pushing me off with a smile. "Shower and then breakfast. I don't want us to be late."

"Rodger that," I say, and promptly begin to strip, pajamas soon laying in a sad little heap on the tiled bathroom floor.

"Lucky me," she says, fondly pinching the skin by my waist. "No one told me I'd get a show this morning."

"Enjoy it while it lasts," I tease, playfully darting away from her touch and slipping behind the shower curtain.

"Damn it," she says. "Should have gotten my camera out."

"Next time love," I say over the sound of the water hitting the bottom of the shower.

**

The back room where the groom and groomsmen were assigned to get ready felt small and overheated as people darted back and forth in a bur of black suits, white collared shirts, and striped ties. It's two hours before the ceremony and the preamble nerves infused with excitement are starting to kick in at full force.

"Hey, you good man?" Liam asks, coming up from behind and massaging my shoulders.

I nod, "Just nervous." I take a deep breath and get a whiff of Harry's signature musky cologne. "I think I'm going to get some air," I say before shrugging away from Liam's touch and finding the nearest door.

Harry had been at the rehearsal yesterday sitting in the crowd with our families and friends with a brave face and stiff posture. He had sat there with the same warm and congratulating smile everyone else had worn as Diana and I said our vows, but through the corner of my eye, I knew it was fake and it confused the shit out of me.

He told me he was happy for us; excited to be here to celebrate. He was already friendly with Diana so it didn't make sense why he would need to fake a smile. Unless he'd been lying which was obviously not the case.

I avoided his eye the entire afternoon and immaturely through the rehearsal dinner. I kept telling myself that I was busy talking with Diana's family, or one of the boys, or Gemma or my sisters but in reality I was purposefully avoiding him.

Avoiding Harry.

It made it easier for me, it really did. Not having to see his face made me focus on how unbelievably lucky I was and how excited I was for this new chapter of my life to start. Though now, I think I just created another hurdle for us to jump.

"Why is it that I'm always running after you to make you tell me what the hell is going on in that confusing head of yours?" Liam asks, opening the back door and looking at me with the same exasperated look he's given me for years.