Three years after his mother's death, Noah Reed is lost once again. Unsure of where to go after running from his problems for so long, he ends up back home, wanting a place to finally settle down. He's ready to tie up loose ends and to try and corre...
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"July," Mia says with a wide smile, her hazel eyes dancing and full of light. "We've decided on July."
"Mia!" I exclaim in excitement. "How wonderful! And so close! Wow!"
"I know," Mia admits, beaming, "time is catching up on us, but Thorne and I really want a summer wedding. Besides, we've been together since high school. We're both ready to officially tie the knot."
"Any certain day stand out to you?" I question. Mia and I stand talking together in the kitchen of the apartment she's been sharing with Thorne for quite a while now, and I note that it's been decorated beautifully. There's a few touches of Thorne here and there, though it's clear as day that Mia went above and beyond to make the cozy apartment her own.
Mia smiles to herself, gaze drifting to the stunning diamond decorating her ring finger. It's nice to see her so happy.
"We were thinking the eighteenth," Mia admits. "That's always been Thorne's favorite number."
"Everything is happening so fast," she continues. "I mean, July will be here before I know it. I still have to pick a venue and order the flowers and find a caterer and pick out my dress and find Thorne a tux, because Lord knows he'll forget to. Not to mention that I still have to send out the invites and pick a wedding party. I'm stressed just thinking about it all."
"Hey," I say, "don't worry about it. You know I'll help you with anything you need. I'd love to."
Mia offers me a kind smile. "What would I do without you, Blake?"
I snort as I steal a grape from the fruit bowl in front of Mia, teasing, "Plan your own wedding?"
Mia laughs and rolls her eyes. "That reminds me, actually," she murmurs, "I was hoping you'd like to be a bridesmaid, Blake."
I'm stunned by Mia's question. Mia McHenry has been a big part of my life in the past four years I've known her, yet I'm still surprised that she would want me to be a part of the most important day of her life.
"Mia," I start, shaking my head, "I—"
"Say yes!" Mia cuts me off, flashing me a hopeful smile. "Of course I want you to be part of the wedding party, Blake."
"Then . . . yes!" I exclaim as a grin overtakes my features. "I can't say no to the bride-to-be."
"I'm thinking of Emmie, Charlie, and Violet as the other bridesmaids," Mia informs me. "I know Thorne is going to want Jay, Wells, and Asher as his best men. And Noah." Mia begins to backtrack once she realizes she's brought up Noah, expression turning regretful.
"It's okay," I murmur with a slight laugh. "You can talk about Noah. Of course I'd expect him to be a part of your big day. Besides, it's not like I haven't run into him by now. I'm okay seeing him."
"Still," Mia says, pursing her lips, "that was insensitive of me. I remember what you went through when he left. I shouldn't have said anything."
"It's okay, really. Besides, I ran into him at the café. And he came over to my house last Sunday for dinner. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to handle seeing him again, Mia."
