After Quinn leaves, I join Skyla for breakfast. She pushes the butter and syrup my way, and when I look up, she’s smiling nervously.

“What’s up?” I ask, knowing my daughter. That smile means she wants to ask me for something.

“I was thinking, once school is out for the summer, we could go visit Mom. I really want to give her the signed paper Celeste gave me. I still can’t believe I met her. She said she knew you… How do you know her? Why didn’t you tell me? That’s something super important, Dad. She’s the best model in the industry…in the entire world.”

I tune out her rambling, stuck on the words that she wants to go visit her mom. It’s been a little over a year since the last time we went to visit Amaya. While I would never stop my daughter from visiting her mom, I hate going there. I hate Skyla seeing her mom in that state. Every time we go to visit her, she ends up afraid and upset, asking questions I don’t have the answers to. In the past, because she was so young, once we were back home, she would forget how scared and upset she was and ask to visit her mom again. Now, though, she’s getting older, and I’m not sure whether she’ll be scared and upset or understand and be okay. It shouldn’t be this way. No child should have to visit their mom in that condition. But it’s out of my hands. I can’t control the decisions her family makes. I’m just grateful that, for the most part, they leave Skyla and me alone.

“Dad…” I’m not sure how many times Skyla has said my name, but by the annoyed look on her face, it must’ve been a few times.

“Sorry, yeah, we can go visit your mom,” I tell her, ignoring the second half of her question about how I know Celeste. I’m not ready to go there, especially not with my daughter. “I’m not sure when, but we’ll go for sure this summer.”

“Thanks!” Skyla jumps out of her seat and comes around the table to give me a hug.

Nine

Celeste

“Thank you, again, for coming with me.” I squeeze Adam’s hand and he smiles softly at me, knowing how much him being here truly means to me. I met Adam several years ago when he was just beginning his modeling career. We clicked immediately and a wonderful friendship blossomed. Over the years, Adam’s and my friendship has turned into so much more. He’s like a brother to me. When Chad and I broke up and I knew I was going to have to attend this wedding solo, Adam insisted he join me so I wouldn’t be alone. His boyfriend, Felix, is one of the top photographers in the business and is away on a shoot, so it worked out perfect.

“You know I wouldn’t be anywhere else.” Adam leans over and gives me a kiss on my cheek. “Now, get your butt inside and get dressed. I can’t wait to see you walk down the aisle.” He shoots me a flirty wink and I laugh humorlessly.

“Take pictures. It will probably be the only time I ever walk down an aisle.” I roll my eyes, trying to play my insecurities off, and Adam frowns.

“If I didn’t know better, I would think the idea of you not getting married is what’s upsetting you. Has my little ice queen thawed?” He gives me a quizzical look, but I don’t answer him. Instead, I turn to head to the room where all the women in the wedding are getting ready.

“See you soon!” I call out over my shoulder.

“This conversation isn’t over,” Adam yells back through a laugh.

* * *

I’m dressed in a simple royal blue V-neck halter gown with a floor length charmeuse skirt that has a slit running up the side. It’s tasteful and elegant. I must admit, Olivia did a fabulous job when she chose my dress. I’ve seen enough wedding designs to know most bridesmaids end up in something ugly because the bride is too afraid to be outdone. The other women in Olivia’s wedding party are in something similar, each dress varying slightly. Olivia, of course, looks absolutely stunning in her wedding dress. It’s a white strapless gown with a fitted bodice and a wide, full tulle skirt that shows off her adorable baby bump. She truly looks like a Disney Princess. Giselle and her stepmom, Corinne, dote on her while the hair and makeup team finish getting her ready. I use this time to slip out and visit Nick. I knock once on the door and Killian opens it.

“Celeste,” he says politely with a curt nod. “You look beautiful.” After I stare at him stunned for a second, I smile and thank him. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over the shock of Killian being nice to me.

Tags: Nikki Ash Imperfect Love Romance
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