I reach for my purse to grab my phone and see the letter that Kyler had just given me. I leave that out so I can read it. Once changed into my new pajamas, I walk into the bathroom and snap a quick selfie in the mirror showing off the name on my back as well as a selfie of the front with me blowing Kyler a kiss and send them off to him.
I don’t wait for a response before I walk back into the room, put my phone on the bed, and grab the letter. Tonight, I want to be present with the girls and not be tempted to call or text Ky again.
I walk back into the living room and hear Haylee, Lauren, and Kate giggling in the kitchen. Instead of joining them, I curl up in the comfy chair in the corner, pulling my feet under me, and open the envelope. I pull out a handwritten letter, just like the one I had given him, and read his words.
I am currently wiping away the fallen tears when the girls walk in carrying a bowl of popcorn, two bottles of wine, and four glasses.
“Ooh, whatcha got there?” Kate snatches the letter of my lap as Lauren hands me a glass of red wine. “Oh my God, did my brother write you a love letter?”
I can’t hold back my smile; there is no denying it, so I just smile.
“Holy shit? Seriously?” Lauren settles next to her sister leaning over.
When I see them like this, so close, there is no denying they are identical twins no matter how hard they try to differentiate from each other with their styles.
I watch them as their eyes quickly go back and forth, reading their brother’s shitty handwriting.
“Wow, who knew my brother was so romantic?” Kate says before handing me back the letter and taking a sip of her wine.
“Seriously, that was something I would read in one of my romance novels, not something I would ever expect someone to experience in real life. Love doesn’t happen for everyone. A love like yours and yours…” Lauren looks over at Haylee. “…is rare and not found often.”
I watch sadness fill her face as she takes a long swig of her wine.
“It could still happen for you.” I don’t know much about Lauren’s past relationships—in fact, as I think about it now, I don’t think she has really seen anyone since we met. “Maybe you’ll find yourself a handsome single man at the wedding and get your happily ever after.”
Lauren swirls her finger over the top of her wine glass and stares blankly into it. “Nah. I had that once-in-a-lifetime love before, and it didn’t work out.”
I watch Kate and Lauren share a look before they both take a drink. Lauren ends up finishing the contents of her glass. When my eyes meet Lauren’s again, I recognize a sadness behind them I once saw in myself. I choose not to push the subject.
Things I have learned about the Lawson twins: if they don’t want to talk about it, you don’t push it.
I just give Lauren a reassuring smile, and she gives one back, but I can see it’s fake. Clearly, this is a touchy subject for her, one that I am honestly surprised has never come up before. But judging by the sadness on her face, I understand why. No one wants to talk about the heartache they went through.
But I have faith that maybe one day she will be happy again. I never believed that I would find love again after losing Emmett, but here I am the night before marrying the love of my life. Kyler filled all of the broken holes of my heart and brought me out of the darkness. If it could happen to me, it could happen to my future sister-in-law.
“So, enough serious love talk tonight,” a rather drunk Haylee says, lifting her wineglass in the air, sloshing a little over. She makes a funny face. “Oops, I’ll just blame that spot on Zach or Emme later.” She laughs.
“Okay, so first, this girl needs a refill.” Haylee holds up a bottle and hands it to Lauren to refill. “Then we will gossip all the funny Kyler Lawson stories growing up, and then I have a special treat for the bride-to-be.”
She gets up and walks over to the entertainment center and pulls out a Blu-ray of My Girl, my ultimate favorite movie. I can’t help but smile even more. I think about all the times I have made Kyler watch this. I’m pretty sure he can quote scenes now too, but back in the day, he thought Thomas J. and Vada Sultenfuss were real people I was hanging out with and not characters in my favorite movie.
I clap my hands in excitement. “Okay, I agree on all of this, but I can’t stay up too late. Someone has to go get married tomorrow.” I laugh, rising from the chair, and walk toward the couch, joining the rest of the girls. “Now scoot over, bitches. Make room for the bride.”
As I settle down on the couch in between Haylee and Lauren, I feel a tug on my shirt. I look to my left and find Lauren smiling, looking me up and down.
“You know, that last name looks good on you.”
“Thanks. I think so too.”
I wake up to my phone buzzing on the nightstand. I reach for it with a smile on my face.
Ky: Good morning, beautiful. Guess what today is?
Me: Hmm…what?
Of course I know what today is. Oh my God, it’s my wedding day, but l want to see where Kyler is going with this. Plus, I love to mess with him.
Me: Good morning to you, too, by the way.