she said. “But I have a feeling you’ll just be stubborn Vi and show up anyway.”
I didn’t disagree.
“Yuriko is arriving around ten with the costumes. She’ll want to do one last fitting to make sure nothing needs to be adjusted. Why don’t you come then?” Jada relented.
“That should give me time to finish a lot of the morning routine before Tami and Saul show up,” I said. “Do you want Dawson to come with me then, too?”
She shook her head. “No. I feel like having Dawson there so early would tempt the gods of chaos. I’ll have his tux dropped off here as long as you’re okay with that.”
I nodded. “I’m hoping he sleeps until it’s time to get ready because I’m pretty sure he’s been running on fumes.”
“Fumes and sex,” she smiled.
“The explosions-of-passion-and-sin-leave-a-mark-on-you kind.” I grinned, throwing her words from the bar back at her.
Her smile widened. “Thank God. I would have been disappointed in the both of you, otherwise.”
Her phone buzzed. Kaida was there. Jada hugged me. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
“Please be safe.”
“I will,” she said into my hair.
“Don’t be a hero. Call if you need us to come and get you.”
“Okay.”
“Promise me,” I demanded.
She nodded. “I promise.”
And then she left.
My heart lurched as I watched her get into the back of the SUV while Kaida put her luggage in the rear. I was worried about her going on her own. It was only six in the morning. Four hours was a lot of time for someone to hurt her. To do damage to my friend.
I needed to get to her as soon as possible.
I texted Tami and asked if she could come early before turning back to the buffet and the routine that needed to be done while I waited for her response.
TAMI: We can be there in thirty minutes.
ME: Thank you so much.
TAMI: I’m glad we can help.
It meant they were missing Sunday brunch with their family, but I was grateful I had them to rely on. I was grateful Mandy and Leena had them to rely on as well.
When Tami showed up, I went upstairs, and instead of showering in my room and waking Dawson, I showered in his. The soap and shampoo he used hit my senses with waves of longing. It was ridiculous. I’d just barely left him in my bed, and yet I was already wishing I could be back there. That we could hide away from the rest of the world for at least a week.
I smiled, realizing those feelings were the reason people had honeymoons. They could escape everything and everyone except the person they loved. Not that I was wanting a honeymoon, per se. Not that I was expecting a ring on my finger and a walk down the aisle after we’d spent one night in bed together, but one thing about that honeymoon thought was true.
I loved Dawson.
I’d never not loved him from the moment he’d walked into the Victorian and lit me up.
Now that love was amplified. By the knowledge of who he’d become. The loyalty and honor he showed to his friends. To his country. To his family. To me. It had also been amplified by the physical touch we’d shared. The beauty of it. I got why people never forgot their first. Because, when it was like this, surrounded with emotions and deep caring, it wasn’t something you could easily walk away from.
I braided my wet hair and then tiptoed back into my room. Dawson was sprawled out on his stomach, legs wide, one arm wrapped around a pillow, with the sheet slipping from him to reveal his muscled back and the top of his butt cheeks. My body tingled back to life. The temptation to slide in with him, to remove the pillow and curve that arm around me, was strong.
But Jada was waiting for me.
I packed a bag with the things I thought I’d need to get ready for the party. Then, I wrote him a note, not wanting to risk waking him with a text buzzing.
Went to Jada’s to help her get ready for the party.
Text me when you’re up.
Then, I lingered over how to sign it, and finally, just left the simple truth: Always yours, Violet.
I stared one more time at his perfect form, resisted the urge to kiss his cheek, and left the room with my bag over my shoulder. I’d see him in a few hours. Hopefully, all of this would be over with soon,