Save the Date (Modern Arrangements, #1)

"It’s very nice to meet you." Prepared to shake hands with Viola, she had other plans.

She grabbed my shoulders, looked me over and pulled me into a tight hug. After pulling back she examined the ring on my finger. Her face lit up like the seeing the sun for the first time.

"You accepted," she said cheerfully and then pulled me into another hug.

"Okay, mom, quit hogging Lilli," Maggie pushed in between us.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maggie." I smiled.

"Definitely a pleasure to meet anyone that puts Aidan-o-boy in his place," she giggled and then wrapped her arms around me. I laughed and squeezed back.

"Hey!" Aidan pushed her arm.

"Okay you two. It’s getting colder by the minute, everyone in the car." Viola ordered.

Aidan stood, letting everyone in before him. Viola pulled me close to her side and Maggie climbed on the other. At that moment, I felt very claustrophobic.

"So, Lilli, you look like you’re about a size six?" Viola raised her brow.

"Uh…yeah." I said hesitantly.

"Perfect," she clapped her hands.

I looked over at Aidan in confusion, clearly I was missing something. He simply shrugged.

"You will fit her dress," Maggie answered my unspoken question.

"Dress?"

"The wedding dress," she smiled like a kid who just got away with something.

"Oh," was all I could say.

"Do you have a preference on colors or the cake?" Viola asked pulling my attention back to her.

"Huh?"

"I told you she would bombard you with questions. I tried to warn you." Aidan laughed.

"Keep it down over there Aidan-o-boy" I said cockily. He scowled and Maggie burst into laughter.

"I will need your friend’s and family’s information so we can try to make arrangements for them to attend." I turned back to a very eager Viola.

"Um…it’s only my mother, sister and father, but they won’t be attending." I spoke quickly and hoped that there would be any further questions about it.

"Oh dear," Viola’s face fell. "Why not?"

Damn!

"My father is sick…uh…heart problems and, well, my mother…she…she’s not a fan of marriage anymore." I shrugged.

"Oh," Viola answered. "Well, I’ll need your friends in New York dear and don’t tell me they won’t be coming, because I know that a nice girl like you has friends." She smiled sweetly.

The rest of the car ride was about the wedding and I was ready to poke my eyes out. When the car finally stopped I realized that we were in front of a building that I didn’t recognize. Aidan scooted forward toward the door.

"This is us." He spoke as he opened the door.

I sat still and Aidan leaned back in offering me his hand.

"What?"

"This is us," he repeated.

"Us?" I motioned between him and me.

"Yeah, dork, so let’s go."

"Look loser, don’t call me a dork." I teased and took his hand.

We said goodbye to Viola and Maggie, but not before Viola made me promise to meet her for brunch Tuesday. Then the car pulled away. I don’t think I’ve ever had brunch before in my life.

I reached down for my bag but Aidan grabbed it first.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking your bag up," he said like it was nothing.

"Aidan, I have a home," I stood with my arms across my chest, "and there is nothing more than I would prefer than to go home to my own bed and bathroom."

"Uh…yeah…well….I kind of…"

"What did you do?" I growled.

"Ihadallyourstuffbroughthere," he said so fast that the words ran together.

"What the hell did you just say about my stuff?" I shouted and took two steps closer to him.

He sighed.

"I said, I had your stuff brought here" He flinched before I even started yelling.

Oh, he knew it was coming.

"You did what?" I shoved him in his chest. He went stumbling back. "How could you do that without even talking to me about it?"

Aidan grabbed my arms as I attacked again.

"Calm down," he growled. "This way we can get to know each other before we get married."

"Didn’t I tell you that—"

"Yes, you did, but it was after I already made these arrangements," he shrugged.

"Did you even think about Dixon? He is my best friend, Aidan and you just took me away!"

"I’m sorry," he let go of my arms "If you want, I will have your stuff taken back." He turned and walked through the glass doors.

"Ahggghhhgg!" I screamed before I followed him through the doors.

He stood on the other side grinning.

"Feel better now?"

"I’ll feel much better after I slap that smirk off your face." I threatened.

He chuckled and led me to the elevators.

When we reached the top floor and walked off the elevator I realized that there were only two doors on the floor, besides the exit door. Which, I won’t lie, I considered running through that door. Aidan walked over to the large black door on the right and opened it, motioning for me to enter first.

I stepped inside.

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