Save the Date (Modern Arrangements, #1)

"I’m not that worked up over the honeymoon." He said with a grouchy tone.

"I wasn’t talking about that," I said back in a teasing tone. "I was thinking about Viola talking about their honeymoon and –"

"Ew…don’t you start too!" He laughed out. Turning my head, I saw him cringe at just the thought.

"Oh, get over it. I say more power to them!" Raising my glass into the air, I took a large drink.

"I guess," he mumbled.

We sat in comfortable silence awhile just watching television. Aidan had shifted in his seat but I kept my eyes on the TV. One moment I blinked and the next, Aidan was next to me pouring more wine into my glass.

"Thanks," I smiled.

"No problem." He gave a lopsided grin.

Our eyes met and for a brief moment, we lingered. Neither one of us wanting to be the first to look away. Heat flushed my face just before he broke the connection and walked away. I downed my wine quickly and excused myself to bed.

Friday I woke up to banging on the apartment door and the buzzer going off over and over and over. Looking over to the clock, it was only five in the morning.

"Ugh!" I groaned out and pulled myself out of bed.

Halfway to the steps Aidan stepped out of his room only wearing a pair of dress pants, which were hanging low on his hips since they weren’t yet buttoned. I licked my lips taking in his fresh from the shower hair and the bareness of his chest. Pulling myself out of my lustful stare, the door buzzer went off again.

"I got it." I yawned and headed down the stairs.

His hand wrapped around my arm and pulled me back. Turning, I looked at him with confusion.

"In that?" He motioned to my pajamas.

"What’s wrong with me?" I looked down over my shorts and t-shirt. It was more coverage than the night James had showed up. Hell, it was just a simple black t-shirt and gray sweat shorts.

"You should cover up."

Shrugging off his tingling touch, I continued down the stairs.

"You’re a dork." I said over my shoulder. Flipping the switch on the door monitor, I saw Phoebe’s face. "Oh God, make it go away!"

"Who is it?" Aidan yelled from behind me.

I looked back noticing that his pants were now buttoned and he had an undershirt on. His shirt was over his shoulders and left unbuttoned. Is it wrong to want to strip your fake fiancé and bounce on him like a pogo stick?

"It’s Phoebe," I groaned at her arrival and my thoughts. Aidan chuckled as I pulled open the door. "Good morning, Phoebe," I mumbled as she danced into the room.

"Good morning, sunshine," she practically sang. She looked at Aidan and stopped. "Well, hello there, handsome." She smiled sweetly. I rolled my eyes.

"See, she knows how to greet me." He grinned.

"Good, marry her." I mumbled and dragged my ass into the kitchen for coffee – a lot of coffee. Phoebe’s laugh rang out behind me.

"Sorry, baby, you’re stuck with me." He entered the kitchen behind me.

"Only for four years, then you are g-o-n-e, gone." I laughed. He didn’t.

I turned around to gauge his expression; he stood half a foot away from me grinning. Leaning forward, he placed both hands on either side of me.

"If I let you go." He said it with such a serious tone I shivered. I smacked his arm.

"Shut up!" Shoving coffee at him, he took his mug and backed away. Turning back to the coffee machine, I prayed I could calm myself before I needed to do a panty change.

Today was the rehearsal dinner, which was at the Carlyle on the Upper East Side of New York. It was a small dinner compared to the Iverson’s typical gatherings but, to me, seventy five people in a five star restaurant was a lot.

Phoebe arrived early since she had a seven in the morning spa day planned for Viola, Maggie, Celia, Elora, and me. She needed two hours to prepare me for the spa. Preparing entailed me lying in bed and letting her do whatever while I dosed off.

Half an hour before the car was going to arrive, I jumped in the shower and put on the totally clichéd Bride jogging suit Phoebe had set out. Hers, of course, said Maid of Honor and the rest said Bridesmaid, except for Viola’s, hers said Mother of the Groom.

We arrived to the spa and were rushed into a private suite. Scowling at Phoebe for doing this, I found out it was Viola’s typical room. After apologizing to Phoebe, I just sighed and relaxed. Sitting around getting foot massages, Phoebe disappeared for a moment, emerging a few minutes later.

"Lilli, I have a surprise for you…" she was practically doing a cheer. As I was about to reprimand her for the surprise, my mother stepped out from behind a curtain.

"Mom?" Quickly standing, I froze in shock.

"Hey, babe!" she moved quickly, throwing her arms around me.

"Uh…hey" I looked at Phoebe with wide eyes. "I...uh…thought you couldn’t make it this weekend?"

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