Page 106 of Faith
“Jules, tell me.”
“It’s just the bastard I dumped. And yes, I am using that word because he deserves it.”
“He’s causing you more problems.”
She wandered away to look out the window of their luxurious beachfront villa. They were in Hawaii for their wedding, surrounded by the serene beauty of the ocean. It was a private affair, with mainly close friends and family. Jensen grumbled about Micah being there, but she had ignored him. She knew that Jensen counted Micah as a friend and he was being a jealous prig.
“I wish I could just find a nice guy. Someone who likes me for me,” she said, sadness pulling her tone down.
Nicola went to her then, wrapping her arm around her friend. “You will. I believe it,” she said with unwavering conviction.
Jules dabbed away tears. “I don’t know. Everyone knows who I am, and they assume they know me. That I’m a nympho of some sort.” Her voice trembled with the weight of her words.
“Please let me make him cry.”
A laugh bubbled up out of the younger woman. “I keep telling you no for a reason. You and Jen have been through enough.”
Nicola sighed. She wanted to fix things for Jules but knew her soon-to-be sister-in-law needed time. She couldn’t stand to see her hurting.
Jules rested her head on Nicola’s shoulder.
“In less than an hour, you’re going to be my sister-in-law for real,” Nicola said, her voice filled with warmth and anticipation.
“Yeah.” It was easy to hear the smile in her friend’s voice. She lifted her head and wiped away her tears.
“Please let me make him cry.”
A laugh bubbled up out of the younger woman. “I keep telling you no for a reason. You and Jen have been through enough.”
Nicola sighed. She wanted to fix things for Jules but knew her soon-to-be sister-in-law needed time. She just couldn’t stand to see her hurting.
Jules rested her head on Nicola’s shoulder.
“In less than an hour, you’re going to be my sister for real,” Nicola said.
“Yeah.” It was easy to hear the smile in her friend’s voice. She lifted her head and wiped away her tears. “And I refuse to let that wanker ruin your day. And my day. It’s not been fun dealing with two brothers. Now I’ll have a sister by my side.”
Nicola felt her own eyes burning.
“Oh, shit! I’m sorry,” Jules said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She shook her head and grabbed a tissue. She wasn’t wearing that much makeup but didn’t want to smear what she had on.
“I’m not upset. I’m happy. I always wanted a sibling. Being an only child was lonely.”
“Hmm, I would say you were lucky. Imagine dealing with my two brothers your whole childhood.”
The love she heard in Jules’ voice made her smile. “Speaking of sexy, you in that dress…”
She laughed. “Thank you for letting me pick.”
In another Hawaiian-themed dress, Jules had that same ruffled neckline but the shade of blue the flowers on Nicola’s dress. “And as much as I love my shoes, I love being barefoot.”
“Right?”
“What are you girls doing in here?” Her mother said, rushing into the room, her father strolling behind her. In that instant, she knew she would finally have what her parents had. That connection…that unconditional love. She and Jensen will live the rest of their lives together, sharing in memories…good and bad…but they will weather any storm together.
“We were gossiping about how handsome Dad is,” she said with a smile. Her parents wore matching outfits, the same shades that matched her flowers. They wore leis, her father’s made of leaves, and her mother’s matched their flowers. They were so cute together.