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"You want to tell me what just happened here?"

I brush off Juliet’s question, turning back to her with a bright s, I don’t knohat you et started: out in the yard, or in here?"

"Lacey …" Juliet giveslook, but I refuse to crumple and make even more drama out of my own daet the heavy lifting done before we change You stay inside and keep warm, but send me whoever you have free"

Juliet opens her mouth to protest, but she’s drowned out by the clatter of activity in the hall as Eroomsmen arrive in a hustle of hunky manliness: Hunter, Brit’s fiancé, tall and blonde and strapping, and their friend, Garrett, looking surprisingly smart with his usual ard stubble shaved, and a suit instead of his uniforreeting thee to keep away from Juliet’s questions for the next few hours as I slip into full event-planning mode With Garrett and Hunter at my disposal, the mess inside the house and out is cleared away into closets and the garage, and we set up a s up to an archway I ith holly, winter wreaths, and red and white ribbons I hang tiny lanterns and twinkling white Christhts on the tree branches and fence, and in no ti, snoept Christmas card scene

The activity is good for ht of Daniel out of my mind

Almost

But as hard as I try, I can’t stop thereat out here" Ehts I jolt back to reality to find hi of coffee in his hands

"Yup!" I exclai to be perfect"

Focus, Lacey, I scold myself This isn’t about you: today is Juliet’s day, not the time for your own stupid e about makeup …" Emerson adds "I don’t even know but Brit sounds about ready to kill so around one last time There’s a wonderful hush that’s fallen over the bay with the snowfall: the world is white and gray and silver, with nothing but the distant sound of the ocean crashing on the pale shore It’s ical, like another world, and for aDaniel could be back here to share it with

I s back my foolish dreams and hurry back into the warhtly, looking around the bedroom Juliet has commandeered as Bride Central

"Finally!" Brit sht pink streak in it to ns, I’ll bet "You better sit down," she adds, lookingfor ato fix all of … this"

"So where’s the VIP?" I ask, settling in a chair

"In here!" Juliet’s voice comes, muffled fro out Proh," she adds, a trees: a vision in white

"Ohit in Juliet’s dress is a si, flowing skirt that pools out behind her Tiny pearls are e the princess neckline, and Brit rushes forwards to help fix a long veil to her hair, spilling down her back in a swoop of delicate lace

"Is it OK?" Juliet twists, anxious

"It’s perfect" I pro tears again "I can’t believe you’re gettingfor e yourme

I’m suddenly hit with the truth For years, Juliet has beento someone else To Emerson

And I’ll be alone

The emotions of the day are finally tooso hard to keep it together, but so inside has broken wide open and I can’t keep it in any!" I choke, eetThe others are looking ata mess of my makeup, but I can’t help it, it hurts tooout a , just hours away, it can’t take it anymore Everyone here has someone: their lover, their partner, their friend And as much as I’ve tried to deny it, I can’t avoid the truth

I wanted Daniel to be my someone I want it so, so bad