Page 55 of When Forever Falls Apart

“Beautiful,” Elliot murmurs, his gaze holding mine. I’m unable to turn away, caught in the spell of his deep stare as butterflies fill my stomach. “You ready?”

I nod. “Let’s do this.”

Elliot insists on driving my car, which suits me fine since the thought of being on the back of his bike wearing a dress is mortifying.

I settle into the passenger seat, a whirlwind of anxious nerves swirling in my stomach as I brace for the day ahead. Stella mentioned the wedding is small and intimate, but that only means that Myles will be in my face more than I’d like.

“So, Eva is setting you up on a blind date?” Elliot probes.

Is that a flicker of jealousy lurking in his tone?

“Hell no. Just because she’s pregnant doesn’t mean she can meddle in my life like that,” I complain. “A blind date sounds like the absolute worst way to spend my time.”

“I heard the news from my lovely sister who decided to call me, only to put me on speaker while she puked into the toilet bowl,” he informs me while scrunching his nose. “Ditch the blind date, they never end well.”

I glance at him, amusement sparkling in my eyes. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. The groom came down with chickenpox last week. He’s no longer contagious, but the poor guy is covered in spots.”

Elliot erupts in laughter. “That will certainly put a damper on the honeymoon.”

“Hmm, are you wondering what I’m wondering?”

In the driver’s seat, Elliot grins, a raised eyebrow teasing me. “If you’re asking whether I’ve had chickenpox, the answer is no. So I can’t weigh in on your burning question.”

“Let me Google it,” I suggest playfully.

I quickly type into the search engine,Can you get chicken pox on your genitals?The results flash across the screen, including some rather disturbing images.

“Oh, gross. Why did I go there?” I groan, scrunching my face in disgust. “Yes, you can, and it can blister and—”

“For the love of God, please change the topic,” Elliot interrupts.

I reach over to change the song, willing the music to bleach my brain of anything chickenpox-related. “All of Me” by John Legend plays through the speakers, the melody a nice distraction as we drive out of town. The lyrics to this song always leave me breathless, as does John Legend’s smooth voice. It’s the tale of an epic love story, and a true reflection of someone who foundmore.

The towering mountains in the distance fade away, with only the open road greeting us. Bluebell Ranch comes into view as the mountains give way to meadows and a large lake, which we pass as we head toward our destination.

The town is known for its expansive flatlands and sprawling ranch estates. The properties are a mix of old and new, each built with a unique design that stands out against the sparse backdrop.

Elliot takes a sharp left onto an isolated road, and as the dust clears from the short journey, the tall rustic barn appears before us. The beautifully restored structure is mainly used for weddings because of the picturesque meadow beside it, which makes for the perfect ceremonial spot.

It was only a few days ago Stella called me and we talked for over an hour about the wedding, and it looks exactly the way she described it would be.

Elliot steers the car into the parking lot, the engine purring softly to silence. He runs his fingers through his hair, then turns to face me, observing me closely and making me self-conscious. “Are you nervous?”

I shake my head, my gaze fixated on the barn in front of us. “No, are you?”

“Why would I be nervous?” he replies with a smug expression.

“Because it’s our first official date.”

“Fake date,” Elliot reminds me.

“Yes, whatever,” I mumble, then let out a sigh. “You know what I mean.”

We both get out of the car and head to the grassy area. I fix the skirt of my dress, cautious not to trip over and make a fool of myself.

I opted for an off-the-shoulder floral-print light pink tulle dress with a sweetheart neckline. Beneath the dress, my cowboy boots complement the theme and make it easier to get around the ranch, plus dance the night away.

My hair cascades down in soft waves, framing my face with just the right amount of elegance and casual flair.