Shattered: A Salvation Society Novel by Bella Emy (pdf to ebook reader .TXT) 📕

we’ve all sacrificed so much for your wedding so you can have the day of your dreams. Even Lexi put her life on hold to be here for you.” She turns to face me, motioning for me to say something.

Granted, she’s not wrong. If Kennedy’s wedding weren’t going on this weekend, I would have stayed right where I was on the east coast and made sure everything was ready for the grand opening of my bar and lounge in just a few weeks.

I walk toward Erin, and once I’m close enough, she whispers so only I hear, “She’s been at this for days... weeks. There is nothing more I can say to reassure her everything is going to be fine. Please help!”

I nod. Then taking careful steps to get closer to them, I say, “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world, Kennedy.” I kneel in front of her and take her hands in mine, offering her a gentle smile. “I’m glad to be here. All you do is focus on yourself and we’ll take care of the rest.”

Kennedy’s eyes search mine. “R-really?” she chokes out.

I smile wider. “Of course, sweetie. You just worry about marrying Max, and your sister and I will have everything else under control. I promise.”

She smiles gently at me, finally appearing as though all her worries of the upcoming day have melted away.

“Everything better go according to plan. There was enough money thrown into this from the get-go,” Erin murmurs.

Her sister and mother may not have heard her, but I have. I keep my smile and focus on Kennedy and motion for her to stand. Once she does, her mother does as well.

“How was the dress fitting?” I ask. I already know it was amazing because she had texted Erin while we were on the way over that the dress fitting had gone absolutely perfect. I know right now I need to keep the bride-to-be calm, so wedding gown fitting conversation it is.

As confirmation, her face lights up, and from the corner of my eye, I see Mrs. Cole visibly relaxing.

“Oh, Lexi! It was absolutely amazing! The gown is sprinkled with little iridescent Swarovski crystals lacing the whole skirt…. the bodice dazzles with the same sparkling crystals… it is so beautiful and fits me like a glove. Max is going to fall in love with me all over again.”

“She looks like Cinderella in it,” Mrs. Cole chimes in.

I smile widely. “I’m sure she does.” After a moment so my words can sink into her head, I say to Kennedy, “It’s going to be a perfect day, Kennedy. A perfect wedding, and an even better marriage. You’ll see.”

With Kennedy now finally relaxed, I’m able to take a breath. In just two days, she’ll be saying her vows and marrying the man of her dreams, while I, on the other hand, try to keep my thoughts from wandering to memories from so long ago. But how can I go to Starling Paradise and not think of the person behind it? The same person who so long ago meant the world to me before he shattered my heart and I never heard from again?

“Thank you so much for calming her down. Kennedy has been such a mess about this wedding. I don’t know why she watches Weddings Gone Wrong on TV right before she’s getting ready to walk down the aisle,” Erin says as she plops down onto her bed.

We’re in the guest room, where I’ll be spending the night before we get ready to leave for Starling Paradise in the morning.

I pull out only a T-shirt and baby pink pajama shorts to sleep in for the night. It doesn’t make sense to fully unpack just to repack everything back up in a few hours.

I zip the suitcase back up and place it on the floor. “Of course. It was nothing. I guess it’s just wedding fever, and she’s into watching all those related type shows. When my cousin got married last year, she was the same way: completely obsessed with all shows on WedTV. It was one bridal fiasco after the other. Kind of like Sharknado meets Bridezillas…”

We chuckle at my reference, but it’s true. Almost every single show they aired was some kind of wedding gone wrong. Of course, there was the occasional wedding of your dreams or fantasy wedding cakes programs, but the majority were definitely something to freak out any bride-to-be. My cousin, Jules, was complete mayhem.

Erin crosses one leg over the other. “It really is like a train wreck… you can’t peel your eyes off once you start to witness the havoc.”

I drape my shirt and shorts over my arm and tilt my head to the side. “Let me find out you’ve been watching them with her.”

Erin shrugs. “I may have seen a few.”

“And here I believed you were still all against weddings and marriage…”

Her crooked smile forms a straight line. “Oh, no, girl. That still stands. I don’t believe in everlasting love.”

I furrow my brows. “As beautiful as a romance that your parents have always had? They’ve set the perfect example for you and your sister.”

Erin rises off from the edge of the bed. “They just got lucky to find the right person for them. Their person. Not everyone gets that.”

She’s not wrong about that. I’ve witnessed so many failed relationships and marriages gone wrong… starting with my own parents. And of course, up to this point in my life, I have yet to find my person. Growing up, I always thought by now I would have found the one and have been married with three kids. Now I’m lucky if I have a date every once in a while to remind me I’m still alive.

But it’s been so long since I’ve actually been in love. So long. And since the last time, I don’t really know if I want to go down that route again. It hurt too badly.

She stretches her arms. “Okay, I can see that little mind of yours