Here With Us (The Archer Brothers)

April opens the door and gushes about the inside, with its white walls, string lighting, floor-to-ceiling mirror, and vanity. She steps in and does a little twirl. “I’ve had brides do this before, for their outside weddings, but I’ve never been surprised like this when I arrive at the venue.”

Something isn’t right with this.

“There’s a card in the bouquet. I didn’t want to pry.” April’s words linger in the air as I look at the dozen or so roses. I hesitate at the doorway, unsure if I should step in. “Aren’t you going to look?”

I shake my head and glance at my mom for help. How do I tell my wonderful wedding planner that this is a set-up? That there is no way in hell I’m walking into this room?

“April,” my mom says. “I think we’d rather stick with the company provided tent, if you don’t mind.” My mom leans in. “It smells like paint, and the last thing I want is for Ryley to have a headache through the ceremony. You understand, right?”

April looks around and sniffs. “Yeah, wow. I guess I overlooked the paint smell. Let me tell the crew to set up the tent. It’ll only take a few minutes.” As soon as she leaves, my mom is on her phone. I sit down in the sand and fight back the tears. I want to be left alone. I want my family to feel safe and not have to look over their shoulders, thinking the boogie man lurks in the bushes. As soon as the crew members from Socialite Wedding Planning arrive and start setting the dressing room tent up, my mom sits down next to me.

“Evan knows.”

I nod. I should say, ‘of course he does’, but the words won’t matter. Evan will be on edge, and my wedding marred by some psycho determined to ruin our lives.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” mom says. “We are just super aware of our surroundings. For all we know, someone from work did this, or maybe it was Justin.”

“He would’ve said something,” I tell her. She knows this but is trying to make the situation less than it is.

“Evan is with Cara. She’s going to come over and have a look around.”

I sigh. “She shouldn’t have to work on my wedding day.” I shake my head and fight back a wave of tears. “I hate this. I hate living in fear. I hate that this will never end.” My mom doesn’t say anything because she agrees with me. She too knows we’ll always live in peril.

April returns and tells us the tent is set up and asks if we want the roses brought over. My mom tells her not at this time and offers her a warm smile. It’s more polite than flat-out saying no, but I’m sure April wonders what our issues are.

The list is long.

My dad stands by the tent, and when we get there, he instantly pulls my mom aside. I’m left out, which is par for the course. They don’t want to alarm me, but it’s too late. Someone is trying to sabotage my wedding.

I go in and sit down at the vanity and stare at my reflection. For a moment, I close my eyes and take deep, calming breaths. “I will not allow this to ruin my day.” It’s a good mantra to have, and I say it repeatedly until I’ve convinced myself that these people do not matter. Not today, at least.

Lois and Penny are the first to arrive. They gush when they see me and start talking a mile a minute. Lois pours champagne while Penny checks my dress for wrinkles. “Evan is going to fall to his knees when he sees you walking toward him,” Penny says as she holds it out.

“I can’t believe this is finally happening,” I say to my friends.

“Where are you guys going tonight?” Lois asks.

“We have the bridal suite booked at the hotel.”

“How was it being away from Evan for a night?” she asks.

My cheeks heat up, and her mouth drops open. “You didn’t go to your parents?”

“Oh no, I did. Archer snuck into my room.”

“Awe, he missed you,” Lois says while Penny laughs. “I think it’s sweet and romantic.”

“Oh, I’m sure there was romance,” Penny snickers.

Lois looks at Penny and then back at me. She slaps me in the arm. “Ryley Clarke, you’re supposed to stay away from your husband-to-be before the wedding.”

“I can’t help it. Evan’s really hot. And sexy. And has a rocking body. And—”

Lois holds her hand up. “I don’t want to hear about this . . . well, you know.”

Penny and I start laughing, and it feels good to be like this, to push the worry away for a minute or two.

“Have you guys talked about a honeymoon at all?” Penny asks.

I shake my head. Even if we had, it would be canceled now. There’s no way Evan will leave unless we take EJ with us. “We have time.” My voice cracks, and I quickly cover it with a cough. I imagine Penny might know about the shed, but Lois won’t. She doesn’t need to be in the midst of the issues that surround Evan’s team.