Read Online Groomless - Part 2 by Sierra Rose - Free Book Online Page B

‘rubberier’ even a word?”
    We both burst out in laughter.
    “Okay. Well, the ballroom sounds like a dream. Wow. In one fell swoop, I lost my job and went from a casual reception/barbecue to a fancy wedding reception with elegance and champagne. Does that even make sense? It should be the other way around, right?”
    “Don’t fight destiny, Julia. You’ll never win that battle. Just enjoy it all, like the fancy limo that will escort us to the ballroom like royalty,” he said.
    “Yeah, I told them I’d think about it.”
    “You don’t have to. I already gave them the go-ahead. Why not go to the reception in style? Nothing’s too good for my little girl. And are you ready to hear the best part yet?”
    My eyes lit up. “What?”
    “Michael’s Photography wants to do the wedding pictures and videography, all free of charge.”
    “So no handheld camcorders or cell phone pics?”
    “Nope. You’re gonna have a beautiful video, set to music, along with gorgeous pictures to put in a scrapbook, something to always remember me by.”
    Tears welled in my eyes. “Dad, this is so much bigger than what I planned. A ballroom, real pictures, a professional video, and a limo? It will be perfect. I couldn’t ask for anything more, and my real reception someday won’t even compare.”
    “We’re going to throw the best party of all time, and we’ll capture it all on video for you to enjoy in the years to come. This little shindig will be the talk of all our friends and family, and I’m sure everyone will have memories to cherish for a long, long time.”
    “It’s going to be beautiful.”
    “The bride will be the most beautiful part of all, and I’m so glad I’ll get to dance with my little girl at her wedding reception. It will be a dream-come-true, the greatest of all my adventures.”
    “Mine, too, Daddy.”
    “One of these days, you’ll find a real groom to sweep you off your feet, and you’ll have a real wedding and reception to cherish. You’re lucky. Most girls only have one!”
    “I wish I had that real groom now. It’s almost a shame to waste all this on pretending.”
    “We can’t rush fate, darling. I didn’t marry your mother until I was thirty, and I’m so glad I waited for her. She was the most amazing woman and simply took my breath away. I loved her so much.”
    “So did I. We all miss Mom.”
    “I know she’d be so proud of you, just like I am.”
    I could think of no words to say to that, so I just smiled at him.
    A little over an hour into my visit with my dad, a nurse stuck her head in. “You have a visitor,” she said. “I think he said his name is Luke.”
    “Yeah, it’s short for Lucifer. Tell me, does he have two red horns growing out of his head? Do you even allow pitchforks in this facility?”
    “Julia!” my dad scolded.
    “On the contrary, he’s acting pretty…angelic. Rose got lost again, so he’s helping her get to the activity room. Of course, he sort of didn’t have a choice, because she latched onto him and wouldn’t let go. He seems so sweet. He just smiled and insisted on helping out.”
    “Thank you,” my dad said.
    “No problem,” she said, then smiled and left. . 
    “I’m gonna go, Dad,” I said. “I don’t want World War III breaking out.”
    He smiled. “Thank you for stopping by.”
    As I made my way toward the door, Luke opened it and walked in. He was well dressed and suave as always, insanely handsome and flat-out gorgeous. Those lustrous locks hung slightly in his eyes, until he pushed them aside to peer at me with a scorching intensity that sent my heart into a rapid staccato.
    “Hi,” I muttered, then quickly pushed my way out the door. As I made my speedy retreat, I heard Luke tell my dad he’d be back in a moment, and I knew he was coming to have a word with me, probably for ditching him back at the apartment. “What are you doing here?” I nicely asked when he caught up to me.
    “I’m here to see your dad.”
    “I’m