Boarded by Love
Page 89

Pulling away, he kisses my cheek and says, “You like that kid, don’t you?”
I smile. “Yeah, I do.”
He lets out a long breath, his eyes locked on mine. He’s giving me that “I don’t want to accept you have boobs” look, and I don’t know what to make of it. “The main thing I have to remember is that I want you to be happy, and because of that, I’m gonna be nice to him.”
A grin cracks across my face. “Oh, how sweet of you.”
He sets me with a look. “But the moment he hurts you, Claire, he’s dead.”
I laugh again, nodding my head. “I wouldn’t expect anything else.”
“I hope it doesn’t happen though,” he admits.
“Me neither,” I say, letting out a long breath. “I love him a lot.”
“Just be careful, kiddo.”
“I know,” I say and a knock comes at the door.
Looking over at it, Phillip says, “Come in.”
The door opens and in comes a man about the same height as Phillip. He looks a lot like Phillip – the same blue eyes, blond hair, and bone structure – but I have never seen him before. Looking at Phillip, confused, I’m about to ask who it is, but Phillip’s face is white again, shocked.
“Miles? What are you doing here?” he says, letting me go and walking toward the man.
“Came for the wedding. Reese invited me.”
“Oh shit, it’s great to see you,” he says and then they hug, awkwardly, I might add. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Yeah, me too. I didn’t know if I should come. My dad – our dad – wasn’t too happy about it.”
Our dad? What the hell?
“Phillip?” I ask, and they both look at me.
“Oh, um, Miles, this is my niece, Claire. She was my sister Rochelle’s daughter,” Phillip says, bringing me toward them. “Claire, this is my half brother, Miles.”
Shocked, I meet his gaze and he gives me a half smile. “So are you my uncle?”
“No, he’s my half brother. We have the same dad, not the same mom,” Phillip says, a grimace on his face.
“Oh,” I say, looking back at Miles.
“It’s nice to meet you, nonetheless.”
“You too,” I say, shaking his hand. “This is weird.”
They both laugh and I smile. “Yeah, a little, but I’m really glad you’re here. Reese will be excited to meet you in person.”
“Yeah, I mainly wanted to stop by before everything got started ’cause I know once you’re married, everything else won’t matter.” He takes in a deep breath and then says, “I wanted to say that I’m sorry for the last few years.”
“It’s not your fault. Don’t worry about it.”
“Yeah, but still,” Miles says, and I feel like I shouldn’t be here.
“I’m gonna give y’all some privacy. I think Reese needs me,” I say and they both look at me. I almost think they forgot I was in the room.
“Yeah, okay, I’ll see you out there,” Phillip says.
“Yeah, good luck,” I say before kissing his cheek and then I escape from the weirdness of that situation.
Crossing the hall, I open the door and the first thing I see is the back of Reese, her dress falling ever so gorgeously down her body. Her hair is up in a very intricate hairdo, braids and curls all wrapped into one. Her eyes meet mine in the mirror, and she smiles. I smile back and come up beside her, leaning my head onto hers as we gaze into each other’s eyes in the mirror. Unlike her hair, mine is down in one long braid, but with a bump at the top, giving it a very elegant look. Her makeup is done so softly, almost classic, like her dress.
And by the way, the dress is looking a little snug. Especially around the midsection. She’s gained some weight, but I wouldn’t dare tell her that. She’s stressed out, and the way she deals with that is Ben & Jerry’s, and who can blame her? I’m a whore for those two men too.
Putting her hand up on my cheek, her big diamond ring sparkles in the light, and she smiles as she whispers, “You’re gorgeous, Claire.”
“So are you.”
“I don’t look fat? My dress is tight,” she says, her face dropping the grin from before. “I curse you Ben & Jerry!”
I laugh as I shake my head. “Not at all, you’re gorgeous.”
“Such a smart girl.”
She winks at me, and I grin as I wrap my arms around her waist. I hear cameras going crazy, but I don’t care about them. I’m mentally treasuring this moment with a woman whom I look up to and love.
“How’s Phillip?” she asks.
“Good. His brother showed up, Miles?”
“Did he? Good,” she says with a grin. “I was hoping he would.”
“Yeah, it was weird,” I inform her.
“Yeah, they have a strained relationship. Hopefully, his coming will mend it.”
“Phillip seemed happy to see him,” I point out.
“He loves Miles. I know it was important for him to be here.”
“You’re a good fiancée,” I say with a grin, and she returns it.
“I try,” she says with a wink. Standing up, she goes to the desk before turning to me with a little box in her hands. “I got you something.”
I smile. “Oooh, what?”
She laughs as she hands it to me. It’s a little blue box, and that means one thing – it’s from Tiffany’s. Opening it quickly, I’m suddenly fighting back tears when I see a necklace that holds a heart charm. The chain is silver and gorgeous, but the charm is a thing of beauty. It’s made of diamonds, except for three colored stones that I know are Reese’s, Phillip’s, and my birthstones.
“Turn it around,” she says, and I swallow as I do as she asks. On the back, it is engraved:
So you always have a piece of us with you. Love, Reese and Phillip.
“Oh, Reese,” I gasp, running my finger along the engraving. “It’s amazing.”
She takes it from my hands before putting it on me. Looking in the mirror, I take in the beauty of not only us but also the necklace as she wraps her arms around my waist.
“No matter what, Claire, we will always be here for you. We are your rock. We love you. I love you.”