The bride and the beast (#3 of the Miller family)

4. To new beginnings

Lila’s P.O.V.

I sat at the small, round table in the back of the dimly lit restaurant, the delicate layers of my wedding dress spilling over the edges of the chair. The soft glow of the overhead lights cast a warm, cozy ambiance, contrasting sharply with the cold reality I had fled from just hours before. The scent of freshly baked pastries and coffee lingered in the air, making my stomach growl despite the knot of emotions twisting inside me.

Jules and Jenna sat on either side of me, their eyes filled with a mix of concern and curiosity as they spooned generous bites of cake into their mouths. I picked at the dessert in front of me, a decadent slice of chocolate mousse cake that Koda had insisted I would try. I wasn’t sure I could actually eat anything, but the first bite had been a revelation, the sweetness melting on my tongue and momentarily distracting me from the chaos of the day.

“So, let me get this straight,” Jules said, her fork pausing mid-air as she gave me an incredulous look.

“You found your fiancé making out with your maid of honor? In the middle of the city hall? On your wedding day?”

I nodded, swallowing a lump in my throat as I relived the moment.

“Yep. Right after I decided to search for him because I was freaking out about getting married in the first place.”

Jenna shook her head, her brows knitting together in sympathy.

“Talk about a nightmare. I mean, who does that? On your wedding day?”

I sighed, slumping back in my chair.

“Brandon, apparently. I guess it was Brandon's silent way of telling me that I wasn’t the one for him after all.”

Jules snorted, exchanging a look with Jenna.

“Sounds like it’s the universe telling you something, babe. Like, ‘Hey Lila, here’s a big, flashing neon sign saying this guy isn’t worth your time.’”

I let out a small laugh, the sound surprising me.

“Maybe you’re right. I mean, I wasn’t even head over heels in love with him. I just thought… I don’t know. That it would work out because we’re good friends, and I’m not exactly an expert on what a good relationship looks like.”

“Girl, you don’t need to settle for ‘good friends’ when you deserve epic love,” Jenna said firmly, stabbing her fork into her slice of cake with the determination of someone who took dessert—and advice—very seriously.

“You need someone who’s crazy about you, who would never even think about kissing someone else on your wedding day.”

“Or any day, for that matter,” Jules added, waving her fork for emphasis.

“Brandon sounds like he was more of a safety net than a true love. And trust me, you deserve so much more than that.”

I nodded, letting their words sink in as I took another bite of cake. They were right. I had been settling, and deep down, I had known it. But hearing it out loud, in a restaurant owned by a guy who had literally rescued me from a disastrous wedding, surrounded by women who barely knew me, yet seemed to care about me more than I had realized, made the truth hit home in a way that was both comforting and terrifying.

My gaze drifted over to the bar, where Koda, Adam, and Skye, all brothers from what I had heard, were engaged in what looked like a serious conversation. Koda was leaning back against the counter, his arms crossed as he listened intently, while Adam gestured animatedly with his hands. But it was Skye who drew my attention the most. He was sitting quietly, his eyes occasionally flicking over to where I sat with the girls, and every time I caught his gaze, my heart did a little flip.

“What are you looking at?” Jules teased, nudging my shoulder.

“Or should I say, who are you looking at?”

I blushed, quickly dropping my gaze back to my cake.

“Nothing. No one. I’m just… distracted.”

“Uh-huh,” Jenna said with a knowing smirk.

“Distracted by a tall, dark, and broody guy at the bar, maybe?”

I bit my lip, trying to suppress a smile.

“Okay, maybe a little. But can you blame me? I mean, look at him.”

Jules and Jenna both turned to look at the bar, and then back at me, their grins widening.

“Oh, honey, you don’t need to explain,” Jules said, laughing softly.

“Skye Miller is definitely worth a second look. Or a third. Or, you know, a few hundred.”

I giggled, the tension in my chest easing as I allowed myself to indulge in the lighter side of the situation. It felt good to laugh, to joke about something as trivial as a handsome guy after everything I had been through that day.

“Do you like what you see?” Jenna asked me, her tone playful as she waggled her eyebrows at me.

“I… I don’t know,” I admitted, glancing at Skye again. He caught my eye, and I quickly looked away, feeling my cheeks heat up.

“I mean, he’s not wearing a ring, but that doesn’t mean anything these days,”

“Well, he’s definitely interested in you,” Jules said with a sly smile.

“I’ve seen the way he’s been looking over here. And trust me, guys like Skye don’t just look at every girl like that.”

My heart skipped a beat. “You really think so?”

“Absolutely,” Jenna said, nodding emphatically.

“And if you ask me, it’s about time you did something for yourself, Lila. Forget about Brandon and his awful timing. You deserve someone who’s as interested in you as Skye Miller clearly is.”

I hesitated, my thoughts swirling as I considered their words. The idea of moving on so quickly felt strange, almost impossible, hell... I was still wearing my wedding dress bought to marry another man! But at the same time, I couldn’t deny the pull I felt toward Skye, the way my heart seemed to recognize something in him that it had never found in Brandon.

“Maybe,” I said softly, more to myself than to anyone else.

“Maybe I do deserve more. Better.”

“Damn right, you do,” Jules said, raising her glass of water in a mock toast.

“Here’s to new beginnings and leaving assholes in the dust.”

Jenna clinked her glass against Jules’s, and they both looked expectantly at me, waiting for her to join in. I hesitated for a moment, then smiled and raised my glass as well.

“To new beginnings,” I echoed, feeling a strange sense of hope bubbling up inside me. Maybe this was a sign—maybe everything that had happened today was the universe’s way of steering me toward something better, something real. As we toasted, I couldn’t resist glancing back at the bar. Skye was still watching me, his dark eyes intense and unreadable, but there was something in his gaze that made my heart race.

Maybe this was the start of something new, something unexpected and wild. And maybe, just maybe, it was exactly what I needed.

I sat back in my chair, the remnants of dessert long forgotten as the reality of my situation started to sink in. The laughter and light-hearted teasing from seconds ago faded into the background as I stared down at the crumbs on my plate, my thoughts racing. I had run away from my own wedding, leaving behind not just the life I had planned with Brandon, but everything I owned as well.

“So, what are you going to do now?” Jules asked gently, her voice pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts.

I sighed, pushing a stray curl of red hair behind my ear.

“I have no idea. I mean, I don’t live here in Fairview. I only came for the wedding because that’s what Brandon’s mother wanted. And now… now I have no job, no money, and all my stuff is still at the hotel where we were staying at.”

Jenna frowned, leaning forward.

“Wait, you’re still planning on staying at the same hotel? The one you were sharing with Brandon?”

I shrugged, biting her lip.

“I mean, all my clothes, everything I brought with me—it’s all in that room. But there’s no way I’m going back there alone, not after what happened.”

Jules exchanged a look with Jenna before turning back to me.

“OK, first things first. We need to get your stuff out of that hotel room before Brandon finds you. The last thing you need is a confrontation with him right now.”

Jenna nodded in agreement.

“Exactly. We’ll go with you, grab your things, and then you can stay with me for as long as you need. We have a guest room and that’s all yours. I would have offered you a room in the B&B that I run, but it's all rented out right now.”

I felt a rush of gratitude for these two women who had so quickly become my allies, but the idea of imposing on Jenna, especially when she barely knew me, made her hesitate.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to be a burden…”

“Don’t even think about it,” Jenna interrupted, waving her hand dismissively.

“You’re not a burden. You’re a badass who just made the best decision of her life by walking away from that mess. My place is open to you, no questions asked.”

I smiled, feeling a little lighter knowing I wouldn’t be alone in all of this.

“Thank you, Jenna. I really appreciate it.”

Before Jenna could respond, Skye’s voice cut through the conversation, deep and steady.

“She doesn’t need to stay in your guestroom.”

I looked up in surprise to see Skye standing near our table, his expression serious as he glanced between us three women. The intensity in his eyes made my heart skip another beat, and I found myself momentarily lost in those piercing brown eyes.

Jenna raised an eyebrow, clearly curious.

“What do you mean?”

Skye turned his gaze to me, his voice softening as he spoke directly to me.

“I have a house here in Fairview. It’s got three bedrooms, and one of them is just sitting empty. You can stay there, no strings attached. It’s a lot more comfortable than a temporary guestroom in a house of newlyweds who can’t keep their hands off of each other.”

I blinked, taken aback by the offer. I barely knew Skye, yet there was something in his voice, in the way he looked at me, that made me feel safe, like he genuinely wanted to help me.

“You’d really do that?” I asked, my voice small, and uncertain.

Skye nodded, his expression earnest.

“Of course. You shouldn’t have to worry about where you’re going to stay on top of everything else. My house is yours for as long as you need it.”

I hesitated, glancing at Jules and Jenna for their reactions. Jules looked intrigued, a knowing smile tugging at her lips, while Jenna seemed to be weighing the options. Jenna finally spoke up, her tone thoughtful.

“That actually sounds like a good idea. Skye’s place is nice, and it’s close by. You’d have your own room, your own space to figure things out.”

Jules nodded in agreement.

“Plus, you wouldn’t have to worry about running into Brandon if you stay at Skye’s place. He won’t think to look for you there. And when he sees Skye with you, he’ll probably run for the hills anyway.”

My mind raced as I considered the offer. It made sense—more sense than staying in Jenna’s guest room when she was just married herself, I might feel like a burden despite Jenna’s assurances pretty quickly. And something about Skye, the way he was so calm and steady, made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I could breathe easier in his presence.

“OK,” I said finally, meeting Skye’s gaze.

“If you’re sure it’s not an inconvenience, I’ll stay at your place.”

Skye smiled, a small, reassuring smile that made my heart flutter.

“It’s no inconvenience at all. I’ll take you there as soon as we get your things.”

Jenna clapped her hands together, clearly pleased.

“Perfect! Now, let’s get moving before Brandon shows up at the hotel. The sooner we get your stuff, the better.”

Jules grinned, already standing up and grabbing her purse.

“This is going to be like a covert mission. Operation Rescue Lila’s Stuff.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Jules’s enthusiasm, the tension in my chest easing just a little more. I wasn’t sure what the future held, but at least I wasn’t facing it alone. And with Skye’s offer, I felt a strange sense of hope, like maybe this unexpected turn of events could lead to something better than I had ever imagined. And that maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be OK.