Raven and I part ways once again as the music changes to the traditional bridal march, and all attention is turned to the back of the room. Lex blooms like a flower, a white rose just the way this holy nightdemands.
Axel takes in an audible breath, and I can’t help but glance over at Raven. This isn’t something I want her to miss out on in life. This isn’t something I want to miss out on in life either. Every girl deserves a wedding. Raven is my queen, and she deserves a wedding to end allweddings.
Lex makes her way to the front with her brother, Marlin, by her side, and I’d swear that he just mildly threatened Axel with that look in his eye. I can’t blame the guy. If I were giving away Colby, I’d probably do the same. We may not always agree on everything, but at the end of the day she’s my sister and I want the best for her no matter who that might be. God, the dude better not be someidiot.
I glance over at Raven, and she offers a sly smile my way. We never break our gaze, all throughout the vows, through every word the minister speaks we nod over at one another as if it were our own ceremony. Lex and Axel exchange a chaste kiss, and the minister announces them husband andwife.
“Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Axel Collins!” the minister trills, and the room breaks out into ariot.
And just like that, the house band starts up as everyone in here swarms the happy couple with a hug and akiss.
Raven pulls me to the side and wraps her arms around me. “You know, we never did do anything about that matrimonial bind we’ve gotten ourselvesinto.”
“Are you asking me for adivorce?”
“I’m asking you for a honeymoon.” She bounces a kiss over mylips.
A hard slap falls over my shoulder from behind, and we turn to find Levi and Low, one with a death glare and one with a smile. It’s not hard to deduce which iswhich.
“You guys are the cutest!” Low squeals into myear.
“Yeah, yeah.” Levi glowers at me as if he wanted to rip my dick off rightnow.
“Oh, come on.” Low smacks his chest. “Don’t listen to him,” she scolds the two of us. “He’s just not used to seeing his sister engage in a lip-lock with his bestie.” Shegrimaces.
“It’s all good.” Levi holds up a hand. “I’m sorry,” he says it point-blank to his sister. “I acted like an ass, and I’m sorry I hurt you with my words. You’re my sister. He’s like my brother.” He leans toward her. “Do you think you can forgiveme?”
Raven sags as if she needs to think about it a moment. “How about you make a baby with my bestie and we’ll call iteven?”
Low and Levi share a nervouslaugh.
“Oh my God!” Raven howls so loud half the guests turn ourway.
Lex and Axel make their way over in all their wedded glory. Lex’s dress is so wide near the bottom she looks like a giant whitebell.
“What’s this about?” Lex snaps as both Raven and Low smother her withkisses.
I slap Axel on the back, and Levi does thesame.
“You did it, dude.” I offer a mock sock to his arm. “You landed the girl of yourdreams.”
He pulls a tight smile. “We all did, man. We alldid.”
Raven pulls Lex and Low into our huddle. “I have a feeling someone has something big to share.” She looks to Lex. “Is it crass to unleash life-changing news at someone else’s life-changingevent?”
Lex scoffs. “Please. Spill the beans.” She rakes her gaze over Raven up and down. “Are you knockedup?”
Low sucks in a breath and glances to Levi. “No, Iam.”
The entire lot of us breaks out into congratulatorycheers.
Axel slaps him five and pulls him into a hug. “You caught up with your brother, man.Congratulations.”
I pull Levi in next. “You’re going to make a great father. You already make a greatbrother.”
Raven can’t stop screaming and jumping up and down. “I’m going to be an aunt again! Maxie is going to have a little cousin to play with!” She looks to me with an open-mouthed smile and launches into my arms. “You’re going to be anuncle.”
“That’s right.” Lex narrows her sparkling eyes into us. “You’re stillhitched.”
