The prospects are working on the music and lighting. Mason agreed to keep an eye on the kids. He’s got Carter and Kaylie playing a card game at a table in the corner, trying to keep Kaylie from dirtying up her flower girl dress. Ethan is feeding Emily a bottle. Jake and Hawk are standing near the archway with Eli going over the ceremony notes. While the rest of us are lounging around drinking beer.
Skyler comes scurrying down the hall calling for Declan to come help her. “It’s Violet. She’s not feeling well.” Dec takes off down the hall and up the stairs where the women are all getting dressed.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Ethan comes to stand beside Skyler. She takes Emily from him, rocking her. He hands over the burp rag and stands with his hands on his hips, waiting for an explanation.
“Violet’s not feeling well. She’s lightheaded and feeling nauseous. I’m afraid she’s not going to be able to stand in the wedding.”
“Should I keep Emily in our room? Is she contagious?” Watching Ethan’s paranoia as a new dad has been quite entertaining for all of us. When she first came home from the hospital, he was yelling at everyone to wash their hands before they held her. She had a slight cough a couple of weeks ago, and I thought he was going to lose his shit. It was a typical Friday night at the clubhouse, everyone partying and having a good time, until Emily started coughing. Ethan ran down the hall, grabbed her bag from his room and was shoving Skyler out the door, demanding they take Emily to the ER.
Skyler, being the magician that she is when it comes to Ethan, was able to calm him down and get Emily settled without a trip to the doctor. Of course, she had Violet, Lisa, and Mom all telling her what to do to help the little darlin’. They put a humidifier in the room, and Mom rubbed some special eucalyptus lotion on her and Emily went out like a light. No more coughing.
“Hey, Linz!” Skyler shouts. Emily stirs in her arms with big eyes at the loud noise. “Sorry, sweetie. Mama didn’t mean to startle you.”
Linzie comes walking out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. She looks great in her long sweater and tight as fuck jeans. I heard her complaining this morning about not having her clothes she intended to wear for the wedding, cursing the damn snow for keeping her here when she needed to be getting shit done at the café. There’s almost two and a half feet of snow on the ground. She’s out of her damn mind if she thinks anyone would be out in this shit, let alone upset to find her café shut down. The whole town is closed for the next few days at least. Or until the snow melts.
“What do you need, Sky?”
“Avery’s been asking for you upstairs.” Sky says with a hint of mischief in her eyes. The two women share a silent conversation, exchanging multiple facial expressions before Skyler finally speaks again. “She needs your help with something in the wedding.”
“As long as it’s a behind-the-scenes kind of help, sure.” Linzie tugs at her sweater, smiling with a slight hint of embarrassment. “I don’t have my dress here and prefer to be in the background. But I’m willing to help with whatever else she needs.”
“I don’t see a damn thing wrong with what you’ve got on.” The words are out, but I don’t regret saying them, seeing as how Linzie’s cheeks just flamed red with the compliment.
“It’s not appropriate for a wedding. Either as a participant or as a guest. But I’ll sit in the back. It’s fine.” She huffs, rolling her eyes.
“I’m pretty sure we can find you something to wear that would make you feel better. Although, I don’t disagree with Gabe. Your ass looks smoking hot in those jeans.” I give a curt nod to Skyler in thanks for her solidarity on the subject. “You can just borrow one of our dresses.” Skyler emphasizes the last part, making eye contact with me.
What’s she up to?
Declan comes back into the room carrying Violet in his arms, bridal style.
“I told you I’m fine. I can walk,” she complains.
“And I told you to shut it.” Declan snaps back. Carter sees his mama being carried and abandons his card game to rush over to her side.
“Are you okay, Mama? What happened? Does she need anything?” He directs his last question to Declan.
“I’m right here and can speak for myself,” Violet sasses. “And I could use a bottle of water and maybe a few crackers. Can you get those for me, Carter?”
“Yes ma’am.” He takes off to do her bidding.
Linzie smiles softly, looking affectionately at Violet and Declan. “All right. Let me go up to the girls and see what Avery wants me to do. Though, are you sure she wants my help? I’m not family. I’m not even part of the club. I’m just Trevor’s mom. Maybe you should ask Lisa or Jayde?”
“You are part of this club.” It comes out as a growl, and Linzie’s eyes snap to mine. She waves me off, shaking her head.
“I’m more of a—what did Sadie call them—hang around. Nothing special. Not attached.” The way Linzie says it, I know she’s trying to goad me. She’s going to regret it too as soon as I get her ass away from everyone and into a room all alone.
Not attached? Game on, Vixen. Game. Fucking. On.
“You are an important part of this club. Everyone here thinks so. Including Avery, and you’d be doing her a big favor. Jayde is in charge of making sure everything goes off without a hitch. Prospects aren’t as detail oriented as Jayde.” Ethan snorts at that.
“Since the actual wedding coordinator couldn’t get out here, Jayde’s taken over her job. Lisa is going to be helping Mason get Kaylie down the aisle with her flower petals. She seems to listen better when women tell her what to do. With Mason, she views everything as a game. She’d make a mess or run away just to make him chase her instead of walking slowly down the aisle.”
Skyler is laying it on thick, and I’m not sure why. But something tells me the girls are up to something.
“You know what? Let me just go upstairs and talk to Avery and just see what she wants me to do. It’s her wedding after all.” Linzie turns on her heels and heads for the room where the rest of the girls are getting ready.
“How are you feeling, Vi?” Skyler asks. Ethan moves, putting himself between Skyler and Violet as if his big ass body will prevent any germs from reaching his baby girl. I roll my eyes. Russell chuckles beside me and murmurs, “He’s going to have that little girl in a bubble if Skyler doesn’t get him to relax a little.”
