“Like there’s a chance you’d run.” I laughed. “More like we need to make sure that Hope hasn’t changed her mind. Found someone better.”
“Fuck you.”
I laughed. “Love you too, bro.”
“Come on. We have a changing area set up in Aunt Wendy’s office. Hope’s claimed the main bedroom for her and her friends.”
A few minutes later, I was in a tux with a matching but smaller rose pinned to my lapel.
“Here.” Ryan pushed a ring box at me.
“I thought I was the best man. Why am I holding this?” I looked down at the small black box now in my hands.
“You really think we’re trusting Wyatt with the actual ring?” Ryan laughed. “The kid is cute, but that sucker cost me a mint. Like hell am I giving it to a four-year-old.”
I snapped open the box and the large stone Ryan had put on Hope’s finger months ago winked up at me, but now it was twined with another silverish band. I shook my head. “I still can’t believe we’re old enough to be getting married.”
“Speak for yourself. I’m more than ready to tie this one down.”
I rolled my eyes. “Like there was a chance you two wouldn’t be together. You’ve been through so much. Plus she makes you a better man. And she made you a father.”
“I could almost say the same thing about you and Indy.”
“Wha—no. Not even. We’re not…” I trailed off ineptly.
“I mean, sure she hasn’t made you a father—yet—but she has made you a better man. For once in your life, you’ve been thinking about someone else. Putting someone else’s needs first. And I’ve seen the way you look at her. You’re just as gone on Indy as I am with Hope.”
I sighed heavily. I hadn’t gotten around to telling my brothers the truth about Indy. About what I’d done to her. Honestly, I was still too ashamed to face it.
So clearing my throat, I changed the subject. “How’d you get around not having the cameras here? I thought they wanted to film the wedding.”
“They weren’t interested in filming Fliss’ birthday party, and they still haven’t gotten around to booking a venue for the wedding yet.” He lifted his hands. “What are they going to do? Fire me? They’re the ones holding up the plans.”
“You’ve always been a squirrely son of a bitch.” I laughed.
“I like to think of it as brilliant, but whatever.”
The door opened, and Austin stood in the doorway. “You ready?”
“Finally.” Ryan clapped. “Let’s get me married.”
Shoving the ring into my jacket pocket, I exchanged grins with my brothers, and the next thing I knew, I was standing next to Ryan at the gleaming metal arch and facing the crowd of chairs.
The opening strains of some instrumental number played, and the crowd turned to watch Maddie lead Wyatt and Fliss up the aisle. I grinned at the sight of my niece and nephew all dolled up and toddling up the grass aisle.
But then my eyes snagged on someone sitting in the front row next to Aunt Wendy and Brian.
Indy.
Only not the Indy I knew.
The ripped jeans and dark t-shirts were gone, and in their place was an ethereal dress I never would’ve pictured her in. But it was so her at the same time. A slim leather jacket draped over a dark green printed dress with a neckline that veed low on her chest to show off a delectable amount of cleavage. The dress was tight on her slender waist before flowing down to the ground. And when she shifted on her chair, I spotted a flash of thigh peeking out from a slit that ran almost up to her waist.
I almost swallowed my tongue.
The traditional wedding march played and the crowd stood to turn to watch Hope walk down the aisle.
But I couldn’t take my eyes off of Indy.
