52
If I Were To Marry Anyone
Have you changed address? Is that why you’re not replying? —Iz
Enzo
Nate’sfoottapsarelentless rhythm against the floor.
“Would you stop that?” Kai hisses, tugging at the knot of his pink tie like it’s strangling him. He glares at the fabric with undisguised contempt.
Before Nate can bite back, the music starts. Not the traditional wedding march—Dangerous Nightby Thirty Seconds to Mars. Fitting.
The doors swing open. Tess enters first in a midnight-black mermaid gown, her fiery hair practically daring anyone to look away. She strides down the aisle, pausing briefly beside Papa, who’s rocking the stroller for one-month-old Nico. He turns his head when Tess leans in for a kiss—not because I think she’s right about him being some devil child, but… the kid definitely favors Kai.
Her smile wavers after that, but she takes her place on the dais.
Then Izzy steps inside. Same dress. Same shade of black. But on her?Christ.I want her. Right here, right now. She beams as she sashays down the aisle, claiming her place beside Tess.
And then—
Carina.
There’s a reason the rest of us are in black suits with pink ties.
Except Nate.
He’s gone full hot pink—suit blazing, tie black—and somehow looks annoyingly good. Carina matches him in a puffed-out princess dress, pink as candy floss, over the top in every way that screamsher.She’s even wearing a black wig over her pink hair. Tess apparently screamed when she first saw it, thinking Carina had dyed the pink away. Carina just laughed and reminded her she’d never do such a thing.
She wanted the dress—and Nate’s suit—to stand out, which is why she went for black hair instead.
Nate’s hand clamps down on my shoulder as his knees nearly give out. Tears stream freely while he drinks her in.
She refused to let anyone walk her down the aisle—Papa included. “I raised myself,” she’d said. “I don’t need anyone to give me away to Nate when I was always his.”
The ceremony starts. Words blur past me; I only half-listen. My gaze keeps drifting to Izzy. Since the memorial for our baby, there’s been more light in her eyes, more ofherin her smile. When she catches me staring, she sticks her tongue out playfully.
Nate clears his throat. “Hypothetically speaking, if I were to marry anyone, it would be you.”
Carina rolls her eyes as Nate launches into his vows.
“We’ve been on a journey.” Kai snorts.Nate shoots him a glare sharp enough to kill and elbows him in the ribs. “As I was saying—it hasn’t been smooth sailing. There were definitely a few times you wanted to kill me.”
True. I was there. She absolutely would’ve killed him—after some light torture.
“But you eventually realized I’m amazing. And that I’d do literally anything for you. Seriously—name it, it’s yours.”
I stop listening after that, because Izzy catches my eyes again. She smiles—wide, all teeth—and in that moment, I know I’m the luckiest man alive.
“If anyone objects to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Silence.
I almost object. Not because Carina shouldn’t marry Nate—just because it would be funny. But I behave.
“You may now ki—”
Nate doesn’t wait. He yanks Carina into him, kissing her like the world’s ending. Given she’s basically my sister, it’s borderline traumatizing to watch. Still—I’m happy for her. She deserves this. Deserveshim.
