“Unfortunately,” I muttered. “I’m hoping this won’t become a regular occurrence.”
“You two had better make your tux fittings tomorrow too,” Luke offered. At my confused look he added, “Kian mentioned it. I wouldn’t want to face Hannah’s wrath if you’re late.”
“Christ,” I groaned, scrubbing a hand over my face.
“It’s just a tux, love,” James laughed. “It’ll be less than an hour.”
“No, it’s not the tux. I have to tell my daughter she’s a witch.”
He looked at me warily. “In all the excitement, I didn’t get a chance to ask. How did your meeting with Victoria go?”
“Oh, right. I have some stuff to fill you in on too.” I grumbled and held out my empty mug. “Gabriel, I’m going to need something stronger than tea.”
Chapter 17
Despite James watching over me,I tossed and turned in my own bed for most of the night. As desperate as I was for rest, I just couldn’t fall asleep. Thoughts of vampires and witches and hunters… it all made my head spin. Even with James’s healing saliva to help, the effects of the drug wore off slowly, and it was the early hours of the morning when I finally managed to get some sleep.
I showed up late for the suit fitting. Something about my face must have told Hannah not to pry because she only ushered me into a room to try on one of the suits she’d picked out.
As shitty as I felt, I had to admit that the process perked me up a bit. Traditional to a fault, Hannah made us change in separate rooms and stand back-to-back so she could see the vision of both of us together, but we couldn’t see each other.
The first suit I put on was a charcoal gray, and it was an instant no. Same with the navy blue one I tried next. I skipped right over a light gray, instead reaching for the classic black.
I knew I’d chosen my wedding tux when I saw Hannah’s eyes light up upon seeing me in it.
“What’s the venue like?” I asked, tying the deep red bow tie around my neck.
“If I tell you, it’ll ruin the surprise.”
“The venue’s a surprise?”
James – who stood behind me, back to mine – shifted. “That’s what I asked.”
“Don’t look over your shoulder!” Hannah scolded.
James and I both snickered.
“For the record,” I stated, using every bit of my energy to face forward, “I think the whole ‘don’t see each other before the wedding’ rule is foolish and outdated.”
“I agree,” Hannah responded. She paced a slow circle around the elevated platform we stood on. “But if I keep the surprise now, you’ll have some killer first look pictures on the day.”
“We’re having a first look?” I questioned.
“Do you really trust me to stay away from you all morning?” James reached back and brushed my elbow. Taking the hint, I dropped my hand until our fingers twisted together. “You look amazing, love.”
I scoffed, ducking to hide the warmth creeping across my cheeks. With a quick glance to make sure the attendant couldn’t hear, I muttered, “Didn’t know vampires had eyes in the back of their heads.”
“We don’t, but you could show up in a trash bag and I’d still think you look great.”
“I’m not opposed to getting married in that. A garbage bag would be easier to rip off of me after the ceremony.”
Hannah made a face. “Eww!”
Whoops. I hadn’t realized that she was paying such close attention.
“Sorry,” I snickered. “Do you know what you’re wearing yet?”
Hannah’s voice came from behind me as she fussed with James. “There’s a black dress collecting dust in the back of my closet. I challenged Kian to plan a date night that would forceme to wear it—and he hasn’t yet. There’s no time like my dad’s wedding to rip the tags off.”
