“My wife has a better swing.”
I laughed. “Do I want to know why Maxie has gotten one over on you?”
“She wanted to learn some self-defense.” He waggled his brows. “Was worth it to see the satisfaction in her eyes when she connected.”
I shook my head. “You’re a sick man.”
“Nah, just stupid in love.” He slapped me on the arm. “So, Mercy, huh?”
“Shut up.”
“Her brother is a jackass, but I like her.”
“Me too.”
“Don’t let Ma know.”
“Too late.”
“Oh, you’re toast then.” Cam cackled and dragged me over to our parents. “C’mon, we have to play nice for a bit longer.”
I sighed. “Yeah.” My pants buzzed and I took out my phone.
Mercy:
Got him in the car. Tell everyone I’m so sorry.
Nothing to be sorry about. Drive safe. Text me when you’ve got him settled.
I stuffed my phone back in my pocket.
The party was winding down. A few were still going strong on the dance floor but starting a wedding just before midnight when half the guest list started their day before dawn meant we had a bunch of lightweights.
I kept checking my phone as the guests slowly dispersed.
Nora and Sully were slow dancing, but I had a feeling they were both holding one another up at that point. Danny was settled on a pile of blankets near my mother and the caterers were starting to break everything down.
Mercy’s dessert table was a success and there were only a handful of tarts left. I had the caterers box up the cheesecake for my parents, as well as the tiered cake for my brother thanks to a head’s up from my mother.
Evidently there was some tradition with keeping part of the cake for the future.
All in all, the wedding was a helluva success.
Cam, Cash, and Gus got our parents bundled up to go home. Danny who would be staying with my parents while Sully and Nora went on their honeymoon.
It took some convincing to get the newlyweds to take some time off, but the five of us pooled our money and bought them tickets for a cruise around Europe. Winter was our only semi-slow season. Sully had been working since he was old enough to drive and I wasn’t sure he’d ever taken a vacation in his life.
The only way it was going to happen was if we forced his hand.
I was pretty sure he was even more excited about it than Nora once we gave him the pile of tourist books to go with it.
I texted Mercy to check in on her, but she didn’t answer.
Worry rode me, but I knew it was probably pride holding her back from replying.
Especially when I had Parker and Cash do a drive-by of Luther’s house. Cash let me know that Luther’s car was parked in front. At least that meant they got home.
I imagined Mercy would sack out on his couch until morning, but I still wanted to check it out for myself.
