“How did you know you loved Thorn?”
Joy’s smile nearly split her face. “Girl. It was a thousand little things that came down to two: kindness and respect. He didn’t just show me kindness and respect, but he shared it with others, like Avery. He’s known her for a long time, and when he realized she hadn’t received the same recognition for her work, he went out of his way to remedy that.”
I swiped a tear from my cheek. “That sounds good.”
“And when I was hungover, he made me breakfast. Or how about the time he tracked down the alpha male podcaster who put a bounty on my ass and exposed that little turd on national television?” Joy chuckled. “That was a great day.”
“It was. Once we got you out of your own way,” I snorted.
“Exactly.” Joy poked me in the forehead.
“Ow! What did you do that for?”
“You need to get out of here.” She poked me in the forehead again. “And get into here.” She poked me in the chest. “Your heart knows best.”
“But—” I glanced at the tent behind me.
“Ken. I say this with love, kindness, and respect. If he wanted to, he would.” Joy clasped my hand. “If he wanted to be with you,he would make the effort. He wouldn’t leave you hanging for years, my friend. That’s not love. That’s a back burner.”
“That’s what Rowan said,” I whispered.
“Rowan is smart, and I liked him when I met him.” Joy kissed me on the top of my head. “Now?—”
A blood-curdling shriek came from the bridal tent, which set us in motion. Joy and I exchanged frantic glances, an unspoken agreement urging us to run straight toward the tent as another anguished cry tore through the peaceful afternoon, shattering the idyllic scene we had envisioned just moments before.
The tent loomed larger as we approached, its elegant white fabric flapping wildly in the breeze. A crowd of wedding-goers assembled at the entrance, their faces etched with confusion and concern. Some whispered hurriedly among themselves, while others craned their necks, straining to glimpse what was happening inside.
Joy and I quickened our pace, my heart pounding as we pushed through the throng, desperate to get inside the tent.
“Stand aside, people,” Joy announced as we arrived. “Stand back.”
The two of us ducked inside the tent, where True stood in the center with handfuls of seed beads in her hands. My stomach dropped.
“True? Are you okay?” I ventured closer to the bride.
Her face was red. Her hair was askew. And she was breathing heavily. Every time she took a breath, more of the beads fell off the dress. I clasped my hand to my mouth.
“No! I’m not fucking okay! Where the FUCK is Jesse Barbot! Get his ass in here right now!” True screamed at the top of her lungs.
We heard a shuffling behind us on the sand and watched Jesse scrambling into the tent, wearing his tuxedo pants and shirt. “I’m here, babe. What’s up?”
“What’s up?” True’s face got redder as she marched toward her fiancé. “What’s UP? I’ll tell you what’s up! My dress is falling apart, and your mother says it’s because of you.”
“I’m so sorry,ma chérie,” Charlotte cried as she followed True with a needle and thread. “I thought we finished off the beading last night.”
“How is this my fault?” Jesse shrugged. “Sounds like a dress problem.”
Charlotte glared at her son from the ground, then she stood, handed her needle and thread to an assistant, and walked calmly over to her son where she slapped him on the face. “Putain!”She spat on the ground at his feet. “I have coddled you too much, and you do this. To the woman you claim to love! I have failed as a woman and a mother. Truette, I am so sorry.”
Charlotte didn’t give her son a backward glance as she left the tent.
We all stood in shock, including True, as Jesse rubbed his face.
“That was a little extreme,” Jesse said. “So, are we getting married or what?”
True stepped into Jesse’s face and pointed at him. “You. Ruined. This. I know what you did to my first dress.”
Jesse paled.
