I made my rounds—shook a few Dodger hands, hugged my bruh Lachlan and his beautiful new bride—but my eyes? Remained on the entrance where Tennessee handed out masks, with the honey he swore wouldn’t give him the time of day. Maybe she remembered too much? Boy peed so much, you could smell the damage two rooms away. They were in the same class when he was clowned in the third grade. Kids said his name should’ve been Mississippi. Middle name River. Me and Wash whooped some ass and laughed in secret too.
The Scot blocked my view from the door. Lachlan grinned. “So, you offered your best mate—me—afive-dollar funeral, in the event Natasha’s dad murdered me at the altar.”
“And?”
Lach glanced around the party as if the free-flowing champagne alone made his point.
I blinked.
“Is Big Country chained in the cellar, muttering,Marriage is the Sunken Place? Did Montana finally repossess his body? Because no version of you pulls this nonsense for a woman.Iwould. You? Nae.”
“Lach, bruh.”
“Explain the madness. Next thing I know, we’ll be ring shopping.” His blue eyes lit up.
“First,” I whispered, “you owe me bodies. I come to collect. Just need help with one.”Maybe. If I couldn’t get to Edwin.
“Chat after the party?” he replied under his breath.
I nodded.
Then he beamed, rubbing his hands together. “But where should we go ring shopping?”
“Bruh, I’m not going ring shopping with you.” I snatched a passing chocolate truffle and tossed it back like a shot.
He scoffed. “Ye said that the last time too. Still helped me pick Natasha’s ring.”
“And watch you cry over a cushion cut again?” I shot back just as Natasha walked up, her brows climbing.Yeah. She heard.
I shrugged, keeping a straight face. Dude was my brother. I was allowed to fabricate an entire emotional breakdown if it amusedme.
“Did you really cry over the ring?” she whispered as I walked away.
I approached Momma as she sipped theMardi Gritslike it was communion. I’d almost settled on “Montana’s Manchac Midnight” for a signature drink. It fit my brand, sounded smooth—but, nah. Had to remind Zuri of her stealing grits. Her drink “Zuri’s Kiss” had strawberry puree, gin, and rosewater. Auntie Peaches clutched a drink in each hand, worried the open bar would end.Mental note: tell servers to cut her off before those feathers made her believe she could fly.
“Where’s Tex?” I asked, glancing around. That fool hadn’t answered me since pissing off his twin.
Washington walked up, holding a powdered beignet as if it were evidence. “He went MIA after our chat. Momma, he call you?”
“Non.” She rubbed her index and thumb together like she was counting sins.
“If he does something stupid”—Washington bit the beignet—“I’m gonna?—”
“Hush,” she muttered. “He’ll be here.”
I rolled my eyes when Darius shot off, a thunderclap.
I turned around.
Zuri.
Time folded right here. The music, chatter, laughter—all of it faded. She stood beneath the draped archway. The purple gown hugged her like sunlight over deep water, gold glittering where it embraced her curves and caught the light of her skin—rich and radiant. She’d done her hair up like God Himself shaped it into a crown with patience and pride. Every curve of her? A prayer answered.
My chest tightened. This was love. The thunder in your chest. The stillness that humbled you. Like watching royalty walk in.
My soul whispered,God have mercy!
Darius tugged her hand, brontosaurus bouncing in his other hand, its little mask still taped on. We had to rig it. When we hatched this plan, Little Dude brought out the pop quizzes. Had me remembering the names of ten different dinos. If I forgot, I’d have a special mask for Brody. Hell, I hadn’t forgotten, but he’d stared at me like he could toss some craps.
