CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Austin
FOUR MONTHS LATER
Daisy has been inher glory for the last couple of months since Brendan asked her to help plan their wedding, especially after I offered to have the whole thing at my house. The property outside of my house has been completely transformed with wedding decor and flowers. I have to admit, it’s beautiful. Brendan and Kalvin kept sending money, and we made the rest happen. We—as in— the ladies. I’m not much of a wedding planner.
“I can’t believe they’re getting married. I know this is all Brendan has ever wanted, and I’m glad they were able to work out their little snafu,” Scarlett shouts from the bedroom as I comb my hair back, making sure all the pieces are placed neatly. Scarlett told me I wasn’t allowed to have sex hair today. “Crap, Austin. I can’t zip my dress all the way up.”
“Says the girl who never needs help with anything. Odd.”
“No, I’m pretty sure the dressmaker is a dude who only thinks about the fashion, not the function of this damn zipper.”
“I’ll be right in,” I tell her.
I add a little more hair wax to the sides and tell myself I look pretty good. I don’t remember the last time I had to get this dressed up. I don’t think I’ve been to a wedding since I was a kid.
I head into the bedroom, finding Scarlett in a royal blue, skintight, knee-length dress. Her hair is clipped up loosely with curls dangling over her shoulders. She looks over at me with dark-lined eyes and red lipstick, and I fall in love with this girl all over again. How in the hell did I get this lucky?
“Damn, you are gorgeous.”
“Wow, look at you,” she says, breathlessly. I’ve amped up my fashion statement for the wedding. She asked me to, and I can’t say no to her. I bought a blue blazer along with white dress slacks. She picked up the light blue complimentary dress shirt, a brown leather belt, and matching dress shoes.
I try not to smile, but I can’t help it. “Thank you.” I twirl my finger in the air, so she turns around. The zipper is halfway up, so I pull it up to the top and fasten the clasp. “I don’t think you’ll be able to get this dress off later.”
“I think that’s okay,” she says, glancing over her shoulder at me. “I can probably find someone to help me out of it.”
I bite down on my lip, squinting an eye at her. She knows just how to toy with me at the wrong times. I take a breath and give her another once over since I’m already worked up. “What is on your feet?” I ask her.
“What does it look like?”
“Are you wearing cowboy boots?”
“Brendan's request for the maid of honor.”
“No heels?” I ask.
“No heels,” she confirms. “Which reminds me, I should go check on Brendan. He’s probably freaking out.”
“Probably. I’ll go see how Kalvin is doing,” I tell her.
With all the extra rooms in this house, it makes for a good guest space. In fact, the thought of how much space is here has gone through my mind so many times over the years. It hasn’t felt as empty lately with Scarlett here, but for years before that, it seemed like every time I yelled at Waldo for something, my voice bounced off every wall of this house.
I walk up the stairs and head into the room Kalvin is getting ready in. “How are you doin’, man?”
“Nervous,” he says, straightening his tie.
“I’m sure that’s normal,” I tell him.
“I’m not nervous about the wedding part,” he says, still staring into the mirror.
“What’s going on?”
“There’s something in my vows that is going to be a surprise to Brendan. I know he’ll be happy about it, but there’s a part of me that’s worried things could go in the opposite direction.”
I sit down carefully on the edge of the bed, making sure I don’t wrinkle the jacket. “Do you want to tell me what it is, and I can give you my opinion?”
“No, he has to be the first to hear it,” Kalvin says.
