Hekindadid that too, just notfor the reason that brought us to now.
Tex gave up on Smithie and looked at me.
“He isnothornin’ in onmy action.”
I had to find a compromise.
Immediately.
“Are yougonnadance with me atthe reception?”I asked, thinking Tex would balk at that for sure and I couldgive the walk-down-the-aisle part to Tex and the father-daughter dance toSmithie.
“Yes,” Tex answered immediately.
I blinked.
“You are?”I queried.
“Fuck yes.The father dances with his girl after thewedding.Right?”Tex replied.
“Yes,” I whispered, and did it feeling Mo’s arm get tighteraround me.
Tex nodded sharply and stated, “I’ve already picked thesong.‘Not While I’m Around.’”
Oh boy.
I knew that song.
Uh-oh.
I was going to cry.
While I fought that urge, I felt the room and knew Smithieknew that song too and Tex just won the argument.
“What’s Raygonnado in all this?”Smithie asked me quietly, giving in without saying the words.
Ray was my biological dad.Since he began his ongoinggambling recovery, our relationship had been somewhat repaired.Like Mo’soldest sister, for the sake of family, and because she had a generous heart,Jet had asked our dad to give her away at her wedding.
Then again, that hadn’t worked out all that well and notbecause Dad was a dick.Because Eddie had taken one look at Jet in her weddingdress and broke ranks at the altar to prowl down the aisle and claim her beforeDad got the shot to give her away.
It was hilarious.
It was super sweet.
It was totally romantic.
And it was hot as fuck.
Sadly, the scars my father left me would never go away, sohe wasn’t going to get that honor from me mostly because I was grown up, andTex still lived the words of the song he’d picked for our dance.On the otherhand, Dad played a role in making me, and throughout my life, he’d never livedthose words.
“He’ll be invited,” I told Smithie.“But I think he’ll getwhy he won’t play a bigger part.”
“Right then,” Smithie muttered, lifting a hand and rubbingit over the top of his head.He dropped his hand and went on, “So, guess I’llsee you Tuesday next.”
Current drama over.
It was good to be loved.
I just wished being that loved wasn’t so loud and didn’tinterrupt bathroom-counter sex with my man.
