Froze.
Syn stood in the hallway, her black hair swept up in an elegant twist I’d never seen her wear. She wore a deep burgundy dress I’d never seen before.
Behind her stood Kaia, glowing despite the exhaustion of new motherhood, wearing soft sage green. In her arms, a long white garment bag.
And beside them both, Cam. Here. In Vegas. Dressed like she was going to a wedding.
I was hallucinating.
“I...” My mouth opened and closed. “What... How...”
“Well?” Cam’s voice cut through my shock, one eyebrow arched. “Are you going to let us in, or are we doing this in the hallway? Because I didn’t fly twelve hours to watch you gape at us like we’re ghosts.”
“We have a wedding to get ready for.” Kaia lifted the garment bag, presenting it like an offering. “And you arenotwearing that dress.”
“What’s wrong with this dress?”
“Nothing’s wrong with it,” Syn said, pushing past me without waiting for an invitation, “if you’re going to a cocktail party. Which you’re not. You’re getting married.” She spun to face me, hands on her hips. “To Owen Taylor. In approximately...” she checked her phone, “...two hours. So we need to move.”
Kaia and Cam followed her in. The door swung shut with a decisive click. I stood rooted to the spot, watching them spread out through the hotel room like they owned it.
“How...” I tried again. “How are you here? How did you know?”
Kaia set the garment bag carefully on the bed, smoothing invisible wrinkles. When she turned to face me, her expression had softened into something tender.
“Owen called me.”
“What? When?”
“The night before you flew out. After you fell asleep.” She crossed the room, taking my hands in hers. “He told me everything. Said it didn’t feel right doing it without us.”
My brain was still three steps behind. “He... he called you?”
“He wanted to surprise you.” Kaia squeezed my hands. “He knew you would want us here.”
The tears I’d been fighting spilled over, hot and sudden.
“I’m sorry,” I choked out. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you. I wanted to, I wanted to so badly, but we were trying to figure out the timing and Jax was already so angry, and I didn’t want to make it worse and…”
“Stop.” Syn appeared at my side, her hand firm on my shoulder. “Just stop. We don’t care about any of that.”
“She’s right.” Cam leaned against the dresser, arms crossed. “If Owen makes you happy, I want to be here to celebrate that.”
Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. “Cam...”
“Don’t get sappy on me yet. Save that for the vows.” But she was smiling, and something that had been knotted tight in my chest finally loosened.
“Wait.” I wiped at my eyes. “Is Jax here? And Trystan?”
The three of them exchanged looks.
“They’re here,” Syn confirmed. “Cam and Trystan got in early this morning. Jax, Kaia, Kailyn, and I flew in last night.”
“But Jax was so angry…”
“He was,” Kaia said carefully. “But last night, after you fell asleep, Owen and Jax talked.” She smiled softly. “I don’t know everything that was said. But when Jax came back, he told me he understood. He remembered when it was us, and he was the fuck boy who finally found the girl that made him want to change.”
“He’s still not thrilled about the whole secret relationship thing,” Syn added. “But he’s here. He’s downstairs right now with Kailyn and Trystan, probably threatening Owen with bodily harm if he ever hurts you. You know, standard big brother stuff.”
