“I’m going to finish these off then I’ll turn in.” Ivy smiles up at him from where she sits amongst the piles of party favors she and Adira have been finalizing while the rest of us were working on the barn.
Each blue basket is monogrammed with our initials and the date of the ceremony on it. Inside Ivy and Adira have added bunny ears, champagne, and Pop-Tarts along with a framed certificate of a star we bought for them. There are soft customized slippers by LuLu Blue, silver and diamond heart-shaped jewelry, and a VIP invite to the Mojito Club wherethey can ask Adira to help them find one thing they can’t find anywhere else. Like I did when I was looking for Ivy.
About thirty of these baskets surround her. So much for an intimate wedding. Although more than half of our guests are family. Mine, the Hearts, and the drag queens who accepted my love as one of their own when she needed it most.
“All right, Love. I’ll see you two in the morning,” he says as the others come in. All except Rebel. “Big days, starting tomorrow.”
“Do you need help finishing up?” Summer asks. She appears exhausted and a little off.
“We’ve got this under control,” I tell her. “Go get some sleep. You look like you could use it.”
“If you’re sure.”
“We are,” Ivy says.
One by one they disperse into bedrooms. Owen picks up Ernie and carries him upside down toward his room. “Time for bed, mischief maker.”
“How that kid is still going”—Ivy yawns—“Is beyond me.”
“Still want to have one of our own?” I take a seat on the floor.
“Yes, yes, I do.” She smiles at me as we work on the baskets. “I want that more than almost anything. Except right now I just want this wedding to be perfect. No mischief. No trouble. No worrying about Alec or Nicole or the media.”
“I want that too.” I put another finished basket aside. Everything for this intimate experience has the special touch. Riot’s bringing bagels in from NYC for tomorrow’s brunch. And a little something I had special ordered for Ivy.
Rebel shuts the door hard enough that I wait for someone to wake up as he stalks through. His expression is lined with frustration.
What happened, bro?
His glares says,stay out of itbefore he heads down the hallway to the bedroom where Summer disappeared to.
“All done.” Ivy stretches.
I stand and tug her to her feet. “Ready for bed?”
“Almost.” She steps into me and leans up to brush her lips over mine. “Want to go stare at the stars with me first?”
I lead her outside, switching all the lights off on our way to the porch swing where we cuddle up. Like we did the first night we spent together. When she was Uma Cookie and I had no idea that she would turn my life completely upside down. When she fell asleep in my arms and I woke up to an irate groundskeeper yelling at me about sleeping in the park. Now, I’ll never sleep alone again.
“The sky is so clear,” she says, tugging the soft, fuzzy blanket left on the swing over us.
“Tell me about the stars again. Their drag queen names.” I press my lips to her temple as she points out one star after another.
She’s missing her dad lately. Her father shouldn’t have been killed; he should still be here to walk her down the aisle. A job Adira has stepped up to do.
I promise you, Richard, that your daughter will always be looked after. I’ll treat her as though she’s the most precious thing my heart knows. Because she is. You have my word.
“I love you, Rogue.” She clasps my face with both hands and for a second I think I made my promise to her father out loud. “So very much. Always. Forever. In whatever life throws at us. And if Alec shows up again…” She shivers. “Or Nicole tries to cause a problem, I know we can handle it. Together.”
“You and me.” I lift her hand to my mouth and kiss her palm. She presses her cheek to my chest and sighs.
We must have fallen asleep with the soft rocking from the swing because I startle awake. My heart knocks against myribcage, blood pumping hard and fast through my veins. Was I dreaming? I must have been. I don’t know I was dreaming about, but whatever it was it leaves me hollowed out.
I gulp in air as Ivy stirs beside me. “Rogue? What’s wrong?”
She climbs onto her knees, and presses her body to my back, covering me like a blanket. Her warmth starts to seep through.
“I don’t know. Must have had a nightmare.” I rub at my chest, hoping to loosen the knot that’s built up there. More likely it’s trauma. Everything we went through, stored up for those quiet times when it can come out. We’re both dealing with it as best we can.
