“I didn’t want to hurt you. That was not my intention.” I peek back over my shoulder. I ignore everyone and find Simon’s eyes on me. He gives me the smallest of nods, encouraging me on. “It killed me not to tell you, but I know how excited you’ve been about the wedding.”
“But you’re my sister. You can always tell me these things. I haven’t been some crazy bridezilla, right?”
“Well…” Mason chooses that moment to interrupt.
Thank God.
“I have not!”
“You yelled at me the other day because I ordered the wrong drinks.”
“Because you were too busy making eyes at Ivy to notice.”
A dopey smile comes over my brother’s face at the mention of Ivy’s name. Talk about a man in love.
“Yeah, that was my fault. You were right to be mad.”
“See?” She turns back to me. “Not a bridezilla.”
“If anyone, it’s my mother,” Blake tells everyone.
“Don’t let her hear you say that.” Gemma looks around, as if she’ll pop out from around a corner any second.
“If our Layla is happy, then I’m happy.” I spin on my heel and see Gramps standing on the outer part of the circle, no doubt taking in his big crazy family.
“You are?” I walk over to him, needing a hug from him.
“You look happy. And if this gentleman here makes you happy, that’s all that matters.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. It’s hard to lie to my gramps. He was there for me more than anyone after my divorce. With my siblings in school and having their own lives, Gramps spent most weekends with me to make sure I was taken care of.
I don’t know if I would have made it through without him.
“Mr. Winchester. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Simon extends his hand to my grandfather, who immediately takes it. “You take care of our Layla, ya hear?”
“Absolutely, sir.”
Gramps smiles down at me. “Sir. I like him.” Gramps claps his hands. “Now, it’s time to eat.”
Finally—finally—the crowd around us starts to dissolve. Blake pulls a weary Gemma over to the picnic tables where platters of food are being set out. Mason is standing close by, no doubt wanting to get his older brother two cents in.
“Feeling okay?” Simon steps over to me, enveloping me in a hug. I sink into his hold.
“That could’ve been a lot worse.”
“Careful.” Simon looks around. “You don’t want them to hear if you don’t want more questions.”
I bark out a laugh. “Ready to run for it yet?”
“The only place I’m running is to the table. I’m fucking starving.”
Pierce is still standing nearby, watching us with an eagle eye.
“I still don’t understand this.”
Simon rolls his eyes at him. “There’s nothing to understand. We’re in love and getting married. That’s all you need to know.”
