She looks down, smiling a little more. “You’re welcome, Lix. I’m elated you like it.”
I tuck the card into my pocket. “Are you ready for your present?”
She blinks big behind her glasses. “A present? For me?”
“I got one for you, and one for Stan.”
“Stan’s present makes sense.” She frowns. “But today isn’t my wedding.”
I scoff. “Stan and I might be legally together ‘cause the state allows it.” Stepping up to her, I hold her warm cheek in my hand. “But you’ll always be part of us too, Em.”
She purses her lips together, clearly reorganizing her thoughts.
Before she can say anything, a phone rings.
Loud. Blaring-levelloud.
I wince. Em does too.
The sounds are of us moaning so damn deafening.
Stan jogs down the hall, phone ringing in his hand. He glances at the screen, then at us, and breaks into a grin.
“Shit,” he says. “Too loud, huh?”
“Is your ringtone us—?” I start.
“—making bedroom noises that should stay there, Stan?” Em says, frowning and crossing her arms.
He doesn’t even bother looking embarrassed. He declines the call, smirking at us. “It’s my wedding day number one of two,” he says. “Callers can fuck off.”
Em groans, covering her face.
Stan puts his hands on his hips, jutting one out. “So you two were gonna run off for some afternoon delight. Is that it? Without your favorite Song-Smith?”
“I don’t have favorites,” Em says.
Stan’s jaw goes slack, his back hunched. “That can’t be true, gorgeous! I’m your husband-to-be.”
“Yes, but Elle and Kaye count as Song-Smiths since they married into the family, and they’re definitely hard to choose between.”
Stan gasps, looking at me for help. I shrug, agreeing with Em.
“Betrayed by my own brand-new husband too?” Stan says, clutching at his chest. “Who I married like, an hour ago? What has the world come to?”
He’s being his usual dramatic self, but it makes Em giggle, so I go with it. “I’m a Song-Smith too, right, since I married you?” I tease, smirking.
Stan’s hope comes back in the form of a brighter grin on his face.
But then I say, “Ha, you wish, I kept my stepdad’s name.”
He frowns, staring daggers at me. “Okay, Dela Cruz. I see you.”
Em steps in between us, kissing Stan, who smiles lopsided because of it, and then she kisses me.
I nuzzle her nose, wondering how two bastards lucked out getting to be with her.
Stan slips an arm around her shoulders and pulls her in. “Okay, wait, this got me thinking ‘bout a bad idea,” he says, his smile turning sly. “Lix, kiss her cheek.”
