“I don’t think you’re going to get anywhere.” Irina’s heart softened at the persistent way Knox avoided meeting everyone’s gaze.
“She’s correct,” Knox added, and he looked at her that time. There was something different about the way his gaze caught with hers—comfortable and new all at the same time. “While I have your attention, I’m going to ask that no one tell anyone about this. I’m not doing the hero gig.”
Irina had to make a conscious effort not to press him further.
“Let’s talk about something else,” he suggested.
“Why are you over here?” Irina asked, fidgeting with the edge of a beige throw pillow. “I figured you’d be enjoying your fancy new black bedroom carpet over at your new digs.”
“Yeah.” Knox gave a little head shake. “Funny story.”
Irina stilled. “Why do I think I’m not going to like this story?”
“Because the house is still pink, and even though they deodorized the carpets…again…it still smells a little like piss.” He set aside the guitar and stretched. “Which means we’ve got to figure shit out for the big ceremony.”
Yes. Yes they did, because—
“What?” Irina didn’t mean for it to sound so dramatic. But there it was, sounding all dramatic. “What happened? They said it’d be done last week.” They had, Knox had even confirmed with them and then confirmed with her.
“Painters walked off before they got started. Something about the foreman being a dick. And the carpet was delayed because…the carpet was delayed.” He seemed genuinely sorry this happened, so she couldn’t even rally a solid dose of upset.
“We’re getting married in like five days.” Did she point it out for his benefit or hers? She couldn’t really say. She ran her fingers through the hair at her temples, holding them there like she was trying to hold her brain together.
“Yeah.” He grimaced. “Maybe we should move to Bax’s yard? He’s got the pirate ship.”
Was he being serious? He was being serious.
She’d planned this entire thing and in none of her plans had she included anything pirate-related, because it was a wedding for two adults.
“You have to ask before you get hitched on the pirate ship,” Bax said, like this was a given.
“Can we get married on your pirate ship?” Knox asked, not missing a beat.
“Yeah,” Bax replied. “But seeing as I’m the captain, I have to perform the ceremony. If you can get an EMT certificate, I can get one of those wedding performer certificates.”
“You mean a certificate to be an officiant?” Courtney asked.
Irina wasn’t liking at all where this afternoon had gone.
How had they gone from skipping crappy crepes with his mother, to delivering a baby on an airliner, to actively discussing getting hitched on a pirate ship play structure?
Yes, the pirate ship would be sorta fun and kind of different, if they were having a five-year-old’s birthday party. Gah, it wasn’t like she had a lot to work with.
“Would you be down if we cut out some of the trees before the ceremony, so the helicopter can still do a flyover?” she asked. At least they’d have that.
“Uh,” Bax glowered at her. “I like the trees. I like the environment and the way those trees make oxygen for my kid. So, yeah, thatwouldbe a problem.”
Right, no pirate ship for them. They needed a Plan C.
“Shit.” Irina rubbed at the center of her forehead. “There’s an answer here.”
“Maybe you don’t let anyone inside the house?” Courtney suggested. “Then the carpet doesn’t matter.”
“They’re gonna need bathrooms,” Knox countered. “Because I don’t really want anyone to pee in my bushes, except me.”
“We could rent portable restrooms,” Courtney suggested, problem-solving on the fly. Which was helpful, since Irina’s brain wasn’t functioning correctly. Or at all.
Porta-Potties? At her wedding?
