“She’s something special.”
“No woman like my mama,” Jace adds, slipping an arm around my shoulders.
Dex immediately pulls him off and replaces Jace’s arm with his own, his body close behind mine, his breath brushing my ear.
“Don’t let him put his paws on you, Tinker.”
I tilt my head up at him. “Why not?”
His eyes darken, dropping to my lips for a second before lifting again.
“I don’t like it.”
Something in my chest stumbles at that.
“We need to take our places,” Penny calls, and the brothers move toward the pastor.
Guests begin to sit, and I’m about to follow when Grace stops me with a hand on my shoulder.
“Mama didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
She smiles. “You’re standing next to me. As Dex’s date.”
My stomach flips. “But I’m not his date.”
Grace’s smile only widens as she pulls me along. “Aren’t you?”
And suddenly I’m standing across from him.
Facing him.
Like it’s real.
Like this means something.
My heartbeat picks up, and I hate that I don’t know if it’s because of the ceremony… or because of him.
Grace stands on my right, Summer on my left.
In front of Jace stands a girl I don’t recognize.
She has long brown hair, bangs and wears glasses. She’s staring at her feet, quiet, while Jace is staring at her like the rest of the world disappeared. No teasing, no flirting. Just… locked in.
That alone tells me everything.
There’s a story there.
“Who is she?” I ask quietly.
Grace smiles. “Cassie. Our neighbor. My best friend.”
I hold out my hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Lexy”
She takes it softly. “Cassie, nice to meet you too.”
Yeah… she’s really shy.
