Weston let out an ear-splitting wail.
Mom smacked Dad on the arm. “You scared the baby, Si.”
“Shoot.” Dad took Weston from me. “Hey, West, don’t cry,” he soothed, bouncing him on his arm. “Oh, pal, I’m so sorry. Do you want to go pet Rocket?”
“Wocket, Wocket.” Weston clapped, but he was still hiccupping sobs. Dad carried him off toward the front yard.
I chuckled and leaned over to Jules. “I think it’s a very good thing that we’re finally moving into our own place. This house is complete chaos.”
Once again, I was a married man. More importantly, I was once againJules’shusband.
The grove smelled of sycamores and river water. Fireflies drifted in the shadows, and twinkle lights swayed, strung from tree to tree above us. We’d gone with a forest theme, holding the wedding and reception in the grove next to the creek on my family’s farm. Somewhere in the darkness, a rented generator hummed under the cover of Bowen’s DJ set.
I glanced over at my wife, my arm around the back of her chair. Even in pajamas, she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. But sitting next to me in that off-the-shoulder wedding dress, hair swept up so her neck was bare, a punch glass against her lips, she was almost too much. Like trying to look directly at the sun.
She was a different woman than a year ago. The trial with DayGlow would begin the week after we returned from our honeymoon, and yet she sat here calmly, wearing a faint smile as she gazed out at the party in front of us.
I jammed a finger under my collar. Stupid bow tie. “You know, for an orphan, you sure are loved.” I gestured at our friends and family. “They all came to celebrate you.”
Her smile widened. “And you.”
“But mostly you.” I eyed her up and down. “Because, dang.”
She shook her head, smiling, and leaned against me.
“Look out there and tell me the first person you see,” I said.
She ran her finger over the rim of her glass. “Weston. So cute in his tux.”
“Of course.” Like any good mom, Jules had a sonar for his whereabouts at all times. Right now, he was slow dancing with my parents, resting on my dad’s arm. “Glad we got his nosebleed stopped.” We’d had to pause the wedding when he faceplanted as he came down the aisle.
“Me too.” She gave me a sad smile. “He was so pitiful.”
“But such a good sport.” He’d only cried for a second. “Who else?”
“Boone.” Jules giggled. “Smoldering at Sophie as she dances with Nick Who’s Just A Friend,” she said like it was his full name. It may as well have been for all the times Sophie had friend-zoned the poor guy.
I looked too. Just in time to catch Sophie—in her pale green bridesmaid dress—catch Boone checking her out.
Looking dapper in his groomsman tux, he winked at her.
She pushed up on her tiptoes and smashed her mouth to Nick’s—all with her eyes wide open, staring at Boone.
Boone didn’t even flinch. Just chuckled and lifted a glass of Martinelli’s to her like,no worries, I’ll wait.
I chuckled. “Poor Nick probably thinks this is the start of something.”
“She’s never getting married,” Jules said.
“She will if Boone has any say. Pretty sure that only made him fall harder.” I cracked my neck to one side. “Who else do you see?”
“Laney and Theo, also dancing.”
Theo gazed down at Laney, all doe-eyed. But Theo had been gazing at Nova the exact same way five minutes ago.
Speaking of Nova. She was scowling at Laney from beside the food table. Her date—a B list actor whose name I couldn’t remember—was so busy peppering Ford with questions that he’d hardly paid any attention to Nova all night.
There was no need for Nova’s jealousy, though. Laney was oblivious to Theo’s adoration and treated him like a brother.
