Page 142 of At The End Of The Day

My insides flipped over, my heart lurching to my throat. “Oh, shit,” I croaked, a palm slapping to my chest. “Holy shit, sis, I’m getting married.”

Dancing foot to foot, she leaned into her palms on my chest. “I know, right? How fucking cool is this?” She clucked her teeth and shook her head, her bottom lip puckered. “My older brother, finally getting hitched. I honestly didn’t think this day would ever come.”

Chuckling through my nose, I replaced the lid and set the box on the dresser. Carefully plucking my jacket off the bed, I swung it around the air and shrugged my arms through the sleeves, the material gliding into place effortlessly. Facing the mirror again, I tugged the lapel and buttoned, everything inside getting all jittery now that the whole ensemble was together.

“This is real,” I whispered, my hands shaking.

She wrapped her arms around my waist, her cheek against my shoulder again. “He loves you, you know. I had my doubts at first, but he really does love you.”

My throat began to collapse with panic. “Does it make me a dick to sometimes doubt that?”

Pouting, she turned her profile to the mirror to gaze up at me, her chin now on my shoulder. “No, it makes you guarded. Like me.”

I looked down at her. “You and Ty having issues?”

A weak grin curled her mouth. “Nothing he won’t overlook, and I don’t say that to be egotistical, because that’s not me.”

“No, I know. But…”

“But,” she sighed, standing upright to shrug. “I have a lot of trash stuck in my head and he’s being very, very patient.” Under her breath, she muttered, “I bet we could get a two for one in therapy, huh?”

I tugged the front of my slacks and sat on the corner of the bed, loosely twining my fingers. Daring to speak my thoughts, I asked since she brought it up. “Have you thought about talking to someone?”

She bristled and her throat constricted. “You mean, actually calling a therapist?”

“It’s a thought.”

Her head tipping back, she huffed and crossed her arms. “You sound like the uncles.”

I grinned, gladness filling my soul. “You call them uncle?”

“Well, yeah. They’re his uncles, I’m going to be his wife. They’re my uncles. Even Edwina and Eddie are calling them that.”

“How are they handling everything, by the way? I mean, with Tyler?”

“Edwina still tries to fight him once in a while, but I can tell she really likes him. Eddie thinks he’s the best thing ever.”

“Is she giving any troubles?”

“Actually, not nearly as much as we all expected. I think she really wants to trust him.” She looked down at her ring, the pinky poking the side of the setting. “She’s craving a daddy figure.”

There was a light tapping at the door and a second later, it opened, the subject of our current conversation poking his head through. Beaming, he winked. “Ready to get that fine ass of yours hitched? I got one antsy groom out here, ‘bout ready to combust, wanting to say some vows.”

That rush of nervous adrenaline hit again, bringing back the shakes. My mouth running dry, my spine snapped straight, my skin flushing. “Oh, shit.”

“We’ll be out in a second, okay?”

He winked at me, blew a kiss to her, and ducked out, quietly closing the door. Violetta strolled over to me, placing her hands on my shoulders. Sniffling, she was tearing up again, her knuckles caressing my cheek.

“You be good to him, okay? He’s changed so much for you.”

Stiffly nodding, I tried to gulp but found I couldn’t. “Yeah, uh huh.”

“Hey.” She cupped my chin and forced me to look up. “This was meant to be, Vinny. Everything worked out exactly how it was meant to be. I was always supposed to be with Ty-Ty, and you were somehow always meant to end up with Dash.”

The excitement was back, my mouth twitching with a faint smile. “He really loves me, don’t he?”

“Yes,” she whispered, bending over to plant a kiss to my forehead. Swiping her gloss with her thumb, she swung her head toward the door. “Now let’s go. Time to change your name, Vinny. Your happily ever after is right outside those doors, waiting for you.”