Page 89 of Reckless

“It also had tabs.” Marley is relentless.

I nod once. “But they were beeeautiful tabs.”

Victoria looks up from the dress’ train, smiling. “I remember those tabs, they were pretty.”

Beck lowers his camera just long enough to weigh in. “Personally, I think color-coded spreadsheet tabs are a cry for help, but sure, let’s call it romaaantic.” He draws out the last word for emphasis.

“Nobody asked you either,” I tell him, though I smile at his sassy ass.

“I’m ignoring you both and staying beautiful while doing it,” he says, already lifting the camera again.

Marley lets out another laugh. “Do you know what the worst part is?”

“What?” I ask.

“You enjoyed making it.” I open my mouth to deny it, but nothing comes out. Marley gasps dramatically. “You did, you whore!”

“I…” I grimace. “I appreciated the structural integrity of it.”

“The structural…” She presses a hand to her chest. “Listen to yourself!”

“Look, it’s not my fault.”

“No?” One eyebrow lifts.

I sigh, already knowing where this conversation is heading. “I’ve spent too much time watching Ghost build spreadsheets, blame his stupid ass.”

“There it is.” Marley points triumphantly at me through the mirror. “I knew this was his fault!”

I gawk at her. “I never said it was his fault.”

“You literally just blamed him!”

I hesitate and choose my words carefully. “I said I observed him.”

“You observed him so hard you turned into him.”

Ro finally steps back from Marley’s hair, lowering her hands with a theatrical sigh. “If either of you starts flirting over Microsoft Excel on my wedding morning, I swear I’ll shave somebody’s eyebrows.”

The room erupts into laughter, and even I can’t stop it.

Marley laughs so hard she has to dab carefully beneath one eye before looking at herself in the mirror again.

“Right, now shut up about nerd shit, and have a look at what I have created,” Ro says, giving a satisfied nod. “That’s the bride I’ve been trying to find all morning.”

Marley’s smile softens. She reaches for my hand again, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I don’t know what I’d have done without you through all of this.” The teasing slips away as naturally as it arrived.

I squeeze her hand back. “You’d have managed.”

“Maybe.” She smiles at my reflection. “But it would’ve been considerably less organized.”

“That’s because chaos isn’t in your nature, but I thrive in it.”

She laughs again, shaking her head. “I love you.”

“I know.”

She nudges my shoulder. “Smartass.”