Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 139088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
It took an army to pull this off for Alexis and Jacob.
And on that thought, I relaxed.
Because Knox was in the middle of this.
Knox knew, when it was our time, we’d have our version of this.
But Cap and Raye would have it first. Eric and Jessie. Etcetera.
In between, there would be pool parties and meet ups at bars, impromptu barbeques in the courtyard, OSRA meetings, Martha being Martha, and all the rest that came with it.
As he’d said, this was why he wanted to live here.
It was safe.
And everywhere you turned, there was love.
Feeling a lot better, Joey shuffled us up to the bar and I ordered our cocktails.
When we got them and curved off, her eyes caught on something and she echoed, “He’s with his people.”
He was.
In his fabulous blue suit with the green shirt that did amazing things to his eyes, laden with two plates filled with hors d’oeuvres, coming our way, he was with his people.
He smiled at me.
Gorgeous.
Real.
Nothing dragging on it.
“It’s all good,” Joey whispered before she took off with a smile at Knox.
We juggled plates and glasses, and once I was sorted, I went right for a crab-stuffed mushroom.
“We better start saving, baby,” Knox stated after he swallowed a triangle of shrimp toast. “Your folks have set aside a whack for you, but this—”
He didn’t finish because there was a sharp whistle from the north gate that sounded shrill over the string quartet that was playing.
We looked that way.
Gabe was whistling, and his attention was locked on Mace.
“Fuck,” Knox bit and looked around for somewhere to dump the stuff in his hands.
“Give it here. Just pile it on, I got it.”
I spilled some love potion and a mushroom rolled off a plate, but other than that, I handled it as Knox hustled to the gate.
All the men were doing the same, including Lee and Hector, who’d stayed for the wedding (and Indy and Sadie, their wives, had come down to join them…they were hanging with Tex on a couch—the rest of the guys in the other branches, Jacob knew, but Alexis didn’t, and they had to be careful with money, so they didn’t go gonzo with invites).
But it was only Mace who peeled off to go to Martha’s pad where the groomsmen were hanging.
Joey, Raye, Jessie, Shanti and Harlow joined me.
Gemma and Brady (oh yeah, we arranged that) were guarding the other gate.
“Sighting?” Shanti asked.
“That’s my guess.”
We all leaned to see out of the gate just in time to catch Gabe scooting Willow through and firmly closing it.
She gave us big eyes and scampered our way.
Before she got to us, Jacob was stalking toward the gate with Mace behind him.
“Alexis’s dad?” we asked when Willow made it to us.
“Yep,” Willow confirmed.
“What a douche,” Joey said.
“Yep,” Willow agreed.
“The mom come with?” Raye asked.
“Yep. She’s out there too. Both of them all dressed up and ready for a wedding.”
Knox came through the gate and looked at me.
“Can someone….?” I asked, lifting my loaded hands.
“Got it,” Raye and Jessie answered, taking the plates and glasses from me.
I scurried to Knox.
He didn’t delay when I arrived at him. “He handed Jacob a check for fifty grand, apologized and asked if they can come in. He seems genuine. But Jacob won’t allow it unless Alexis agrees. Thing is, she’s into tradition, and he hasn’t seen her since last night. So someone—”
“Got you,” I said, turned to the girls, did a “let’s go” gesture with my arm and headed to Jacob and Alexis’s apartment.
When I made it to the door, they were at my back.
I knocked.
One of her bridesmaids opened the door.
“We need to talk to Alexis. Everything is okay, but…” I dropped my voice to a whisper, “her parents are here.”
“Fuckers,” the woman said (since she’d been to a few Oasis shindigs, I’d been introduced, her name was Grace).
Good to know Alexis had good friends.
“Come in.”
She let us in.
There was serene music playing. It smelled of lilies. And I was impressed by how many empty champagne bottles were lined up on the kitchen bar and no one had passed out.
Yeesh, ballerinas could put it away.
“Lex! Your Oasis girls are here!” Grace called. “They need to talk to you.”
The two-bedroom units were danged awesome. The living room was bigger. The kitchen was bigger. There was a dining area. And the hall went off to the side where the two bedrooms, and two baths (one in the hall, one in the main bedroom) were located.
I needed to get Knox and I on a waiting list for one of them.
Alexis appeared from the hall.
We all sucked in a breath.
Plunging neckline. Full lace, but the bodice was see-through. Long sleeves. Wide skirt. Long train. Total class.
Her gown was like a slightly sexy Princess Kate dress, but more elegant.
“Oh shit, I’m gonna lose it,” I announced, tearing up.