Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 114793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
I scanned the front.
And there was Ira, standing tall, beaming near the officiant, and chatting up the photographer like he’d slept eight hours and meditated to whale sounds before arriving. There wasn't a bead of sweat on him, just smug serenity wrapped in a bolo tie.
“I think the old man played us last night,” I whispered to Wes, who was slumped in the seat beside me like someone had unplugged him.
Wes snorted. “You think?”
I watched Ira adjust his cufflinks with flair and give Gladys a wink as she entered from a side door looking ten kinds of elegant. The vintage lace gown hugged her like it was made for her, and the way she looked at Ira?
Yeah, this was their day. Our hangovers would have to deal with it.
I sighed, pulled a mint from my pocket, and popped it into my mouth with reverence. “Let’s just pray there’s no brass section.”
Despite the band still hammering away at the inside of my skull, I had to admit—the wedding was beautiful.
The music was mercifully soft and classical, the kind of gentle strings that whispered grace instead of let’s rupture every blood vessel in your head. The warm light bouncing off flowers and candles actually didn’t make me want to claw my eyes out. And right in the front row, standing with a bouquet and a look of pride so bright it rivaled the damn chandeliers was Gabby.
She looked stunning. That navy dress, corseted and flowing just enough at the bottom, hugged her like it had been made for her. The way the fabric caught the light, the way her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders…she didn’t just glow. She floored me. Even through my haze of nausea and regret, I couldn’t stop looking at her.
My stomach turned for a different reason then because I loved her that much.
The ceremony itself was short and sweet, the vows heartfelt and funny, the couple exchanging rings with the kind of tenderness that made you forgive them for dragging your hungover corpse to a public event.
Then came the moment the officiant beamed and announced, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
We all stood and clapped. Or tried to.
Each clap was accompanied by a full-body wince. Marcus was whining 'ow' between each clap as if it were part of a meditation chant. Jesse actually hissed at one point and shook out his hand like it had betrayed him. My own hands felt like I’d just smacked them against hot metal, but I kept going because it was a good moment.
Behind us, Elijah groaned under his breath. “Sadie’s enjoying my pending death way too much.”
I glanced to the side and caught her clapping like she was at a rock concert, big grin and all.
“She’s not the only one,” I pointed out, catching Sasha and Addie doing the same thing. Gabby wasn’t even pretending to hide it—she clapped louder when she caught my eye.
Then it happened.
The first wailing, high-pitched chords of the Wedding March shrieked through the room like a banshee in heels, courtesy of an electric guitar. My shoulders hit my ears, and every brother around me made a noise like they’d just been shot.
Jesse groaned and crouched down behind the row, curling into himself.
Marcus staggered back into his seat and covered his head with his arms like we were in a lockdown drill.
Elijah leaned against the nearest pillar and whispered, “God, take me now.”
As the couple—glowing, grinning, and oblivious to the agony behind them—walked past us, Gabby leaned in toward me and said brightly, “It’s being videoed. I already asked if I can get stills. I’m definitely going to frame a few.”
I squinted at her. “You’re a monster.”
She kissed my cheek. “But I’m your monster.”
The cherry on top was that as Ira and Gladys reached the end of the aisle, a server met them with a tray of champagne flutes, and the speakers blasted "All You Need Is Love" at full, glorious volume.
I nearly dropped to my knees.
Instead, I dragged myself upright, stumbled forward, and helped Elijah stand. He groaned, nodded in thanks, and we started making our way down the aisle like war veterans limping off the battlefield.
Wes sprinted past us with no warning, just a blur of hair and panic. The doors slammed open, and as they closed behind him, Sadie cocked her head and said casually, “And that, folks, is the moment Wes finally lost the war against the chunder bus.”
I turned to Gabby. “What the hell’s a chunder bus?”
Before she could answer, Gladys leaned in, voice calm and pleasant like she was offering me hors d’oeuvres.
“That boy’s clearly throwing up his guts, dear. I hope he found a spot away from the walkway, or it’s going to be very awkward.”
I didn’t even have time to respond before Jackson pushed past me like a man possessed, bolting for the same exit with his hand over his mouth and a look in his eye that said no time for dignity.