“Pip, I think it’s fair to say that we’ve been through hell in the last ten years and I’ve spent a lot of time hating you for the part you played in it all but as soon as you walked back into my life, I finally understood that old saying about there being a thin line between love and hate because even when I hated you, even when I couldn’t stand to hear someone say your name, I still loved you with every single piece of my heart. When you left, you took a part of me and I wasn’t whole again until you sat down across from me in that restaurant and said “Hi, Wyatt”.”
Color rushes to her cheeks as a few chuckles ring out and I can’t help but smile at how adorable they are. There is something so special about their story, which I was informed of last night when us girls snuck out to the roof and polished off two bottles of wine, and I’m honestly in awe of the kind of love survives through everything they’ve thrown at it. Piper drops her gaze to the floor but Fuzz nudges under her chin with his fingers, guiding her eyes back to his before he goes on.
“I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there isn’t anything that can come between us or pull us apart again. Whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me, Pip, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life loving you and the family we’re building together… including all of these hooligans,” he adds, smirking as he tilts his head toward the crowd. The guys stand up and cheer loudly before Blaze shoots them all a stern look. They sink back into their seats as Blaze begins his portion of the ceremony and my gaze flicks to Travis as he stands at Fuzz’s side. Our eyes meet and his lips twitch with the hint of a smile that makes my belly flip and my heart skip a beat.
When he turns back to watch the happy couple, I drop my gaze to my lap and take a deep breath to calm myself before glancing up again. The girls and I spent all morning getting this portion of the parking lot set up for the wedding and honestly, after we were done, it was almost unrecognizable. This is the second Devils wedding I’ve attended and just like Lincoln and Tate’s beach nuptials last year, Fuzz and Piper’s wedding is a perfect contradiction, completely unexpected and one of the sweetest things I’ve ever seen in my life. It has all the tradition and class of any other wedding I’ve been to but with the added element of the guys decked out in leather and the Harleys parked on either side of the altar. It’s the perfect mix of Fuzz and Piper and honestly, after the incident at the club a few days ago, I think we’re all a little more appreciative of how special this is.
My thoughts flash back to that night in the club and a shiver runs down my spine as I remember the spotlight coming on and illuminating the man in the mask. I’ve honestly never felt fear like that in my entire life and Warren has haunted my dreams every night since. It’s not even like I’m running from him or he’s chasing me as I sleep but I’ll just be going about my business in the dream when he pops up out of nowhere, staring at me with dark pits of nothingness where his eyes should be and I’ve woken up in a cold sweat more than once. Of course, Travis has been insisting that I sleep in his bed with him and sneak down in the morning before anyone else wakes up but I’m not complaining. The feeling of his arms wrapped around me is the one thing that has kept me from losing my mind.
“By the power granted to me by the internet,” Blaze says, his voice proud as he looks between Fuzz and Piper. “I now pronounce you husband and wife… again.”
Laughing, we all stand, clapping and cheering as Fuzz wraps his arms around his wife and claims her in front of all of us with a possessive kiss that forces my gaze to Travis but he’s already watching me. His intense eyes and signature smirk greets me and he winks before breaking out into a full smile that takes my breath away. God, the boy is too damn attractive for his own good. I shake my head as heat rushes to my cheeks and butterflies flutter around in my belly. Since most of the girls and I got so drunk last night, Travis refused to fuck me no matter how much I begged him and I’m definitely feeling it today. As soon as we get a chance, I’m stealing him away for myself because needy is not a good look on me. Grinning to myself, I remember the lingerie I slipped on underneath the green satin dress I’m wearing and wonder what his reaction will be when he finally gets a chance to see it. I’m going to pray for worshipping my body until the wee hours of the morning but at this point, I might just take anything.
Blaze hollers out over the crowd, telling us to get inside for the after party and we break off into three groups - some of the girls running into the kitchen to check on the food while some of the guys hang back to put decorations away and the rest of us follow the bride and groom into the clubhouse. Streamers are stretched across the entire room and someone moved all of the tables out of the middle of the room so people can dance without bumping into anything. Flutes of champagne are set up on the bar top but I slip behind it, grabbing the whiskey and pouring myself a glass as music begins pumping out of the speakers. As I look around the room and all the happy smiling faces in every direction, it’s hard to believe just four days ago, we were all huddled outside a mob and shaking in fear after being stalked by a faceless man. Maybe that’s the hardest part for me. No one knows what Warren even looks like… the man could walk into this club and we would have no clue and yet, he seems to have his fingers in every aspect of our lives.
Like, how did he know we were going to be at that club that night?
“Enjoying the wedding, Princess?”
I smile as I feel Travis step up behind me and press his front to my back. His breath washes over my skin and I shiver as I raise my glass to my lips and nod.
“I did. You?”
He shrugs. “It was all right.”
“Not a fan of weddings?” I ask, watching as some of the couples begin pairing off and dancing in the middle of the room. Emma’s twin boys, Grady and Corbin, dance with their little sisters, Harper and Charlie, and I can’t wipe the smile off of my face as I watch them gently pulling them around the dance floor. Travis’s hand skates up my side, pulling my attention back to him and I suck in a breath as my nipples tighten.
“It’s just not my thing.”
Arching a brow, I glance back at him over my shoulder. “And why is that?”
“Weddings are kind of the polar opposite of casual, sweetheart,” he answers and I turn, leaning against the bar as I search his face. I suppose I didn’t realize he took this whole “casual” thing so seriously.
“Are you telling me that you only do casual relationships?”
He nods. “Yeah.”
“Have you ever had a relationship?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me as something I can’t quite name nags at me, demanding my attention. He sighs and shakes his head.
“Nope.”
“Huh,” I whisper, surprised by his admission as my stomach drops. What the hell is that? “And you never want anything more than casual?”
He shakes his head again, peeking up at me as his tongue darts out and traces along his bottom lip. “No… what’s with all the questions tonight?”
“Just curious,” I answer, turning to look out at the dance floor as I take another sip of my drink. “Trying to get to know you a little better and all that.”