“I’m not gonna cry.” Vi wheezed as we all stood there and watched the touching scene between mother and child. “Don’t let me cry and ruin this makeup. I’ll never look this good again and I haven’t even had pictures taken yet.”
We were all a blubbering mess by the time the wedding march started two minutes later. And by the time we made it to the aisle, I was ready to throw up. I couldn’t tell if it was from anxiety, or nerves, but whatever it was, I wasn’t feeling great.
Linc and the rest of the men were standing at the front of the hall of St. Joseph’s, and my heart started to race when I saw him.
I expected his eyes on me, but I never thought I’d see him as focused as he was. Remy, whom he stood next to, said something to him quietly, and all Linc could do was nod.
When it was my turn to make my way down, I smiled despite the feeling in the pit of my stomach that something was wrong. When I made it to the front, Linc winked at me and all the nerves vanished.
The music changed, and I smiled broadly as the notes of Parker’s favorite song filled the air around us. While Remy sighed and ran his hands though his hair, Linc shook his head.
“This is the one?” Remy asked me seriously.
“Yep.”
We all turned to see Parker and Nox walking down the aisle together while the beginning strains of Gabby Barrett’s “Rivers Deep” played over the speakers.
“I love her more than anything.” Remy never took his eyes off them, and when they made it to the front of the church, there were more than a few people in the crowd already wiping at their eyes. The music faded, and Remy crouched down next to Nox.
Nox let go of Parker’s hand to throw his arms around Remy’s neck. “I love you, Dad.” His voice echoed through the massive room, and I couldn’t keep the tears in anymore.
Needless to say, by the time the ceremony was over and we were walking out, there wasn’t a dry eye in the building.
“I need a drink,” Vi muttered as we finished the last of the wedding photos.
There was more than a little agreement from the men, and me. “Oh, I got you,” Emma called out from the other side of the wedding party.
Then Linc’s little sister hiked up her bridesmaid dress and revealed the fact that she had four flasks strapped to the inside of her leg.
Dom choked on air, and Remy had to slap him on the back.
When Dom finally caught his breath, he shook his head. “You brought bootleg booze? To a party full of cops?” We all stared at her, but Dom wasn’t letting it go just yet. “How did you even know to do that? How did you walk with that many bottles of alcohol? What happened here?”
Emma pushed past the obviously bewildered man to get to me and Vi. “What are you gonna do? Arrest me? Or do you want a drink?” She held out a flask for him to take. “I’m a woman, Dom. We’re smart enough to be resourceful when we need. And I knew I was gonna have a need for alcohol before facing the masses. The masses being our friends and family while I look like a sad and fluffy cloud.” She took a giant drink from the flask in her other hand, while still waiting for him to make up his mind.
“I’ll take one.” Remy grabbed one for himself, and Linc grabbed another. Pretty soon, there was only one left, and Dom was the only one without.
Since we were out in the woods, too far to get a drink without a hassle, Dom did the smart thing. He shut up and drank the bootleg vodka out of the flask Emma had strapped to her thigh. Just like the rest of us.
We started walking through the field back toward the reception area, and everyone drank except for Parker, who eyed us jealously.
Cain, who hadn’t spoken at all during the entire conversation or walk, eyed Emma up and down. “I think I need to introduce you to Mayhem.” He nodded toward the reception area. “If you can carry that many bottles on the inside of your thighs without anyone noticing, I think we need to get you in a pair of skates on the track.”
“No,” Dom insisted suddenly, burping after his exclamation. “She’s not doing it. She’ll kill me out there on skates.” As soon as he realized that he’d spoken aloud, his face flamed and he turned away.
“I think it’s a great idea.” Linc eyed the two of them suspiciously before turning to Cain. “Seriously. Get her on some skates. Maybe she can save my honor.”
“Oh!” Parker clapped her hands together. “Let’s go to Galloway Bay. I want to try, too. It’ll be so much fun.”
“You’re not allowed.” Cain shook his head wildly. “You’re like gonna have a baby any time. You’re not getting on skates.” He nodded at Remy’s dark expression. “Don’t worry. I won’t let it happen.”
“I want to do it.” My voice was a little lower than I thought it would be, and I hadn’t realized how nervous the thought of skating made me. Especially since Parker sent me a video of the derby team in action. They were fierce, powerful, and everything I didn’t feel like I was anymore.
“I think it would be great for you,” Linc said from right next to my ear, moving in so that he could wrap his arm around my waist. “You look beautiful, Kennedy. Just like always.”
It was the first real moment that we had together, in the quiet, since we found out about the wedding. We’d been so busy helping everyone else that I forgot how much I needed him. Him and quiet.
“I don’t want to stay for the reception.” I lowered my voice so no one else could hear.
He kissed my forehead. “Me either. Wanna get some fresh tacos that aren’t on the floorboard of my truck and go home for a movie?”
“Fuck, yes.”
He laughed. “Let me handle this.” And he kissed me soundly on the lips.
“Kennedy and I are leaving after the first dance.”
Everyone else was quiet while they processed his announcement.
“What?” Cain’s eyes went wide for a second. “That’s an option?”
Linc shrugged, looking at Parker and Remy. “We’re leaving as soon as it’s done. I don’t care if it’s allowed or not.”
The music started, and the bride and groom were introduced for the first time.
Linc spun me around the dance floor, and then he bought tacos and took me home.
Just like he promised.
21
Linc
“Don’t wake me up, or I’m going to drive a spork into your eye.” Kennedy groaned and rolled over, falling back asleep almost instantly.
In the aftermath of Remy and Parker’s wedding, there was only so much anyone could expect of her. Kennedy stepped up in a big way, helping them around her work schedule to the point that I almost didn’t see her for a month. I only knew she slept in bed with me because I had her warm body against mine when I woke up every morning until she got up for work.
After pressing a quick kiss to her forehead, I left for work, already planning something special for her. I just needed to figure out exactly what the perfect gift would be.
In the parking lot at work, I saw Remy and Dom walking in. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
They exchanged a serious look and then nodded toward the building. “Let’s go. You’ll find out when we get inside.”