I headed back toward the altar, but Nora had already sent someone else to finish putting up flowers. She flagged me down.
“You’re up for hair and makeup.”
“Where did your brother go?” I asked her.
“I put him to work.”
I sighed. Well, that talk would have to happen later. Hopefully, he wasn’t mad that I’d gone after Bradley. But there wasn’t anything I could do about it now. I needed to get ready.
The rest of the day went at lightning speed. We finished hair and makeup, and Jennifer showed up to take hundreds of pictures. Peyton and Isaac had a first look, and we took more pictures. Seeing Isaac’s face when he got a glimpse of Peyton in that Cunningham Couture dress was the sweetest moment. I loved it so much for them. Aly pranced around through the pictures in her white-and-pink tulle dress. She made everyone laugh, and Jennifer insisted that the pictures were all the better for the natural smiles.
The wedding itself was short and sweet, just as it should be. Lots of laughter as they read their own vows. Tears as they choked up in the middle. Applause when they kissed. Isaac scooped up Aly and carried her out of the ceremony with her on one hip and Peyton on his other side. It was exactly what I’d always wanted for my sister.
We stayed behind for more pictures. This time with our entire family. Dad helped Abuelita into the shot. She’d been unsteady on her feet, and I’d been glad that an usher had escorted her into the venue.
After we stood for family pictures with both sets of families, we finally migrated into the barn. Isaac and Peyton initiated their first dance and encouraged everyone to get on their feet and join them.
I hadn’t talked to Hollin again since the problem with Bradley this morning. I’d been too busy with all the wedding stuff. But he walked right up to me as soon as the DJ called for everyone to dance.
He swept me up into his arms. “You look beautiful.”
My lips tilted up into a smile. “Thank you. I like this suit.” My hand ran down the front of his charcoal suit. “Are you still mad about earlier?”
“Mad?” he asked with a furrowed brow. “Of course not. I was the ass. Nora reminded me multiple times that I was the ass.”
I laughed. “That sounds like her.”
“Yeah. She keeps Campbell and me on the straight and narrow.”
“I’m glad. Because you know the thing with Bradley was nothing. He was jealous, and I should have let it go.”
“It’s all right, Piper.” His gaze shifted behind me for a few seconds and back to my face. “We all have exes. It’s all complicated.”
“Yeah,” I said with a shrug and then leaned my head against his chest.
“So…who is Blaire’s date?”
I followed his gaze and found Blaire in a mint dress, dancing with a guy that I’d only seen from social media videos. “Ah, Nate King. Mr. Thirst Trap.”
“Excuse me?” he asked.
“Yeah, he takes videos of himself, like pulling up his shirt and winking at the camera.”
Hollin gave me an incredulous look. “Porn?”
I snorted. “No. Just like TikTok and Instagram and such. They met online. He lives in Midland, and they went on a date this week. She asked him to the wedding as a joke, and he said yes.”
“My brother sure doesn’t look pleased,” Hollin noted.
Campbell sure as hell didn’t look happy. He looked hot as hell though. I’d only seen him in his regular attire, which usually meant ripped jeans and leather jackets. But today, he was in a crisp black suit and tie. It had his own flair of eccentricity with gold trim and a shimmery gold pocket square. But still, it was the most put together I’d ever seen him.
He was currently glaring at my best friend’s back. As if she’d purposely decided to bring a date to thwart him. Though…maybe she had.
“Do you know what happened with them?” I asked Hollin.
He shook his head. “He blows me off when I ask him.”
“Blaire is the same way. She insists that Campbell didn’t even know who she was in high school.”
“Yeah, right. Not with that look.”
“I know. Maybe it’ll come to blows tonight, and we can finally find out.”
Hollin snorted. “He’s already on edge after what happened with Nora.”
“Yeah, fuck August.”
“No, thank you,” he said, pulling me away from Blaire and Nate and Campbell.
The first dance ended, and we applauded. The rest of the party went off without a hitch. The food was incredible, and the cake even better. I stood next to Hollin as the party did the Electric Slide.
“You’re not going to join?” he asked.
“I have limits, and a wedding line dance is it.”
He chuckled as he slid his phone out of his pocket and checked his messages. “That sounds right.”
I watched Blaire, Annie, and Sutton shimmying to the dance. Peyton was at the center of it all, teaching the dance to Aly, who picked it up like clockwork. Jennifer stood nearby, taking pictures as everyone got down.
“Piper, come on!” Annie called.
“Get out here!” Blaire said.
“Right now,” Peyton agreed.
Aly stomped her foot. “That’s an order.”
I snorted and shook my head. A second later, they all barreled off the dance floor toward me. “Oh God, save me.”
Hollin laughed. “Have a good time.”
“Ugh,” I groaned.
“I’m going to go down to the cellar. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
My friends grabbed my arms and dragged me out on the dance floor.
“Save me when you get back.”
He shook his head as they ordered me into the Electric Slide. I went along with the words with disdain as Hollin somehow got out of the entire thing. Typical.
Once the music ended, I hustled off the dance floor. Peyton waved but let me retreat. She could only pull that off once and get away with it.
Blaire plopped into a chair next to me and kicked up her feet. “Thanks for joining us.”
“It didn’t look like I had much choice.”
“What do you think about Nate?”
“He’s hot,” I told her. Nate was currently at the bar, talking to Jordan and Julian. “Seems to get along with everyone.”
“Yeah.”
“Pisses off Campbell.”
“What?” she peeped.
“You haven’t felt his gaze on you like a hot brand all night?”
Blaire rolled her eyes. “No way.”
“Are you ever going to tell me what happened with y’all?”
“Nothing,” she said automatically.
“Riiight,” I drawled.
“I’m here with Nate, and that’s all that matters.”
“If you say so.”
Blaire pinched her lips together. One day, I’d get the story out of her. One damn day.
Nate strode across the room and handed a drink to Blaire. “Bombay and lime.”
“Excellent.” She gestured to me. “Nate, this is my best friend, Piper.”
Nate King was tall, dark, and handsome. I’d stalked his social media videos after Honey had confessed that Blaire was talking to him. He was drop-dead gorgeous. It was no wonder he had a million followers, who liked to watch him dance and sing and wink at the camera. He and Blaire had done a few videos together and the results were staggering. Apparently, their joint audiences liked them together, too.