We stepped out of the bar, the air warm as our skin adjusted to the outside world. Duke held my hand, his fingers laced with mine. Savage was still inside, flirting up a storm with a blonde he’d met when he’d asked her to play pool with us and be on his team.
“You were worried for nothing, weren’t you?” Duke asked.
“Don’t lie, you were a little worried too,” I prodded.
“Worried is too strong a word. I’d say concerned.”
“You think he’ll ever find someone and be happy?”
“He finds plenty of someones, and he’s regularly happy,” Duke quipped.
“You know what I mean. One woman for an extended period of time that could turn serious.”
“He’s not ready. He might never be ready.”
“Hmm. You’re paired off,” I reminded him. “You’re no longer out there on the prowl…hunting.”
“Ah, so you think he’ll wake up one day in the near future, his life suddenly meaningless and empty because he has no one to share it with?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Men don’t work that way.”
“I’m not talking about men, I’m talking about Savage. I think I know him pretty well.”
“Not as well as me.”
“Fancy a wager?” I asked.
“What kind of wager?”
“The kind of wager like the Old Ladies made. About if I’d wind up with you or Savage?”
“Yeah, only, this time we’ll make a bet on if Savage will get serious with someone.”
“In what time frame?”
“Within the next six months,” Duke said. “I vote no.”
“I vote yes. What are we betting? Money?”
“Nothing so trivial as money,” Duke said. He backed me up until he had me pinned to the side of my car. “The winner gets to have his or her sexual fantasy completely fulfilled.”
“A sex bet?” I snorted. “Of course, you want a sex bet.”
“To make it more interesting, we don’t share our fantasies until the winner has been declared.”
“One stipulation,” I said.
“Name it.”
“No degradation.”
He held out his hand. “Deal.”
I shook on it. “Deal.”
Duke angled his body against mine, our locked hands nestled between us. “You know there are no losers in this game.”
“I’m aware. That’s why I had no qualms about making the bet.”
He kissed my jaw and then my lips. “So, Doc and Boxer’s wedding…”
“Yeah?”
“You and Waverly want to meet me there? Or you want me to ride my bike over and the three of us go together in your car?”
“It’s probably easier if I meet you there,” I said.
“Right,” he said quietly.
“Plus, I kind of want you to see me when I walk in. I’m gonna look hot.”
“You always look hot.”
“But this time, I’m gonna look really, really hot.”
“You don’t get it, do you?”
“Get what?”
“You could wear sweats and have your hair in a messy ponytail, and I’d find you hot.”
“Basically, you want to have sex with me all the time.”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
I grinned. “That’s nice.”
“Nice?”
“Yeah. The perks of a relationship are nice.”
“That’s the only thing that’s really changed, you know. The sex part.”
“I like that,” I admitted. “I like that it was just easy and natural with us.”
“It was a good night,” he said. “The night we hooked up, I mean. But I like where we are now.”
I snuggled against him. “Me too.”
“It smells like sawdust in here,” I said, closing the front door.
Waverly didn’t look up from the book she was reading. “Does it?”
“Yes.”
“Huh.” She turned the page, stuck a bookmark in it, and then closed it. “So? How did it go?”
I grinned. “It was great.”
“Yeah? So did Savage freak?”
“Nope.”
“Dang.”
“You wanted Savage to fight Duke?” I asked with a snort.
“Not really. But you were so convinced it was going to happen.”
“I was wrong.”
She put her hand to her ear. “I’m sorry. I didn’t quite hear you. What was that?”
“Hey, it’s a school night. Why aren’t you in bed?” I demanded.
“Seriously? We’re doing that now?”
“Nah. Just getting you off my back. What are you doing tomorrow after school?” I asked, plopping down on the couch next to her.
“My schedule is wide open, actually. Why?”
“I have nothing to wear to Doc and Boxer’s wedding. And I don’t think you have anything either—since Angel took off with all of your fancy outfits.”
“She probably sold my clothes for cigarette money,” she said glumly.
“It’s a safe bet. She probably sold mine for scratch-off money. Anyway. I was thinking we could go to Folson’s.”
“Folson’s is a department store.”
“Yep.”
“With full prices.”
“Also yep.”
“Meaning I won’t have to piece together an ensemble from thrift stores.”
“Waverly?”
“I like my thrift stores,” she defended. “I get to be off beat and eclectic. The moment I start shopping at department stores, my whole reputation goes out the window.”
“What reputation would that be?”
“The reputation that I’m the badass girl from the wrong side of the tracks that pulls herself up by her bootstraps.”
“Yeah, I guess you can’t be that girl if you shop at a snooty department store. But what about me? I have nothing to prove and I want to wear something new that’ll make Duke follow me around like a puppy.”
“He’d do that even if you wore sweats.”
I stared at her in surprise.
She frowned. “What?”
“You sure it’s okay that I wore my boots?” Waverly asked, the silver wrapped wedding present sitting on her lap.
“You wore them to Brooklyn and Slash’s wedding,” I pointed out. “Why are you worried about them now?”
“I wear them everywhere. I was wrong, okay?” she blurted out.
“Wrong about what?”
“I thought I wanted to dress how I normally dress, but I feel underdressed now.”
“You mean angry-teen-meets-angry-punk-meets-angry-goth isn’t doing it for you today?”
She glared at me.
After Folson’s, I’d taken Waverly around to some of the best thrift stores in Dallas. She’d found an 80s prom dress with a full skirt. She’d paired it with a denim vest that had been bedazzled, added stockings and her heavy Doc Martins and a black lace choker.
“I love how you’re dressed,” I said. “It’s classically your style.”
“But what if it doesn’t reflect how I feel about the world anymore?” she asked. “What if I’m dressing how I’ve always dressed because I was trying to prove a point, and now I don’t care if I’m proving anything anymore?”
“Translation?”
“I want a pair of heels.”
“Take my phone,” I said. “And call Mia. You guys are the same size.”
“What if she’s already at Brooklyn’s helping Doc get ready?”
“That’s a risk you’re going to have to take. I’d trade shoes with you in a heartbeat, but I wear size behemoth.”
Brooklyn and Slash were hosting Doc and Boxer’s wedding. They had the space and Brooklyn loved to entertain. With the help of Jazz and Brielle, the decorations and cake would be impeccable. Doc hadn’t given a lot of time to prepare for the wedding, but Brooklyn had become an expert at pulling off last minute events.
“Damn,” Waverly muttered, setting my phone down. “Mia’s already there.”
“Guess you’ll have to party in your trademark boots.”
“Guess so.”
I turned down the road that led to Brooklyn and Slash’s property. After I parked the car and turned off the engine, Waverly unlatched her seat belt.
“You go on in,” I said to her, reaching for my phone.
“Gonna text your boyfriend to come out and meet you?” she teased.
“Yep.” I grinned.
With a mock salute, she headed up the pathway. She pushed open the front door and stepped inside. I shot off a text to Duke and waited.
For some reason, nerves swirled in my belly.
That feeling quickly turned to appreciation when he came out of the house. He’d cleaned up for the wedding. His jeans were new and he wore a blue button-down shirt, along with his heavy motorcycle boots, and of course, his Blue Angels leather cut. But he was rocking the stubble.
I climbed out of the car and stopped to look at him.
He smiled, appearing boyish. His dimples popped, and it reminded me of when he was a teenager.
Without a word, we moved toward one another. He reached his hand out to grasp my waist while the other cupped the back of my neck.
He tilted my head back to receive his kiss. There, on the sidewalk, he plundered my mouth with his tongue, tasting me.
“You look incredible,” he growled against my lips.
“You haven’t seen the best part.” I pulled away from him and turned so he could see that the formal blue dress had a short skirt and almost no back.
He trailed a finger down my spine and I shivered.
I turned around again and placed my hand on his chest, just over his heart. I felt the heavy drumming of its beat.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I quipped.
“You and your compliments,” he teased, bringing my hand to his lips. “You spoil me.”
His tongue grazed my knuckles, making me shiver.
The front door opened. “Hey, Duke, stop pawing your woman and get your asses in here!” Savage yelled.
Duke clasped my hand in his and we headed for the house. Every available space in the living room and foyer were graced with blooming white flowers and lit candles in glasses. There were photos in silver frames atop the mantle of the engaged couple. Nothing as formal as engagement photos, but pictures of them from other Blue Angels events and some where they weren’t even in the frame together. Pictures of them as children.
I pointed to a photo of Boxer when he couldn’t have been more than seven-years-old, his face covered in mud. “Trouble even then, right?”
Duke grinned. “No doubt.”
There was a small table in the corner of the living room stacked with wrapped presents of all shapes and sizes.
Darcy came down the stairs and stopped halfway. She wore a tight black dress that showed off her amazing body.
I hoped I looked half as good as her after I had kids.
That thought entered my head before I even had a chance to stop it.
“Well, that’s new,” I muttered.
“Hmm?” Duke asked, turning toward me.
“Nothing. Hey, Darcy,” I called.
“Hey.” She beamed. “You want to come upstairs and chill with us and the bride before the ceremony?”
“Love to.” I squeezed Duke’s fingers before letting go.
I followed Darcy up the stairs but looked back for a moment to find Duke watching me with a devious little smirk on his lips.
That smirk set a spark of pleasure between my legs.
Darcy opened the bedroom door and I followed her inside. The room was all Brooklyn. Sage green walls, heavy oak furniture built to last, and photos of her and Slash from their wedding. Joni and Allison were perched on the king-sized bed, talking in low tones.
“Where’s the blushing bride?” I asked.
“More like fuming bride.” Joni grinned.
I raised my brows. “Why is she fuming? And why are you laughing at her?”
“Because she’s a dirty rotten friend,” Doc shouted as she came out of the ensuite bathroom. She wore a dainty rhinestone head piece in lieu of a veil, and a bathrobe to keep her dress from getting dirty before the ceremony. She looked like a fairy queen with her pixie haircut.
“And why is she a dirty rotten friend?” I asked.
Mia stood by the dresser which she was using as a makeshift table. She popped open a bottle of champagne, poured a flute and then crossed the room to hand it to me. “Because Joni told her she wasn’t allowed to drink before the ceremony.”
“Just one glass to take the edge off,” Doc pleaded.
“You have even one glass on a near empty stomach and it’s gonna go straight to your eye sockets and you’re gonna blubber your vows,” Joni said, still on the bed. “You told me to remind you of that when we got to this point. So, here we are.”
“I can’t even pee in peace.” Doc glowered.
“Lift your skirt,” Joni demanded. “Prove to me you didn’t strap a flask to your thigh.”
“I will do no such thing,” Doc said. “I’m offended you’d even—”
Joni held out her hand.
Doc stared at her for a long moment and then with a sigh, she reached under her robe and extracted a flask. “It’s just Bailey’s. It doesn’t even count.”
She marched over to Joni and placed it in her palm, but then Darcy immediately filched it.
“It would just go to waste if you had it,” Darcy said. “I’ll take care of it. Willa will help.” She winked at me. “Right, Willa?”
“Definitely,” I agreed.
Darcy took a sip from the flask. “Damn, this is perfect.” She handed it to me and I did the same.
“Double fisting at a wedding,” I quipped. “I’m classy.”
The bedroom door opened and a beautiful brunette of average height strode inside. “I never thought in a million years that when I became a mother, I would talk about bodily fluids so much.”
I handed her the flask.
“What’s this?” she asked, taking it from me.
“Bailey’s.”
“Ah, perfect.” She took a sip.
“Willa, you know Rachel, right?” Mia asked.
“Yeah, we’ve met,” I said with a smile. “You left town around the time Duke and Savage got patched in.”
Rachel nodded. “Oh, that’s right. Hi, again.”
“She’s been living with her mom in Laramie, but she’s moving back to town,” Mia explained.
“Welcome back,” I said.
“Thanks,” Rachel said. “You, Duke and Savage are the inseparable trio, right?”
I nodded.
“She’s Duke’s Old Lady now,” Mia informed her.
“Girlfriend,” I interjected. “Not an official Old Lady yet.”
“Semantics.” Joni waved her hand.
“Ah, Duke.” Rachel nodded. “I like him a lot. And Savage too.”
“Your mom’s moving back with you, isn’t she?” Allison asked.
“Yeah. She’s done with the winters in Wyoming.” Rachel grinned.
“I’m just glad Cash is close in age to Tank,” Allison said. “They’ll grow up together.”
Joni placed a hand on her belly. “And this one, too.”
“A group of hellions, mark my words,” Darcy said.
“Oh, of course,” Joni said. “A son of Zip? Hellion for sure.” She winced. “Little bastard just kicked me in the ribs.”
“He heard you talking smack,” Rachel said with a laugh. She looked at Doc. “Boxer’s getting a bit antsy down there.”
Doc rolled her eyes. “He’s probably worried I climbed out the window and I’m on the lam. He hasn’t seen me since last night. I should put him out of his misery and marry him.”
“Should I go tell everyone to take their seats?” Mia asked.
Doc nodded.
Mia went to the bedroom door, but it flew open before she got to it. Lily entered first, followed by Brooklyn.
“Aunt Doc, Uncle Boxer said to stop…” She frowned and looked up to Brooklyn. “I forgot the word he said.”
“Primping,” Brooklyn supplied with a smile.
Lily nodded, her blonde curls bouncing. “Yeah, he said to stop primping, and to get your ass down there and make an honest man out of him. Also, what does that mean?”
“She doesn’t remember the word primp, but she remembers the word ass,” Darcy muttered.
“Good timing, Lily Burger,” Doc said. “Go tell Uncle Boxer that we’re ready to move and groove.”
The little girl ran out of the room, the clatter of her shoes hitting the wooden stairs as she went.
“Colt’s not put out that Boxer asked Lily to be his best man, is he?” Darcy asked Mia.
Mia grinned. “Nah. He was perfectly happy to relinquish the job.”
“We should go take our seats,” Darcy said. “But first, another nip of that Bailey’s.”
Rachel and Brooklyn stayed behind with Doc, but the rest of us left the room. We took the stairs and headed toward the back yard.
“They really do have the perfect space for weddings,” Darcy commented.
“The really do,” I agreed.
Slash and Brooklyn had a few acres—enough room for a large wedding tent and for people to park and roam freely on the property. Jazz and Brielle were attempting to get people into the chairs that had been set up for the event. A jazz trio was near the back of the aisle that Doc would walk down.
Savage sat on the aisle seat, with Waverly next to him. There was an empty chair in between them and Duke.
“You look hot, babe,” Savage said by way of greeting.
I flicked his ear as I passed him.
“What?” he asked, rubbing his ear. “I gotta behave now that you and Duke are swapping spit?”
“Uh, ew.” Waverly wrinkled her nose.
I took a seat next to her and immediately Duke put his hand on my thigh.
“You don’t swap spit with Dylan?” Savage asked her.
“Can we please stop talking about spit?” I demanded.
“Hi, Waverly!” Lily screamed and waved from her spot at the altar next to Boxer.
Waverly waved back.
The Old Ladies took their seats next to their men.
Before Allison could even sit down, Torque was handing baby Tank to her. “He’s hungry,” Torque said.
“I don’t want to miss the ceremony,” Allison said, but Tank was beginning to fuss.
“Just stick a nipple in his mouth,” Darcy suggested. “It shuts up men of all ages.”
“The woman is not wrong,” Gray added.
“I don’t have a shawl,” Allison said. “I’d prefer not to flash anyone while they’re saying their vows.”
“I have an idea. Hold on,” I said, quickly getting up and going to where Brielle and Jazz were sitting.
“Hey, girl,” Jazz greeted. “Stellar dress.”
“Thanks. Did you guys get tablecloths and linens for the wedding?”
“Yeah.” Brielle nodded. “Why?”
“Is there an extra one, by chance?”
“There’s a few.” Brielle got up and I followed her into the house. She opened Brooklyn’s pantry, stepped inside, and came back out holding a white tablecloth. “Why do you need it?”
“Not for me. For Allison. I’ll explain later. Thanks!”
I rushed out of the house and headed to Allison and handed her the linen.
“Ah, genius.” Allison smiled and took it. “Thanks!”
With the movements of a pro, she had the tablecloth across her body and was undoing her outfit to free a breast and begin feeding baby Tank.
The jazz pianist played a few notes and everyone fell silent. Heads turned to watch the bride come down the aisle.
I was surprised that Rachel came first, holding a bouquet of flowers.
“Who’s that?” Waverly whispered.
“Rachel,” Duke answered for me. “She’s an Old Lady.”
“Whose Old Lady?” Waverly asked.
I placed a finger to my lips and she fell silent.
Brooklyn followed Rachel. As she walked, she kept her eyes on Slash, who tracked her every move.
Waverly’s gasp pulled my attention from the couple so obviously in love it hurt to look at them—and they weren’t even the bride and groom.
Doc stood at the back of the aisle, a satisfied smirk on her lips. I quickly looked at Boxer, wanting to gauge his reaction. He looked dumbstruck and then a slow grin pulled across his face.
“That’s the best wedding dress I’ve ever seen,” Waverly said.
Instead of traditional white, Doc wore red. It was a strapless sweetheart neckline and the full skirt was calf-length. It was a mix of modern and vintage and the color emphasized her strawberries and cream complexion, making her skin seem to glow.
The trio began to play a slow jazz number, and Doc all but glided toward Boxer. When she came to a stop in front of him, he took her hand and brought it to his lips.
They shared a look only they were privy too, and my throat thickened with an onslaught of emotion.
The justice of the peace began to speak and asked them to recite their traditional vows.
“Interesting choice,” I whispered to Duke. “Not going for writing their own.”
“You write your own, but you say that shit to each other in private. This is all just ceremony.”
I met Duke’s gaze and then smiled softly and leaned in to kiss him.
“Who has the rings?” the justice of the peace asked.
Boxer let go of Doc’s hand, but only so he could turn and lean down toward Lily. “Ring please, Lily Burger.”
She looked up at him. “I don’t have Aunt Doc’s ring.”
“I gave it to you for safe keeping. That’s why you’re my best Lily Burger. Your job is to make sure the ring is safe.”
“Oh, it’s safe.” Lily nodded. “But I don’t have it.”
“Where is it?” Boxer demanded gently.
“I buried it.”
“I’m sorry, you what? You buried it?” he asked, his jaw dropping open. “Like a dog buries a bone?”
“Not like a dog.” She frowned. “Like a dragon with its gold and jewels and stuff.”
“Where did you bury it?” Boxer asked.
Lily pointed to the other side of the property.
“I’m guessing he wishes he’d asked Colt to be best man,” Joni said with a rueful laugh. “Ow!”
“Ow what?” Zip asked from next to her.
Joni went on, “That was a strong one.”
“Strong what?” Zip asked, placing his hand on her belly.
“Strong contraction,” Joni said calmly.
Zip’s eyes widened. “Contraction? Are you having my baby?”
“Relax,” she said with a wide smile. “They’re far apart. I’ve got a ton of time before my uterus is ready to shove a turkey through a keyhole.”
“Ugh. Seriously?” Waverly asked. “Gross.”
“Uh, Joni?” Rachel said.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t think you have that much time,” she said. “Your dress is wet.”
“I’m a nurse. I’m pretty familiar with—” She suddenly stopped talking and she let out a small grunt. “Okay, that’s kind of strange.”
“What? What? What’s strange?” Zip demanded.
“I kinda feel like I have to push,” she said, struggling to stand.
“Push? Push what?” Zip yelled.
“The baby.” Joni took Zip’s hand and stood. “My water definitely broke.”
“You can’t give birth to the baby here,” Zip said. “We need to get you to a hospital.”
“Not gonna make it,” Joni said.
Doc shoved her flowers at Brooklyn. “Here’s what we’re going to do. Acid, run to my car and get my med bag.”
“On it,” Acid said. “Where are your keys?”
“No idea. Break a window if you have to,” Doc said. “Okay. Zip, get on Joni’s other side. We need to get her into the house.”
“Wait,” the justice of the peace said. “I haven’t announced you man and wife yet.”
“Then hurry up,” Boxer said. “I’ve got a ring to find.”
“And I’ve got a baby to deliver,” Doc said.
The justice of the peace sighed. “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Doc arched a brow at Boxer. “Make it snappy.”