“She’s here in spirit,” Dallas, the band’s drummer, said as he pulled Jax and me into a hug. “I’m proud of you, Jax.”
“We all are,” I agreed.
“You guys are such sentimental saps.” Luca, the lead guitarist, entered the room and downed the last of his scotch. I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering how many refills he’d already had. He took a look at all of us and gave an approving nod. “You look great, gentlemen. And we all know I look great.”
“And you callussentimental,” Dallas quipped as his cousin and bass player, Derek, appeared in the doorway and snapped a picture. Derek was also an amateur photographer, though his skills were anything but, and he’d insisted upon taking a few photos of the big day.
“I just saw the girls, and they look amazing.” Derek placed his camera back in its case. “It’s almost time, but before we go out there, I have something for you, Jax.”
“Here we go,” Dallas said, pretending to be annoyed. “I have a feeling my wedding gift is about to become a lot less cool.”
Luca snorted. “What did you expect? It’s a fucking serving platter.”
“It’s from Tiffany’s.” Dallas crossed his arms in mock indignation. “What didyouget them, asshole?”
Luca beamed proudly. “The gift of my presence.”
“Can it, jokers.” I laughed as Derek plucked a small box from his camera bag and handed it to Jax.
Jax untied the black satin ribbon and lifted the top off the box to reveal a shiny gold pocket watch. “Wow, Derek. Thanks, man. This is awesome.”
“Open it,” Derek insisted.
Jax opened the clasp to reveal a photo as the face of the watch. I recognized the picture immediately. It was from the meet and greet where we met Liv, Ella, and Grace for the first time. The guys were all smiles, smushed into the frame with the girls. Jax’s eyes misted over.
“My only regret was that Cash wasn’t in the picture,” Derek said, “but that was only because he was the one taking it.”
Jax smiled down at the photo.
“I want this to serve as a reminder that no matter how much time passes, no matter where we are, you’ll always have this family to come home to.” Derek pulled Jax into a hug. “And now that family is growing, and I couldn’t be happier for you, man.”
“Thanks, Derek,” Jax choked out. “This means a lot, brother.”
Luca made gagging noises as he moved in to take a look at Jax’s gift.
“Oh, shut up.” Dallas laughed, throwing his arms around me and Luca. “I think we need to have a group hug.”
“For fuck’s sake.” Luca rolled his eyes, but his mouth stretched into a wide grin.
“Bring it in here,” Dallas said as Derek and Jax piled in.
“Aw, what a tender moment,” Antoni’s voice interrupted from the doorway. Antoni was equal parts fire and ice, one of the best managers in the business, and an even better friend. “Now, who’s ready to get married?”
Everyone smiled except for Luca whose face screwed up into a pained grimace.
“I ain’t even talking to you, Mr. Luca-I’m-Dead-Inside-Sterling. Everybody already knows there’s no hope for you, honey.” Antoni pursed his lips in Luca’s direction, and we all laughed. Even Luca. “But I digress. Are the rest of you fools ready?”
Glancing over at Jax, I raised my brow at him in an unspoken question. He gulped in a deep breath and nodded.
He was moments away from some of the most important days of his life. He was on the cusp of becoming a husband and a father. In a lot of ways, his life was just beginning.
My chest tightened, and I felt a lump form in my throat. I missed Carrie all the time, but I especially missed her on the big days—the ones that reminded me that part of my life was over.
* * *
“Introducing,for the first time as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Jaxon Slade!” A voice boomed over the speakers of the courtyard. Jax and Liv entered to the wild approval of their two-hundred-and-something waiting guests. “If you’ll turn your attention to the dance floor, the new Mr. and Mrs. are going to kick off the reception with their first dance.” The band started to play “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”
The ceremony was beautiful, taking place at the picturesque East Ivy Manor, with cascading chandeliers and a winding staircase straight out of Cinderella’s castle. Liv looked like a princess, and for all the ways she looked like a princess, Ella looked like a queen with her golden hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders and her gown stretching down into a v, perfectly showcasing a little tanned cleavage.
