“Something borrowed.” Molly puts a tiny heart-shaped silver charm on the bracelet from Josie, then gives me a shy hug.
“And something blue.” Yuna wraps a vivid blue satin ribbon around my bouquet and ties it into a gorgeous bow.
“Sixpence in your shoe.” Grinning, Sierra pulls out a bright penny. “They don’t make sixpence coins anymore, so we’re substituting. This was minted the year you were born.” She puts it on my palm and folds my fingers over the warm coin. “I’m so happy we’re getting another sister.”
“Thank you so much, everyone.” I smile.
The door bursts open, and the boys barge in, dressed in tuxedos. “Look! Señor Mittens is ready!”
I put a hand over my mouth. Noah told me the cat should be part of the ceremony. After all, he is our Cupid and guardian angel. But I never imagined this was what he had in mind.
A pair of wings made with actual feathers. A long white cloth wraps around him like a Roman toga, and a bow is attached to his back with an arrow tipped with a red heart. Señor Mittens glares at me like it’s my fault he’s been stripped of his feline dignity.
“Oh wow…” I breathe out.
“Isn’t hecool?” Liam shouts.
Señor Mittens’s narrowed eyes say I better answer wisely or else.
“Um… Yes?”
He lets out a growl. Guess that wasn’t the correct response.
“Wow. So Joey actually did it,” Aspen says in half in awe, half horrified.
“What?”Joey?
“Grant said that Noah ordered Joey to make them. I mean, he’d know who to ask to get the best costume, right?”
“Did he wrangle an invitation for Ted?” Amy asks, scandalized.
Aspen shakes her head. “Not a chance.”
Amy lets out a relieved sigh. “Thank God. Grandfather or not, I’m not letting that man near Monique.”
Yuna’s phone buzzes. She glances at the screen, then chortles softly.
“What’s so funny?” I ask as I check my reflection for the last time. The makeup artist did an amazing job. And she made sure that I still look like myself, not someone who has a thousand layers of plaster on her.
“Mom says congrats, and she wants to know if you can send her some of your marriage luck because she’s having the hardest time getting Jin to marry a proper heiress. So I told her to cut off his allowance.”
The suggestion has me gasping with shock. “He gets an allowance?”
“Of course not.” Yuna laughs gleefully. “But they cut me off when I said no to an arranged marriage. I just felt like being bratty.”
“Arranged marriages aren’t that terrible.” Josie’s voice takes on a serious-therapist tone. “Provided the couple shares similar values. Love may not last, but values are forever.”
“Oh, we don’t pick our spouses for values,” Yuna says lightly, like she’s discussing the beautiful weather outside. “This is a merger marriage. Billions are riding on it.”
I shake my head at the wild pressure that type of union would bring. On the other hand, who am I to think about pressure on others? I’m marrying a man who pre-emptively assassinates terrorists and other bad actors who threaten our national security.
Molly checks her watch. “It’s time.”
We step out together, and the ladies disperse toward the beach. TJ stands outside the door in a tux that fits his huge frame surprisingly well. A tear glints in his eye as he offers his arm. “Ah, Bobbi. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, TJ.”
“If that fucker does you wrong, you lemme know. I’ve always got your back.”
