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WEST

Fucking Vegas. It takes less time to arrange a wedding here than it does to do your weekly grocery shopping. There’s something absolutely wrong with a place that allows two strangers –okay, so we’re not strangers but we could be– to tie themselves to each other without even seeing the light of day.

I look at the door, again, because as soon as I left Riva’s office his assistant, Jane or Joanne or something, whipped Eden away, telling her that I can’t see the wedding dress before she walks down the aisle because it’s bad luck.

I laugh even though it’s not funny. Because this whole night has been bad luck. Signing my soul to the devil in L.A., doing it again in a Las Vegas jail, and now I’m about to scrawl my name for the third time.

Which absolutely isn’t lucky.

In less than half an hour I’ll marry my best friend’s baby sister, and it’s the stupidest damn thing I’ve ever done. I’m sitting here in a fresh suit, courtesy of The Vantaggio Menswear Collection, questioning my life choices and wishing I’d never picked up Autumn’s call.

In between staring at the door, waiting for a signal that we can get this over with and get some sleep, I do some research, trying to find a way to make this ceremony not legal. Apparently crossing your fingers behind your back doesn’t work, so in the end I realize there’s only one thing we can do.

Get married and annul it in the morning.

Luckily, there’s no need for a prenup because this isn’t going to count. Eden will be Mrs. West Abbott for less than twenty-four hours and that’s it.

And now I’m thinking about her. How panicked she looked as she was led away, still clutching my jacket around her like it was a life-saving device. I stayed cool, promised her with my eyes it will all be okay, and I’m going to keep that damn promise.

I’m also never going to let Hudson know that I accidentally was his sister’s husband for a day. That way lies madness.

“We have the licence ready for you to sign,” Riva’s assistant says, walking into the room next to the waiting room next to the chapel. “The officiant is here. We’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.” She takes a soft breath. “Your fiancée is beautiful,” she whispers. “So radiant.”

My stomach tightens. I can’t find any words to respond to that. I’m an asshole for putting her through this. There’s just no other way. I’ve wracked my brain and there’s nothing. I’m beyond pissed at myself for this.

“She asked if you were okay,” she says, smiling. “She’s so in love with you. It’s wonderful to see.”

Jesus, either Eden’s a great actress or Jane or Janet or whatever the hell her name is is blind. “I’m fine. Is she okay?”

“Oh, she’s perfect. Everything is. Just one question, what’s her favorite flower?”

I blink. I have absolutely no idea. My mind goes to the first flower I can think of. They grow all over Liberty, and I have somevague memory of Eden and Autumn making bouquets when they were little.

“Asters,” I say confidently. “She loves them.”

“Which colors?”

“Blue. Like her eyes.”

That pleases her to no end. She smiles widely and runs out. “We’ll be about ten minutes,” she says. “I know you don’t want to wait. But Mr. Riva wants this to be perfect.”

“It’s not a problem,” I say, even though it’s probably the biggest damn problem I’ve ever had to deal with. But Riva wants a show – or a little story for his wife – and I want to get us out of here unscathed.

Jane or Janet turns right before she closes the door. “Do you want me to give your fiancée a message?” she asks. “Before you see her?”

I clear my throat. “Just tell her I’ll take care of everything.”

Jane frowns, as though it’s not quite romantic enough.

“And that I love her,” I add quickly.

She beams and closes the door. I lean back in my chair, groaning. Because I’m tired, I’m annoyed, and most of all I’m fucked.

Once this night is over, I’m done cleaning up everybody’s messes. Especially my own.

EDEN

This is all a joke. It has to be. Any minute now my whole family is going to jump out from around a corner and yell ‘surprise’. It’s their way of showing me that I’m too impulsive and idealistic and it’s time I learned my lesson.