Page 48 of Yours to Keep

BREE

Istayed with Liana while Sullivan prepared to go back into the church. Although he hadn’t said anything, he looked relieved. I had a feeling he was glad to have something to channel his energy into after just watching us for the last few minutes.

“I’ll be right downstairs,” he said once he reached the door, rolling his shoulders like he was bracing for impact. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”

“I’ve got her,” I said. “Go.”

Liana sniffed and wiped her face with the back of her hand. “He’s going to terrify them, isn’t he?”

“Oh, one hundred percent,” I said. “But honestly? The people who came here for Neil deserve it and the people who came here for you might just be inspired to grab their own pitchforks.”

She laughed quietly, the sound still a little brittle, but I’d take that over nothing. “I hope none of his friends or family actually come. I don’t want to hear them defending him.”

“On the plus side, Neil will be finding out from them real soon what’s happening,” I said. “By the time we leave here, he’ll know, and if any of his people try to come, we’ll make them pay for their own booze.”

She smiled, but then we heard the low murmurs filtering up from downstairs. Sullivan’s strong voice carried the next second, but not enough for us to make out the words from all the way up here.

Liana froze. “What’s he saying?”

“Either something heroic or something legally questionable. Personally, I’m hoping for the latter. I’m hoping that Neil and his guests will feel so threatened about what he’s saying that they’ll crap themselves every time they just drive past a Crowne Medical billboard.”

A beat later, we heard the church doors opening and the sound hit us first, chatter that sounded like confusion, surprise, and then, this weird ripple of excitement. People talking over each other. Gasps.

Liana sagged against me. “He actually told them.”

“Of course, he did. Probably in a way that’s going to cause the maximum amount of chaos in Neil’s life for the next few weeks.”

Sullivan came back in a minute later, his jaw tight but eyes clear again now. Focused. “It’s done. They’ve all been invited to come drink my booze and eat my sister’s cake, as long as they’re willing to write off any grain of support for that motherfucker.”

Her eyes filled with tears again, but at least this time, she was smiling. “You’re the best brother.”

“I know. But only because you’re a great little sister.”

The hotel ballroom was already set up when we got there, people showing up in waves, still dressed for a wedding, but buzzing for a much rowdier party. I cornered the DJ before he could even think about pressing play.

“No love songs tonight,” I said.

He looked at me like I’d just saved his life. “Bless you.”

“Keep it upbeat,” I said. “Energetic. If anyone slow dances, I’ll unplug everything.”

He saluted me. “As long as it’s not the same twenty songs I play at every wedding reception, I’m onboard.”

“I don’t want to hear even one of those songs,” I said, then nodded when he grinned at me.

Liana appeared with a bottle of champagne in her hand, no flute and no shame when I ran into her on my way offstage.

“Is this tacky?” she asked.

“No,” I said. “It’s iconic. You’re reclaiming your life from a cowardly, piece of shit loser who never deserved you. I’d say that deserves drinking straight out of the bottle.”

She took a long swig and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Fuck that guy.”

“That’s the spirit.”

The DJ shouted into his microphone as the first strands of Since You’ve Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson started playing. He announced that he’d be playing a selection of the most iconic, most powerful breakup songs of all time tonight, and Liana threw her free arm up in the air.

“I love this song!”