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“Jesus, ouch. What the—” Her eyes drop, looking down in disbelief, discovering that she’s caught the flowers. I watch, the flicker in her eyes tells me she’s considering throwing them back, but it’s too late.
The other girls glare, eyes roll, whispers start, annoyance clear on their faces. She was just the outsider. Now, she’s the enemy.
“That wasn’t supposed to happen,” Stacie says, the mic down at her side but it still picks up her voice. “Martin, should I throw them again, or…can you get them back?” She stomps her foot and pouts like a toddler.
“No. No, you can’t. It’s bad luck…or something…” Martin laughs uncomfortably, grabbing the mic, realizing everyone is listening. “Hopefully you won’t be getting married anytime soon, huh, baby? No boys on the horizon for you, my little pumpkin.” The crowd shift nervously, some breaking off from the group, others chattering and pointing to Milly, and I want to knock their empty heads together. Martin tries to save the moment. “Let’s, um, let’s move on to the garter. Gents, gents, gather round. No pushing. Now, let’s see. Lift your dress a little, baby.”
There are a few guffaws and lecherous chuckles from the men as they move to replace the ladies. I frown and grit my teeth as I watch Martin lifting Stacie’s dress so high we all get a flash of ass. Not a part of my sister I needed to see, even though she’s laughing and playing along, running a hand down her thigh as she glances at the men in the crowd, bobbing her eyebrows and playing coy. Martin finally tugs the garter down, over Stacie’s foot, but I stay solid in my spot.
Unfortunately, the group of men flow and gather to my left and I step farther away. I’m not going to be part of this, I want to be next to my girl. I’m watching Milly as she crosses her eyes and gives me a ‘wha-da-ya-know’ look shaking the bouquet in the air.
What was it she said earlier? She doesn’t believe in happy ever after.
I nod and point back toward the bar and she winks back on a thumbs up, turning that way.
“Here it comes. Get ready! Catch!” I hear Martin but I’m focused on my girl. I see some big guys jump out of the corner of my eye, laughing as they leap, snagging air as it sails high over their heads.
Way to the left.
Heading right for me like a heat-seeking missile.
My instincts take over. I was an athlete in college. A navy SEAL. I have quick reflexes even after a few drinks.
Keeping eye contact with Milly, I reach up and pluck the darting blue and white silk missile from the air, and hear my sister’s squeal of delight.
“Reid! That’s my handsome brother, Reid! You caught it! Wedding bells, wedding bells, ladies! I wonder who the lucky girl will be?”
“Come on up here!” The band leader’s dulcet voice takes over at the mic. “Both of you. Was it Milly? And Reid? Come on up, you aren’t done!”
Milly frowns as she stops in her tracks, the flowers drooping in her limp grip as I approach. “I don’t want to go up there. I don’t want everyone looking at me—”
She doesn’t get any further than that, as the crowd starts to clap and cheer, urging us along, up to the stage, where Stacie is whispering to the band leader.
He starts to laugh as he turns back our way, offering his hand to Milly to help her up onto the stage, but I growl and step forward, knocking his hand away as I climb up then lift her up with me.
He looks put out, but is soon back on the microphone, leading with his best master of ceremonies voice.
“I’ve just learned that these two are brother and sister-in-law. Or, would it be uncle and niece in law? Either way, way to in-law , wink, wink, in the great state of North Carolina!” He gets a few laughs, but as I look out at the drunken faces, all I want is to get her away from here. Get her somewhere more private, taste her kiss again, know what she sounds like when I make her come— “Okay, now, there’s a tradition to all this. The lucky groom-to-be needs to put the garter on the lucky young lady! Don’t be shy, we’re all friends here—and family, as it turns out!”
“I think I should probably throw the bouquet again,” Stacie says, arms crossed, huffing, and I shoot her a deadly look. “This is a circus. Milly shouldn’t have tried so hard to catch it.”
But this dance is already in motion and I’m not stopping it now.
At the mention of putting the garter on her, my beast took over. Fuck, yeah. Get my hands on those legs? Get to see what’s waiting for me? I’m on my knees in front of her in an instant, ignoring her yelp of surprise.
