AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She knew because she felt it, too.
“Will you love, honor, respect her,” the officiant said. “And stand by her no matter what may come?”
Bex swallowed, his chest rising and falling in quick, short breaths. “I—”
“What the fuck is going on?” a deep voice bellowed.
Everyone turned to find Van standing in the doorway. In a white-T-shirt, jeans, and motorcycle boots, he looked like the marauding king…of a motorcycle club. His tousled hair stuck to his forehead, damp from his performance.
He strode down the aisle, anger billowing off him.
“Hey, Van,” Mary-Therese said nervously. “Thanks for coming—”
“I’m not here as a witness.” Van smacked Bex’s shoulder. “I’m here to talk sense into you. What’re you doing?” Before Bex could answer, he continued. “I can’t believe you’d get married without me. Without Mom?”
“No, it’s not like that,” the bride said. “It’s meant to be fun. Spontaneous. He’s always saying I never take chances, that I don’t take charge. So, I thought, since you guys were in Vegas, it would be fun to get married now. We’ll have a reception with both our families when the tour’s over.”
Bex had a look in his eyes that seemed alert, on edge. As if he wanted his brother’s perspective. “We’ve been together six years…you knew it was going to end up here.”
End up here? He made it sound like a prison sentence.
“This is bullshit,” Van said.
Mary-Therese grew anxious. “You know he doesn’t want some big, grand affair. This is perfect, actually.”
“The woman my brother spends his life with should know he’d never want to get married on Freemont Street.”
Awareness bloomed in Della’s chest. Of course.
It would make Bex’s skin crawl to be back here.
“And he’d never want a quickie wedding. Words matter to him. And that’s something else the woman he marries should know.”
Mary-Therese looked shamed but kept her chin tilted. “You’re making too much out of this. It’s supposed to be fun. Just…let us do it, okay?”
“Why?” Van demanded of her. “What’s your rush?”
“Rush?” Mary looked like she was about to throw her bouquet at him. “It’s been six years…are you kidding me? This is the opposite of rushing. This is—”
“Shit or get off the pot?” Van turned his back on her to face his brother. “Is this what you want?”
All eyes went to the groom. But he only had eyes for Della.
And they were on fire.
She felt his gaze like a shot of tequila. Burning, bittersweet, and hot.
Van grabbed his brother’s shoulder. “Look at you, man. You’ve never looked at anyone the way you look at her.”
“What?” Mary-Therese eyed her groom accusingly. “You said nothing was going on between you two.”
Van ignored her. “I’ve hardly spent any time around the two of you, but I already see a difference. Every time I talk to you, it’s Della this and Della that. You’re excited to be around her. You’re real. And I only know that because I’ve seen you around her—” he pointed an accusing finger at the bride, “—for six years.”
“So, you are cheating on me?” Mary-Therese sounded horrified.
“No,” Bex said firmly. “I would never do that.”
“And yet in two days, I’ve seen more emotion—more happiness—than all your years with her.” Van tipped his head toward Mary.
