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“Right. Okay.” Gulping in deep breaths, Momma dabbed at her eyes one more time before lifting her chin. “Fuck, you’re getting married. How are you this old? Weren’t you a baby yesterday?”
“Oops, guess you blinked, and it passed you by,” I teased.
“You’re trying to be a smartass, but you’re right. Time did go by too quickly.” Sighing, she started herding everyone toward the door. “I think the biggest hurdles we have to face now are getting Evan down the aisle with the rings still actually on the pillow, and your dad down the aisle without the man completely losing it.”
“I have my money on Evan,” Aunt Layla murmured to the others as they stepped out of the penthouse suite ahead of us.
“Double or nothing, Evan has to be bribed,” Aunt Lana laughed.
“I’m already ahead of you,” Lucy told her sister. “Braxton and Howler both have candy in their pockets to show him. If that doesn’t get him moving, I told Harris to stand behind the officiant and give him ‘the look.’ That’s all it takes when he’s being naughty.”
“The hell?” Lana complained. “Your son nearly broke my back putting his pants on. Why wasn’t Harris around for that?”
“Aunt Emmie had a strict no-men-allowed policy in the suite. It was all girls except for my hellion.”
“He gets it from his Poppy,” Aunt Layla said as we all somehow got into the elevator together. Everyone stayed back against the walls so as not to scrunch up my dress. “Jesse spoils him way too much.”
Everyone in the metal box except for the kids and Lyla snorted. “Sure, Layla. It’s Jesse’s fault,” Momma said with a roll of her eyes. “Just like it’s Jesse’s fault the twins are spoiled.”
“Hey, it’s not all my doing that Luca is still a brat. Violet enables him too much.”
“She’s not wrong,” Nevaeh whispered to me. “Vi kind of does give in to him way too easily.”
The elevator doors opened on the second floor where the event space had been set up for the wedding, and everyone went silent.
Uncle Jesse, Uncle Drake, Uncle Shane, and my dad all stood there waiting. Four pairs of eyes went straight to me before I could even move, and they all instantly filled with tears. “Baby girl,” Daddy choked out as he stepped forward and offered me his arm. “You’re more beautiful than I ever imagined.”
I tried not to let my tears blur my vision as I walked out of the elevator. Everyone was afraid to ruin my dress, hair, or makeup, but they bent to give me air kisses before rushing to take their seats. Howler, Braxton, and my brother came out of a room close by as the music began to play inside.
Momma lined everyone up in front of the double doors, with Jagger leading the way to escort her down the aisle, followed by Josie, then Lyla and Howler. Nevaeh and Braxton would be next, followed by Hayat and Evan, leaving Daddy to walk me down the aisle last. Momma took my brother’s arm, and the doors opened while Daddy and I stayed out of the line of sight. I bit my lip to keep myself from sneaking a peek in at Barrick.
For the next few moments, I concentrated on the doors opening and closing. First on my mom and brother, then on the three bridesmaids and the two groomsmen. They closed one more time, and I was thankful Hayat took her little brother’s hand.
“If you mess this up for Auntie Mia, I will hide every one of your dinosaurs where you’ll never find them,” she hissed. “And when you go to Mommy and Daddy, crying about what I did, I’ll tell them the truth. I won’t even get in trouble. Remember that when you want to be a bad boy, Evan. Remember that Poppy and PopPop will take my side, because they love Auntie Mia too. Don’t be a butthead for the rest of the day, or I swear you’ll regret it.”
Dad’s blue gaze met mine, and both our eyes widened. Sweet little Hayat was coming into her own, protecting those she loved, and I honestly couldn’t have been prouder of her. Normally, she was the one who jumped in to keep Evan out of trouble, but even she was fed up with her brother’s antics of the day.
Her warning seemed to do the trick more than any bribes or “look,” because when the doors opened again and the two children started their trek down the aisle, Evan stood up as straight as a little soldier, holding on to the pillow which held the wedding bands. I heard “aww”s and “how adorable”s from many of the guests before the doors closed once again.
Which meant it was almost my turn. Anticipation made my palms sweat. After my years of dancing onstage for tens of thousands of people, stage fright was the least of my worries. But what I felt had nothing to do with anxiety and everything to do with the exhilaration of becoming Barrick’s wife.
Sucking in a steading breath, I glanced up at Daddy as we took our places right in front of the double doors this time. “You okay?” he asked in a shaky voice.
“I’m great,” I assured him. “Best day ever.”
His throat worked, but he nodded. “It is a good day. I’m so proud of you. You’ve turned into an amazing woman. And I’m so honored that I get to be a part of this day with you. For a little while, I thought you wouldn’t let me walk you down the aisle.”
“That wouldn’t have happened,” I promised. “Even when I was so angry I couldn’t see straight, I knew this day wouldn’t be complete without you at my side.”
Dad’s chin began to tremble, and I inhaled deeply again, fighting the sting of tears. “Daddy, please don’t cry. Nothing’s changing today except my last name.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he rasped. “You’re my little girl. This might be the best day of your life, but it’s one of the hardest of mine.” He dropped his blue gaze to my stomach. “One day, you’ll understand this feeling.”
Before I could answer, the music changed, and the doors swung open again. I tucked my arm through Dad’s. “No matter what,” I whispered as we took the first step down the aisle. “I loved you first.”
My words sent him over the edge, and he was sobbing unashamedly before we even took two more steps. In an attempt to hold on to my own composure, I looked at Barrick. Dressed in an all-black tux that was stretched tight over his shoulders, with his mahogany hair hanging below his chin, he looked delicious. Then our gazes locked, and any hope I had of not bawling my eyes out vanished when I saw he was crying just as openly as Dad was.
I barely remembered the walk to the end of the aisle. Everyone on either side was a blur of colors. When we reached the others, the officiant asked who gave the bride away, but instead of placing my hand in Barrick’s, Dad slowly released me and stepped forward. The two men I loved the most hugged hard, slapping each other on the back.
