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“That’s really sweet of you to say, Belinda,” Nevaeh told her with a smile.
“I mean it, dear,” she said with a sincerity that rang true to my ears, and I was finally able to relax around the woman who had raised me. “I think the two of us may have made a few mistakes the last few months, but the end result was worth the angst that I went through. I want to apologize for any distress I may have caused either of you.”
“I’m just glad that you and Braxton have a chance to be a part of each other’s lives now.” Nevaeh grasped my mother’s hand across the island. “It wouldn’t have mattered to me if you hadn’t wanted to get to know me. All I care about is Brax’s happiness.”
“My happiness revolves around you, Kitten,” I reminded her. “If she can’t accept you, then I don’t want to harm our relationship.”
“Well, we don’t have to worry about that,” she said before draining her mug. “I’m going to go take a shower while the meatballs finish simmering in the sauce. You two take that time to find common ground so we don’t get indigestion from dinner. I don’t want any tension when I return.”
I caught her around the waist before she could move away. For a long moment, I just stared down into her eyes, trying to tell her how much she meant to me without words. Her smile was full of warmth and happiness when she cupped my stubbly jaw. “I love you too,” she whispered.
Chapter 8
Nevaeh
“Something’s got to give.”
My eyes widened as PopPop muttered the song lyrics to “Bodies,” while everyone bustled around in an attempt to get ready for the wedding.
“Dad! You’re only singing that to make Dray more anxious.”
“Something’s got to give,” PopPop continued, and I could see the steam practically billowing out of Mom’s ears.
“Something is about to give,” Arella hissed close to my ear. “And I think it’s going to be Mom’s patience. Daddy is already trying not to cry. I think PopPop has a death wish today if he’s going around singing shit about bodies hitting the floor.”
“I don’t think he’s doing it to upset Daddy.” Heavenleigh joined our whispered conversation. “It’s more to do with how Braxton is reacting. He’s all twitchy. PopPop saw him being grumpy a little while ago, and I think that’s the song that came to mind. We need to get Nev down the aisle ASAP to chill out the groom and get PopPop to STFU.”
“Heavenleigh!” Mom snapped, overhearing her choice of acronyms. “What did I say not twenty minutes ago?”
“She said STCU, Mom,” I lied for my sister. “You must have heard her wrong. Please calm down. Everything is going exactly as it should. I don’t know why everyone is so anxious.”
Mom paused and gave me her full attention. When she saw me in my wedding dress, tears filled her brown eyes. The lace-embroidered mesh and dotted tulle layered together overtop a nude lining to form a plunging sweetheart neckline with a princess-seamed bodice; the high waist sat atop a figure-skimming fit that ended in a trumpet silhouette that flared at the bottom. It had taken me forever to decide on the dress, but once I’d put it on, I’d fallen in love with it.
For my hair, I’d opted for a tousled fishtail braid with diamonds and pearls accessorized throughout. My glasses had been replaced by my contacts again so my makeup could be seen to its full effect. I’d had the stylist emphasize my eyes and lips—both of which were the features I knew Braxton liked the most about my face because he was always staring into my eyes or thinking about my mouth.
“You’re so beautiful,” Mom said in a trembling voice. “I can’t believe my baby is getting married. That’s why everyone is so off the wall. I want everything to be perfect for you, and it feels like nothing is going right.”
I glanced around at my sisters. The three of them were my bridesmaids, and Mia was my matron of honor as my best friend. Arella, Heavenleigh, and Bliss were ready to go, looking beautiful in their dresses with their hair perfectly styled and their makeup only lightly glammed up. Mia stood off to the side, not looking like a new mother at all with her body already back to slender. The only exception might have been her huge boobs, but she was nursing, and the seamstress had made alterations so as not to risk her flashing everyone and causing a riot from Barrick.
My baby brother looked so cute in his tux, a replica of my dad, who had spent the morning coming and going from the bridal suite at the church where we’d all been getting ready for the ceremony. Even rushing around, Mom should have looked harried and flushed. Instead, her hair was perfectly in place, tucked into a low updo with a few locks cupping either side of her gorgeous face. Her dress was sexy as hell, and I wasn’t sure how Daddy was keeping his head on straight with her walking around in what could only be described as mother of the bride meets Jessica Rabbit, with the slit of her blue-gray dress going all the way up to her hip.
Seeing just how hot she was, I realized maybe it wasn’t just Braxton who was having issues waiting for the wedding to begin. PopPop really was fucking with my dad’s head because anyone who looked twice at my mom would be another body that dropped to the floor.
My gaze met and locked with Mia’s. She must have read my thoughts because she rushed everyone along, getting my sisters lined up and ready to walk down the aisle. My brother took Mom’s arm just as Daddy came out of the groom’s suite. His gaze zeroed in on Mom and me as PopPop sang another verse of “Bodies.”
“Dad!” Mom hissed.
“Not my fault, darlin’,” he called to her. “You’re the one who decided to dress like that and drive the poor boy mental.”
“Boy,” Bliss snickered at our grandfather’s description of our father, who was well into his fifties. “Does that make Braxton an infant?”
“You always did have a smart mouth, pretty girl,” PopPop said with a grin. “I love that about you.”
“He says that about all of us,” Arella said with a huff.
“That’s because you’re all just like your momma,” the old rock legend said before stopping long enough to give me a quick kiss on the cheek, and then he made himself scarce by joining the rest of the guests inside the church.
Daddy took my hand and gently placed it through his arm, seeming to force himself to focus on me rather than Mom. As I stood there, waiting for the music to start so the others could make their way down the aisle, I looked up at the first man who ever loved me. Outwardly, he appeared cool and calm. But I felt the slight tremble in his arm that told me he was struggling to hold on to his emotions.
