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“Confident too, big brother.” Ayelish laughed and started down the blush-colored carpet flanked by a handful of rows of white wooden chairs. “You all talk like a bunch of savages around here, and it hasn’t corrupted the other children in the family yet. I think we’re safe. Just teach them right from wrong, and you’re solid.”
“Okay, sister, I timed it out. Rainy will have made it to the front by now. We’ll do a quick run-through with her tomorrow before the ceremony,” Ashlyn said, eyes on her watch. “And…go.”
Rainy Meyer was Wit and Hen’s long-lost sister who they’d rescued from the grips of monsters using her as a vise to get what they wanted from the Keepers –– she also happened to be the mother of Killion’s twin babies. They’d had a long relationship until she disappeared one day with no explanation and no way to find her, and Killion could find anything… and anyone. The problem was he was looking for his girlfriend, Jenny, who worked for Portland PD, a cover for Rainy as she hid from her own demons and past in plain sight. That was, until it became too dangerous, and she fled to protect her loved ones. It cost her dearly, and not only had she given birth to the twins several weeks early, but she also sustained severe injuries she was still working through in a rehabilitation center.
Ayelish smiled wide as her eyes met Wit’s tearful stare, and he warned, lightening the emotional moment, “Be careful, darlin’. Don’t trip on those pretend flower petals your brother tossed all over.”
Her head fell back in laughter. “Maybe I’ll wear boots with my dress to be sure. Nothing –– and I mean nothing –– is getting in the way of our wedding this time. Bad guys be damned… and random flower petals.”
“Darlin’, it’ll take somethin’ earth-shattering to get in the way of my weddin’ night,” Wit teased.
“By the looks of things”— Killion nodded at Ayelish’s growing pregnant belly— “you already got started on that.”
The place went wide-eyed at the comic relief coming from Killion –– something that didn’t happen often. He was as serious as they came. Social cues were his downfall, and he was literal to a fault, so humor rarely struck him.
“Well, well, well. Seems our brother has a sense of humor under all those brains and brawn after all.” Cane laughed.
“Oh, I thought the walking down the aisle wearing babies with a flower basket off-beat with the music was the comedic relief,” Finn added. “Big guy was tripping over the flower petals.”
“There weren’t any flower petals,” Killion deadpanned.
“That’s sort of the point,” Finn teased. “Big guy is smart but not very coordinated. Lacks rhythm.”
“My hands are sort of full, in case you haven’t noticed. Speaking of flower petals. I went ahead and did a little research on the topic.” Killion went on. “I found that real petals aren’t a proper choice any longer at weddings. They’re messy, can be a hazard, and not great for the environment.”
“Of course, he researched it.” Finn laughed, taking his seat in the front row of the bride's side next to Cane. “This ought to be good.”
“Yeah. How are flowers not good for the environment when they literally come from… the environment?” Cane asked.
“The data behind it is pretty extensive, but I’ll sum it up for you since you tend not to like the details,” Killion explained.
Killion knew better than to go into detail because he’d been told, time and time again, to land his plane and get to the point. Something else he struggled with –– reading the room and oversharing the vast knowledge that made him, well… him.
“Yeah, you and details can last and last. You know the highlight reel works best around here,” Cane chimed in.
“Of course. And that’s why I continue to be the smart one,” Killion said under his breath, earning a chuckle though he wasn’t attempting to be funny, just honest. “Basically, I found a more sustainable option.”
“More sustainable than a natural flower petal?” Ayelish asked.
“According to the data, yes. The product I found claims to be better for the environment and wildlife because some florals can be toxic, and these aren’t. If a wild animal chooses to eat post-wedding debris, it won’t die.”
“So what kind of wildlife do you think we have up here on the rooftop this high in the air?” Finn questioned as he looked at the others around him. “Besides these guys.”
“Well… seems there’s a healthy collection of dogs in the building now. You have a cat and a damn squirrel.” Killion pointed at Wit. “And… birds. We get birds all the way up here every now and again. Not to mention there are kids everywhere in this place now.”
“Pretty sure none of the kids are classified as wildlife, and none have eaten a flower petal from the existing plants –– not sure why they’d eat one off the ground the one day you sprinkle them around, but whatever you think is best, brother.” Finn laughed.
“If by chance they do, they’ll be fine, and that makes it worth it. The petals I ordered are sugar and will dissolve in the next rain if we miss any on cleanup. Safe for everyone.” Killion was proud of his contribution and puffed out his chest like he’d unlocked the secret to parenting and goodwill toward men.
Cane laughed and added a layer of sarcasm. “You’re right. Kids hopped up on sugar is a great idea. They definitely won’t eat it if they know it’s sugar.”
“Can you imagine what your wedding will be like if the children know? They’ll be diving for that candy like it’s a Fourth of July parade happening right down your aisle to holy matrimony,” Ashlyn added with hesitation.
Ayelish’s delightful smile quickly turned stone cold as her eyes narrowed and fixated on Killion. “You thought it would be a good idea to bring sugar to my wedding, knowing just how many little O’Reilly spin-offs we have living in this place… not to mention all our dear friends who like to make little angels every chance they get? There will be nothing holy about what I do to you if…”
“I, uh…” Killion stammered and began to pat the bottoms of the babies attached to his chest like he was reminding her they were there. “Didn’t really think that part through. If it helps, I haven’t told anyone outside of the group here on the rooftop.”
Ayelish turned to everyone with a warning look. “Forget what you heard here today…”
