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“Merry Christmas, Rylan.” I closed my eyes, willing my tears to stay put until he was on the other side of the door.
He took my hand, and we walked out of the guest bedroom.
“Well, well, well. When I let you stay with me, sis, I didn’t think you’d be fucking people.” Dion stood up from the couch and put out his hand. “Good to see you, Ry.”
Guess he’d come home at some point while we were in my room. Great.
“Rylan was just leaving,” I said.
“Good to see you, Dion.” Rylan shook his hand and nodded. “Have a great holiday, Baileys.” We walked out the door, and he squeezed my hand at the top of the staircase. “Bye.”
“Bye,” I said, and he released my hand and walked down the staircase, never looking back.
Twenty-Seven
Calista
The ceremony went off without a hitch and Glacier Pointe Resort did an amazing job of decorating their ballroom for the reception. Aubrey cried during the slideshow, which meant it was a success. Everything has been perfect up to this point and now it’s time for the bouquet and garter toss.
We all watch Declan take off Aubrey’s garter with his teeth while she giggles. He holds it up in the air like a prize and gyrates to the beat of the music, telling all the single guys to come forward. Instead of all the young guys, all the men from Northern Lights Retirement Center come into the middle of the dance floor.
“Oh boy, you’re not gonna go out there?” I ask Rylan.
He chuckles. “No thanks.”
“No marriage for you?” He stares at me for a long moment, and I say, “Forget I asked.”
Declan turns around so his back is to the group.
“Hold on, Declan, I just have to lock Ollie’s wheelchair.” Alice finishes and gets out of the way.
“Who’s your money on?” I ask Rylan.
“The guy stretching on the far right. He seems to be the most mobile.”
“I’m going with Petey with the cane. He can use that thing to beat off anyone in his way.”
“What’s the wager?” Rylan crosses his arms.
“Whoever loses has to… give the other one a massage?”
He smirks. “Naked?”
“Well, obviously.” I roll my eyes good-naturedly.
“Done.”
I put out my hand. “Shake on it.”
His hand slides into mine, and we seal the deal.
Declan makes a dramatic event out of the garter toss—because Aubrey wasn’t wrong when she said he always wants the laugh. He positions it like a slingshot over his head and lets it go. Rylan’s guy walks slowly in the direction it went, and I guess all that stretching was for show because I’m sure a turtle could beat him. And then my guy lifts his cane higher than anyone can reach. The garter hits the end of it and slides down toward the handle.
“You can suck it, Ricky!” Petey says.
“You win,” Rylan whispers. “Let’s go.”
“Nope, we have the bouquet toss. Maybe you can redeem yourself.”
