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“I actually think I’m the lucky one,” I reply. “Ben is everything I could ever dream in a man, and for some reason he loves me.” I don’t understand why he loves me. There has never been anyone in my life that sees me the way Ben does, but I’m so thankful.
“Don’t tell him I said this, because I’ll deny everything,” Gavin mutters. “But, if I had to pick a guy to love my kid sister, it would be Kingston.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” I laugh.
“You don’t understand how truly special you are, Junie. You’re beautiful through and through. I’m so proud to call you my sister. I love you,” Gavin says, looking at me so intently and his voice vibrating with so much emotion that tears sting my eyes.
“Quit trying to make me cry, Gavin. It’s my wedding day.”
“Just telling the truth, Juniper,” he says, leaning down to kiss my forehead.
“I love you, Gavin.” We share a look between us and in that moment, I realize that I used to hate my family, but it was only because I didn’t have the right one around me. It might just be me and Gavin and the families we chose around us, but that’s all we need.
“Okay, enough mushy talk. It’s time for you to get me to my husband-to-be,” I order him, and Gavin gives me a wink. When he opens the door, Reed and his band begin to play, and my gaze zeroes in on my husband. He’s standing at the end of the white silk runway the wedding planner has going down between the ivory chairs that have chocolate colored bows on them. All of it was designed to match my ivory dress with one lone, silky chocolate belt that ties in a large bow at my back. Maybe it’s not traditional, but then the ride Ben and I have been on has been anything but that. Why change now? Our love story is perfect just the way it is.
Reed
Ifinish up my song while watching Junie dance with her man. All I feel is…incredibly lonely.Hell, I always feel that way, even in a sea of people. I can be performing in the biggest arena in the world and still feel empty and alone the entire time. I thought I’d get over that. I thought leaving Callie behind would get easier. I was so wrong. It’s just getting worse. I nod to my band as I step off the outdoor stage. Leave it to Junie to get married at a damn bar. In a few minutes, my band strikes up playing an instrumental version of my latest ballad, a sappy love song about love gone wrong. Fuck, I don’t need to sing that. I’ve lived that life. I walk over and tap Junie’s man on the shoulder.
I force my fake as hell smile back on my face. I’ve been doing it so long that it feels natural.
“Mind if I cut in?”
“What if I said no?” Junie’s Ben growls, and I want to laugh. I hate that I won’t see more of these two, because I think I like him. He reminds me of Jake, my best friend from back in the day. We’ve lost touch over the years. Me, busy with my career and Jake riding bulls. Last I heard, he was on his way to becoming a world champion.
“Ben, stop,” Junie says, swatting him across the chest with a laugh. Then, she walks into my arms and I wrap them around her, closing my eyes. When I open them, Ben is looking at me. There’s an understanding and a jealousy there, but I shake my head no.
“I’m just going to borrow her for a minute,” I tell him, my voice more solemn than normal.
The man studies me and reluctantly nods. I think maybe we understand each other. He’s not right, but he’s also not wrong. I love Junie, and I am attracted to her, but it’s because of her spirit. She reminds me of Callie in so many ways… all except the hair. Callie’s hair is the color of midnight and so soft that I can still remember it years later. Then, again, I’ll always remember Callie, nothing I’ve ever done has helped me to forget her….
Even killing my own brother.
Ben
“Are you happy, Baby?”
“I think happy might be too tame of a word,” she murmurs, swaying in my arms, her head on my shoulder.
“We’re married,” I remind her of something she already knows, considering she’s still in her wedding gown, but the satisfaction I feel simply saying the words can’t be described.
“That we are. When I decided to move to Stone Lake, I was just trying to outrun my past,” she says, pulling back to look at me. “I had no idea that I was headed to my future.”
“Fuck, if you hadn’t come to Stone Lake, I don’t even want to know what would have happened to me. You mean everything to me, Junebug.”
“Can we talk about that awful nickname?”
“Nope, because every time I call you that, you laugh and damn, Baby, I love hearing you laugh.”
“I don’t think I did that much before you came into my life. I actually giggle now. It’s very strange,” Junie says, shaking her head like she’s disgusted with herself.
“Did I ever tell you that giggling turns me on?”
“Really?” she asks, trying not to laugh.
“It makes me so hard my cock is like cement,” I tell her watching as her eyes begin to twinkle.
“That’s good to know. I’ll have to make sure that you don’t go to anymore of Joshua’s football games.”
