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“We pretend to be okay with them coming to the wedding.”
“Then what?”
“Do you know how many chapels are here?”
“I didn’t count.” Austin let out a huff of laughter.
“Exactly. There are so many chapels. We just tell them the wrong chapel and ask them to go ahead and make sure things are good.”
“If they go now, do you think they’ll figure out that we told them the wrong place?”
“Probably, but again, what’s the chances they’ll end up at the right place?”
“I don’t know, Dakota. I don’t know if that’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
“It’ll work, Austin.” But even as I say it, I feel the pool of worry in my stomach.
“I don’t think we should send them there right away. We can still tell them the wrong chapel but tell them the right time too.”
I nod. “That works.”
I don’t want to make him stress anymore than he already is, leaving me to figure out how to get rid of themafterthe wedding too.
Austin and I look up chapels in the area and find one far enough away to hopefully keep them away.
“The Neon Chapel,” Austin chooses, pointing it out on the map. “They’ll believe us if we tell them that one.”
“Okay. Let’s do this.” I push my phone back in my bra and turn around to handle our parents together.
Except, they’re walking toward us. I freeze, like a deer in front of the hunter. I know I need to run. I know I need to save myself—save us, if I can—but I can’t move.
“Dakota!” my mother calls out, already with her arms open, despite still being ten feet away.
“Mother,” I let pass through my clenched teeth.
“Can you believe it’s happening?” she asks as she pulls my rigid body into a hug.
“What? That you’re here, crashing Austin’s wedding?” The words leave my mouth before I can stop them, and I feel Austin’s glare. This was not the game plan.
“Oh, honey. I understand. But I promise, we’re not here to crash.”
Our father’s stone-cold expression says otherwise. He doesn’t want to be here. Mom dragged him here.
I take a deep breath, closing my eyes. I’d fought for too long to protect myself from them. To not let them destroy me anymore. To shield from their hateful comments and disappointment. I am done crying over the fact that they never did and never would accept me as I am—gay.
And I can’t let them get to me today. Today is for Austin. Not me. Not them. Austin and Kate only.
“Well, thank you.” I pretend I am talking to anyone but them.
“Really?” Mom loosens her grip but holds me at arm’s length, looking me up and down like I am a child. “You look…good,” she finally finishes.
I know it is hard for her to say. On top of the tattoos I have, I also have blue hair and am standing in the hotel hallway in only a bra, panties, and an oversized shirt. No shoes, no pants. Just me.
"Thanks." My tone remains flat but at least I’m not snarky.
“So, Mom, Dad,” Austin starts, stepping forward. “We have to finish getting ready before we can head to the chapel.”
“What can we help with?” Mom smile terrifies me. Looking at me, she continues, “Looks like you have a good ways to go.”
