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“So, basically, there’ll be a hot guy buffet at your wedding.”
“Essentially, yes. I offered for Ollie to be one of the groomsmen. He stiffly but politely turned it down.” Which wasn’t a surprise.
“Because it means he’d otherwise have to give the marriage his stamp of approval.”
“Exactly. But it works out okay, actually. It means I have an equal amount of bridesmaids and groomsmen.”
Sabrina grinned. “You’re going to pair Harri up with Drey when it’s time for them all to walk down the aisle, aren’t you?”
“Well, of course. What kind of sister would I be if I didn’t?”
“The kind who doesn’t want to see Alicia turn a frightening shade of red at the sight of her baby sister linking arms with someone who’s ‘too old’ for her.”
I felt my mouth curve. “And why wouldn’t I want to see that?”
Chapter Eleven
Mouthing the lyrics to the song playing on my tablet, I smoothed my hand along the brown parcel tape, pressing it firmly against the cardboard box to help it stick. Satisfied it was well wrapped, I grabbed the black marker from the hardwood floor beside me and then scribbled, “BOOKS” on both sides of the box.
I’d spent the past two hours sitting on my bedroom floor packing my belongings, and my butt was beginning to hurt. Luckily, there wasn’t much left to do, because I couldn’t afford to stay up late.
I was getting married tomorrow.
I would have thought I’d be a nervous wreck, but I was the most relaxed I’d been since Dax emailed me out of nowhere to ask for a client consultation. No doubt I’d have a bad case of the jitters in the morning, though. It wasn’t every day a girl exchanged vows with a man before a priest, was it?
Organizing the wedding had gone more smoothly than I’d expected. There had been some glitches here and there, but all were quickly fixed. The entire team at Sapphire Glade had been determined to ensure that nothing got in the way.
They were also determined to ensure that every step of the wedding itself was flawlessly executed. Sabrina had put them all under strict instructions to not let me try interfering tomorrow—it would be too easy for me to let my organizational instincts take over even on my own “special day.”
News of the upcoming wedding had spread fast. People often asked me if it was true, naturally somewhat shocked by how the engagement had come out of nowhere. Like with Grayden, I hadn’t corrected their assumptions that Dax and I were secretly an item and nor did I tell them about the pact—I doubted many people would truly understand why Dax and I had stuck to it, and we could really do without the negativity.
We had enough negativity from our families. Though, to be fair, theywereeasing up on their attempts to be problematic. Both Dane and Ollie had finally ceased badgering me and Dax to back out of our agreement, though they still weren’t happy about it. In fact, Ollie had taken to sulking—something made apparent by his one-word text-responses and his insistence on dodging my calls.
I hadn’t heard from Kensey again, nor had I seen anything of Blake. According to Dax, his father wasn’t keen on the marriage but had stopped commenting on it.
Melinda and Wyatt weren’t pleased about it either. They hadn’t reacted too well on learning of it. In fact, they’d come to my home and dedicated several hours into trying to make me reevaluate my outlook on the subject. But, of course, it came to nothing. Eventually they’d thrown their hands up and let it go.
Simon was a little more supportive, though evidently worried I was making the wrong choice. His concern was that it would all go tits up and I’d later feel hurt and trapped. Sabrina’s parents harbored that same concern but, like Simon, were supporting me.
Pushing aside the box of books, I squirmed slightly to ease the ache in my butt. There wasn’t much left to pack at this point. Mostly yet more books, along with some leftover clothes I hadn’t gotten round to boxing up yet.
I’d left out the things I’d need for tomorrow, of course. I was planning to get ready here, as were the rest of the bridal party, including Raven. I didn’t worry she’d feel like an outsider. When we’d all met for our gown fittings, she’d slotted right into the group with total ease. Mostly because she and Harri had hit it off instantly. Honestly, you’d think they’d known each other for years.
Bopping my head as yet another song began to play, I grabbed a flattened box from the nearby pile and began putting it together. The singer, Inaya Rose, happened to live in Redwater. She was married to an equally famous rock legend, Kaiser Wolfe.
I’d caught glimpses of the couple here and there, and they were seriously cute together. She was a huge smiler while he was a total grump who liked very few people. Even as he wore his default frown, he looked at Inaya as if she were his own personal sun. And if my chest panged at the thought that no one other than Lake had or would ever look at me that way, I set that little titbit aside.
I hadn’t seen much of Dax over the past week. I’d gone to his villa again only twice. The first time it had been because I’d needed to drop off my post-wedding bag that included all I’d need for the morning after—I wouldn’t have the rest of my stuff until I moved in. The second time I’d gone to his home was because he’d wanted me to officially meet Maverick, so he’d invited him to the villa for dinner, along with his brothers and Jag.
All six males were currently enjoying a meal together at one of Oakengrove’s top restaurants—Dax’s version of a bachelor party. He’d had the restaurant close to everyone but them, so it would be a private celebration.
He’d offered to arrange something similar for me and my bridal party but, to be frank, I didn’t have the time to hold a bachelorette do of any sort. I had to work hard to not allow my wedding to cause me to neglect other events I was arranging.
Hearing my doorbell ring, I frowned, not expecting any visitors. Dropping the parcel tape to the floor, I pushed to my feet and winced. Damn, the ball of my back was stiff as a mother.
I paused my music, headed out of my bedroom, and skipped down the stairs. Opening my front door, I blinked at the sight of my mom waiting there. “Oh, hi.” Stepping aside so she could enter, I tucked my hair behind my ear. “I didn’t know you were coming.” Hopefully she wasn’t here to make one, last-ditch attempt to talk me out of marrying Dax. I had too much to do to humor her.
Her brow creased. “I did text you to let you know I was on my way.”
