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Will let out a breath, the corners of his mouth turning up into a wide, relieved smile. “It has.”
“Why do you look so surprised? You didn’t think we’d be happy about this?” Dad asked.
Will stepped back and scratched his head. “I wasn’t sure.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Mom crooned, moving to him and wrapping him in a warm hug. “Of course we’re happy about it. We love you.”
Paul shook his head and looked at the sky. “Unbelievable.”
“Paul was a huge jerk about it,” I informed my parents, earning me a death glare from my brother. “But he came around.”
“Honestly, Paul, I don’t know how you didn’t see it coming,” Mom quipped. “Now, come on. Let’s eat.”
Without another word, she turned and linked her arm with Shelby’s, leading her up the front steps. Paul lingered for a second before following after them with a small smile and shake of his head.
My dad pursed his lips. “I’m sure it goes without saying that you better be careful with my girl, here. And I’m not just talking about the helmet. In general.”
“Absolutely. I will be.” Will replied seriously, then smiled down at me.
“Good,” Dad said with a nod. “Now, let’s get down to business. What is this wedding prank my nephew mentioned? He said you were going to tell me about it.”
I narrowed my eyes as I looked between them. “Oh, no. Prank? What prank?”
Growing up, Paul, Will, Nate, Nate’s dad, and my dad were always pulling pranks. It was their thing. Thankfully, they usually fired at each other, but sometimes they’d get me, too. I’d woken up with a stack of crackers on my cheek, crushing them and making crumbs all over my bed while I thrashed around trying to figure out what was going on. They’d swapped the salt and sugar in our kitchen, making my oatmeal taste like muddy ocean water. They’d hidden plastic bugs in my dollhouse, replaced my toothpaste with mayo, and even hid alarm clocks all over my room and set them to go off all throughout the night.
“First of all, it was Nate’s idea,” Will said, holding up his hands, “so don’t shoot the messenger.”
Sensing shenanigans, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Spill.”
“Okay, so, Nate said he saw something on TikTok where the bride sets the groom up for the garter thing. You know, where the groom goes under her dress and gets the garter before he throws it?”
Glaring up at him, I waved a hand impatiently. “What about it?”
“Nate thinks we should blindfold him and make a swap,” he said. “So, it’s not Shelby sitting in the chair, but me. In a wedding dress.”
I groaned, throwing my head back. “No way. Nope. Not happening. Besides, Shelby’s gown has a mermaid silhouette. Nobody’s going under there to get her garter. Paul’s throwing a spare.”
My dad’s shoulders shook with laughter. “It would have been pretty funny, though.”
“What were you going to do, shave your legs?” I asked. “How did you guys expect Paul to think your legs were Shelby’s?”
Will and my dad both nodded like that was a good point. Then Will shrugged. “I’ve been known to go all out in the name of a good prank.”
I rubbed my temples. “Trust me. I know.”
“What else you got?” Dad asked, having way too much fun with this.
“I’m going to kill you both,” I whispered.
“What about the first look?” Will asked, wagging his brows.
“You’re going to put on a dress and prank his first look? Are you kidding me right now?” I exclaimed.
I could picture it now. Paul would be standing there all nervous, ready to greet his bride. Then he’d turn around, and instead of Shelby, he’d find his ridiculous best man in a wedding gown. Okay, actually, it did sound pretty funny. But I’d worked too hard on this wedding to make it Shelby and Paul’s perfect day, and I didn’t want these bozos to take it off script. Besides, Shelby wanted Paul to see her when she walked down the aisle, not during a first look, and he knew it. He’d been there when she said it during the planning phase. So he’d never buy it.
My dad and Will stood there, planning logistics to move forward, so I stared at them in disbelief, throwing up my hands. “Guys, come on. I’ve put a lot of work into this wedding, and I don’t want you and your pranks to ruin it. Grow up already.”
They exchanged a look, then Will put his arm around my shoulders. “Do you really want us to skip it?”
