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“Even better,” Nate said.
Aria scanned our faces, a blush coloring her cheeks when she met my eyes. Then she squared her shoulders and addressed the group again. “I’m going to make sure we have all of the family they want in the photos, Sara, but you can get started with the groomsmen.”
“Sounds good,” Sara replied, immediately taking action.
Before Aria could get away, I grabbed her arm, pulling her to me for a brief kiss. “Love you.”
“Love you too,” she replied, pushing me off. “Now let me work.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She turned to leave, then whipped back to me, keeping her voice low. “No pranks, right?”
“No pranks.”
Relief flickered in her eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now get to work.”
She rolled her eyes and took off toward the reception area. I watched her go, enjoying the view a little more than was probably appropriate for the moment. Man, she had me in the palm of her hand. And I had to admit, if this was what a ball and chain felt like, I could get used to it.
* * *
The guys and I stood off to the side, watching a hoard of single ladies dancing in a tight group as the DJ played Beyonce’s famous song for the bouquet toss. I nudged Paul and wagged my brows. “I hope your wife has good aim.”
His chest swelled. “My wife.”
“Don’t get sappy.”
“You’re the one who said the magic word.” He stared dreamily at his bride, then furrowed his brow. “Wait, good aim? Oh, right.”
I smiled as he crossed his arms over his chest. Putting my hands on his shoulders, I gave him a few solid shakes. “Ah, come on. Then I’ll finally be your brother for real.”
“Yeah, just not the way I ever expected it.”
“Eh, you heard your mom. You should have.”
“Right.”
Nate leaned closer and wagged his brows. “Maybe Chelsea will catch it.”
When he turned away, Paul and I made faces at each other that clearly expressed that we hoped she didn’t. Paul’s poor cousin needed to move on. Chelsea was a hot mess, and he could totally do better.
“As long as it isn’t my wedding date, I’m good,” Beau said from the other side of me with a smirk. “Wouldn’t want to have to highlight the bouquet clause for her.”
I furrowed my brow at him. “You have a bouquet clause?”
“Yep,” he said grimly. “Ever since one of my dates caught the bouquet and proposed, I added it just to be safe. Weddings bring out all kinds of crazy notions.”
“Well, I don’t have a dog in the fight. I’m just here to enjoy the show,” Chase said with an oblivious smile.
The rest of us slowly turned to him, and I swatted him on the chest. “‘Dog in the fight’? Really?”
He shrugged. “It’s just an expression.”
We shook our heads and turned back to the main event, and I tucked my hands in my pockets to keep from fidgeting. Now that I knew I wanted to spend my life with Aria, I couldn’t wait to get started. And I wanted her to know it, too, since I’d spent so long hiding my feelings from her. If she caught this bouquet, I’d make sure she knew that fabled magic would come true, no doubt about it. She was next. Maybe even before my deployment, if she was cool with that.
“Okay,” Shelby called over her shoulder, “ready?”
