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“Hundred says she’s got a smile on her face that Squealer put there by the end of the night.” I take my wife's hand in mine and shake it confidently. I’ve seen for myself what this boy can pull off.
“Brace yourself, darlin’, you're about to see some real magic happen.” Squeal raises his eyebrows and wets his lips before heading over in the direction of Shaniya's friend.
“Come here, Mrs. Knox.” I drag Shaniya by her hip and pull her close to me, and the others around us must get the hint because they disperse to give us some privacy.
“You happy?” I check, holding both her hands together between my chest.
“Really happy.” She smiles back at me and I kiss her fingers before leading us into the clubhouse to show her that the girls have made the bar room look unrecognizable.
“Troj.” I’m shocked when I see my brother standing in the foyer, he wasn’t at the ceremony, and I’m even more shocked to see that he’s pulled out a suit for the occasion.
“You came,” I’m actually surprised at how happy that makes me feel.
“Not every day your little brother gets hitched.” He punches me hard in the arm.
“Looking hot, Mrs. Knox.” He looks at Shaniya, who smirks at me then him.
“You sticking around?” I ask him.
“Hell no, just thought I’d say goodbye and wish you well.” Aut takes Shaniya’s hand in his, and kisses the back of it.
“It’s been nice to meet you,” Shaniya tells him. “I’d like to know you better.”
“Yeah, a lot of females would,” he winks.
“Shaniya,” Dyanni calls her from the yard. Unknowingly saving her ass.
“I should go see what that’s about,” she excuses herself, heading back out the doors to the yard. And leaving me and my brother alone.
“About what I said in the gym that day,” Autumn starts, but I shake my head at him.
“It's forgotten,” I assure him, I don’t want to talk about the past today. Today’s all about the future.
“It ain’t. I’m an asshole, I was an asshole to you when you were a kid too. And you’re right, I should have stepped up.” I can see that hurts him to admit. “I just ain’t like you, Troj, I’m selfish. I don’t know how to care about people the way you do.”
“You’re here, ain’t ya?” I point out to him with a snigger.
“Yeah, well don’t go getting your hopes up on me.” He clips the back of my head like he used to when we were kids.
“Tell Mel I said goodbye, and remind that Abby chick she has my number. When she gets over that broken heart of hers, she’s gonna wanna start having some fun. And I wanna be a part of that.” He winks before heading out the door to his bike. And this time when I watch him leave, I actually look forward to seeing him again.
I watch Autumn get on his bike, and I wave goodbye to him as I finish talking to my aunt and uncle. I’m about to head back inside to Troj when I notice Storm sitting alone at one of the picnic tables. He’s picking the label off his beer bottle and looks deep in thought.
I haven’t spoken to him since the night of the attack, I sense he doesn’t want me to. But we share something too dark and cruel to be strangers to each other.
Pain like ours never goes away, but I’ve learned just lately that it can start to fade if you let it.
I walk over to him and take a seat beside him, he doesn’t react, just stays focused on that label he’s picking at.
For the longest time, we sit in silence, watching others in the yard chat and fool around. Today’s a celebration, there’s a smile on everyone’s face, even Grimm, who watches Rogue completely mocking the bridesmaid’s dress she’s wearing as she wriggles her ass against his crotch.
Storm seems immune to it all, closed off. He’s still lost in the darkness, so lost that he’s given up looking for a light to guide him out.
“Have you spoken to anyone about what happened that night?” I ask bravely.
“I don't wanna talk about it.” Storm keeps his eyes on the little there’s left to peel off his bottle.
“I get that, but I can tell you from experience that it helps.”
