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I wrap an arm around her shoulder. “This won’t take more than an hour.”
“An hour?!” she screeches and pulls away from me to return to her VW van. “No. I don’t have—”
“Apple,” I growl. “Humor me.”
She stares at me before relenting. “Fine. But if I sound like shit for your best friend’s wedding, I’m blaming it on you.”
“Noted.”
When we step through the front door of S&S, Apple’s hands fly to her mouth at the shout of ‘Surprise’.
“Wha…” She glances at me. “What is this?”
I smile at her. “Your song hit number one on the Billboard charts. Did you really think we weren’t going to celebrate that?”
My brothers, old ladies, and prospects all hurry toward Apple to congratulate her and give her hugs. We might not have started off on the right foot, but my old lady has been family since the second my brother saved her in that parking lot. And she fits in better than I could’ve dreamed.
“Girl, this is your wedding day,” Apple chastises when Cece wraps her arms around her. “This could’ve waited.”
“Nonsense,” Cece quips. “You’re one of us, and when family has something major happen, we come together. And this is a big deal, Apple. I’m honored to share the day with you.”
Apple swipes at the tears on her cheeks and smiles. “I’m the one who’s honored.”
Grim grabs Cece’s arms and gently moves her out of the way before lifting his hands.
“I’m proud of you.”
Apple’s smile wobbles. “Thank you.”
She hasn’t had to use texting to communicate with the big guy for months now, and it’s easy to see how much that means to Grim. For a man like him, it’s odd to see him so mushy with the old ladies and Harper, but it’s great too. Despite the shit we’ve all been through, we’re not broken beyond repair.
And maybe, just maybe, Grim will find a woman who will soften him the way Cece and Apple have softened Soul and me.
That’ll be the day.
Over the next hour, we mingle, and Apple talks about her upcoming tour. Watching the way her eyes light up makes everything I’ve done worth it. Buying this building, seeing her off on jaunts across the country for press shit, welcoming her home after weeks apart, supporting her through the ups and downs of building her career the way she wants… It's been tiring and stressful, and I wouldn’t change any of it.
“I hate to break up the party,” Soul says. “But we’ve got a wedding to get to.”
Cheers erupt through the space, and everyone trickles out, leaving me and Apple alone.
“Aren’t we going?” she asks after I lock the front door. “Malice, I really do need to ge—”
I grab her hand and lead her through the hallway. “We’re going, I promise. But there’s one more thing I wanna show you.”
Apple sighs. “Fine. But make it quick.”
“Yes, dear,” I drawl.
When we reach the back door, I pull the blindfold out of my cut pocket and secure it over my eyes. Then I take her outside and open the door to her surprise.
“There’s a few steps,” I tell her. “Up… up… one more.”
“This is ridiculous,” she mutters.
“This is love,” I retort, positioning her exactly where I want her. I take the blindfold off. “Surprise!”
Apple’s mouth drops open as she turns in a circle, taking in her brand-new tour bus. It’s decorated in purple and black and has every modern convenience and luxury money can buy.
