Chapter 37
MAX
I’m standing in a line, shoulder to shoulder with my brothers at the front of the recreation room of Dad’s memory care home, waiting for Arianna to arrive with my dad, who is giving her away today because she doesn’t have any family of her own.
After today, she’ll officially become one of us. A Hart. While we can never replace the family she lost, I hope we are enough to make her feel like she’s always been part of us.
“You brought Paige Bradshaw as your date?” Cole asks through the side of his mouth, sounding shocked.
“Yeah,” I answer, knowing I’m about to be hit with a barrage of abuse.
“But I didn’t bring a plus one because you and Eli said you weren’t.”
“It was a last-minute decision.” I wanted to ask her for weeks; this morning felt like the right time to ask.
“Shut the fuck up, will you?” Eli snaps, keeping his voice low, his exasperation evident.
“You brought Rainbow Bright?” I ask Eli, amused that he doesn’t look so happy about that. Her hair is soft pink today, fading to purple at the ends. I actually love how bold she is and how she doesn’t give a fuck, and she’s so relaxed, unlike Eli.
“How many times do I have to tell you? It’s Sapphire,” Eli grits out between his teeth.
“And she just invited herself, something about how she wants to immerse herself in our family values or something equally as stupid that has fuck all to do with work. I mean, how will her being here today help the staff conference? And look.” He angrily pulls out a clear stone from his top pocket.
“She even put a crystal in my jacket pocket because it will make me feel calm and align my chakras, which is a pile of shit. How the fuck will a crystal calm me today when all she does is wind me up? She’s annoying. ”
Unable to contain ourselves, Cole and I burst out laughing. Sapphire has really gotten under his skin.
“You need another dozen of those crystals to calm you down, that one isn’t working,” Cole teases, trying to mess with him more.
“Will you three knuckleheads keep your voices down?” Nathan bites back, making us straighten up. “You’re like fucking children.”
I chuckle out loud again. Nathan’s been on edge for weeks, but today I think he might blow a blood vessel if things don’t go to plan.
I lean forward and eye him. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine.” He lifts his chin confidently, but I know he’s nervous and feels a little out of control today, which he hates.
“You’ve nothing to worry about.” I reach past Eli to my left and pat Nathan on his forearm, the same strong arm that pummeled me at tennis last weekend.
His shoulders drop at my reassurance, his features softening. “Thanks.” He blows out a breath before looking my way. “So, you and Paige?”
“Yeah.” I’m as shocked about it as everyone else.
“She’s Bunny?” I knew he would work that out.
“Yeah.” It’s a dick move if I deny it. “I figured it out last week,” I lie.
“You’re fucking kidding?” Cole sounds even more shocked than I was when I figured it out.
“Deadly serious,” I reply.
Cole says what’s on his mind. “Only you could show up at a sex club and end up leaving with the most gorgeous woman there. That’s a talent.”
“You think she’s gorgeous?” That’s news to me. He’s scared of her, yeah, but I didn’t think he found her attractive. And I thought he liked Libby; maybe I was wrong about that.
“I have fucking eyes.” Cole leans his head to the side, moving closer to me, and whispers, “Is she as domineering in the bedroom as she is in court?”
“Fuck off.” I’m not sharing personal details with him. When she was just a stranger and we didn’t know who she was, I shared everything I knew about her and what happened in the dark. But now that I know who she is, I’m respectful and would never divulge what we do behind closed doors.
My reply seems to amuse him. “Wow, it must be serious. You’re all closed off and shit.”
“Yeah, well, she’s…” I peer over my shoulder at where she’s sitting behind me, and I almost melt on the spot when she beams at me and gives me a little finger wave, looking a billion dollars even though she’s been unwell for days. “…everything.”
Everything I didn’t think I wanted, or needed, or would crave to the point I can’t stop thinking about her, but here I am, lust drunk and so fucking high I feel like I could fly.
I turn my head around to the front again, clocking Judge Griffin Holmes sitting next to his wife.
Shit, I forgot he was invited today, but this might work in Paige’s favor.
Maybe I can talk to him later, discreetly.
If I time it right, hopefully without Paige knowing.
Today, I want her to have a day away from her responsibilities just having fun.
Most importantly, I want to open up my personal life and family to her, show her who we really are, and let her see that there’s a place for her and Alfie with us if she wants it.
“She’s it,” I say in a tone that’s filled with awe.
Cole claps me on the shoulder. “Hell, if you’re saying that, and you’ve only known she was Bunny for a few days then she must be something special.”
“She is.” I’m as surprised about it as he is.
I look to my left and then my right to find my brothers grinning at me as if saying, This is new.
It is. And it should be scary as hell, but I’m running toward her, not away.
The wedding celebrant clears her throat, signaling Arianna’s arrival. “May I invite everyone to stand as we welcome the bride?” The classical music starts, prompting us to stand at attention.
“Here we go.” Eli grips Nathan’s forearm. “We love you, brother.”
“Oh, stop or you’ll make me cry. Look at my beautiful babies.” Mom appears like magic having helped the caregivers to wheel my dad in on his fancy wheelchair that assists him now.
Harmoniously, the four of us watch Arianna walk down the aisle, her hand on my dad’s arm as he uses the electronic joystick controller with his other hand to slowly steer himself toward us.
She is seven months pregnant and glowing, and happiness radiates from her as she moves closer to her forever… my brother.
While I’m happy for him and his soon-to-be wife, my chest tightens with sadness as I look at my dad.
He’s a shadow of his former self. Once an intimidating lawyer, Parkinson’s and dementia have stolen the greatest man I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing and working alongside.
He taught me to be bold and brave and to always, always do the right thing.
I hang my head in shame.
I’ve been such a fool, letting my dick overrule my head.
I need to tell my brothers that I’ve been meeting with Paige in secret throughout the active case we’re on opposite sides of.
For months. I lied to them, said I had only just figured out who she was, but I’ve known since the day we made that list in my office all those weeks ago.
We not only compromised our clients’ interests, but we also risked being disciplined by the bar.
Forcing myself to stand up straighter, I lift my head, pushing my thoughts aside for now, and focus on Dad and Arianna.
For the first time in a while, Dad is smiling up at Arianna, then he moves his gaze to us before finally landing on my mom, who looks overwhelmed, dabbing the corners of her eyes with a tissue.
It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen him look this happy; I should know because I visit him almost every day.
And the way he’s looking at my mom… full of admiration, longing, and love… it’s the same way I see Nathan look at Arianna… the same way I look at Paige.