Chapter 23
DRED
“You look stunning.” Lexi adjusts my dress, fussing over me in a way that feels maternal.
“I cannot believe I’m getting married.” I turn to face her.
“As in, you want to do a runner, or you’re excited, or somewhere in between?
” She holds up a finger. “And let me preface this by saying that any of those, or a combination, or an alternate version, is completely acceptable. And whatever you need from me, I’m right here with you—getaway car, hug, emotional support.
” She opens her arms, and I step into them.
“I don’t want to run.” I squeeze her and step back. “Thank you for being such an incredible friend.”
“You’ve done the same for me. How are you feeling? Honestly.”
“Nervous. I care about him, Lexi.” These past weeks have shown me a different side of hockey’s most-hated player. He’s someone else when no one is watching.
“He cares about you, too.” She takes my hands in hers. “Even villains have a heart.”
The knock on my dressing room door startles us both. “Your bridal party is here!” Rix calls.
It’s really happening.
Lexi opens the door, and the girls flood in. Everyone has their own style of dress, but they’re all wine red.
“Oh wow! You look like a princess, Dred!” Callie’s eyes are wide with wonder.
Lexi steps in front of her before she can throw herself into my arms. “Are your hands clean?”
She gives her sister a look.
“Roman made her wash them before she came in here,” Fee assures us with a wink.
I bend to hug Callie. “Are you having fun this morning?”
“So much fun! I love weddings! Essie did my makeup, and they have the best snacks, and I love my dress, and we all look like we’re straight out of a fairy tale!
” She barely takes a breath before she continues.
“Will Connor be my uncle Connor now, like you’re my aunt Dred, even though we’re not really related? ”
“I think Connor would love to be your honorary uncle.” I’m on the verge of tears.
Lexi must realize it, because she asks Callie to get something from her purse, and then I’m enveloped in more hugs and my hand is wrapped around a glass of something bubbly.
“Take a deep breath,” Hemi says.
I suck in some much-needed air.
“Your mascara is waterproof, so you’re all good,” Essie assures me. That she managed to do all our makeup and be part of the wedding party makes her a superhero.
“Take a sip.” Hammer taps the edge of my glass with a manicured fingernail.
I do as I’m told. It’s a mimosa, and mostly orange juice by the taste of it, with a hint of champagne.
“You look stunning, Dred.” Rix squeezes my free hand.
“You all look beautiful,” I tell her. “Where’s Flip?”
She smiles. “Waiting outside the door for you.”
I look around the room, grateful for their friendship. “We should do this, then, shouldn’t we?”
“Just let me touch you up.” Essie steps in to dust my face with translucent setting powder.
I give myself a quick mental pep talk. I’m securing my future, saving Meems and Connor from heartache, keeping my family close, and for a year, this beautifully broken, misunderstood man will be mine.
And I’ll be his—maybe even kind of for real.
I’ve at least glimpsed that possibility.
No matter what happens, I don’t think I’ll make it out unscathed. But I’ll take the risk.
We make sure I have everything I need, and then Tally throws the door open. The girls file out, moving aside to reveal Flip. He’s dressed in a black tux, hair styled. He looks like he stepped out of the pages of a magazine. His expression warms when he sees me. “You are a vision.”
“You clean up pretty good yourself.”
Lexi touches my elbow. “We’ll just give you a minute.”
“Thanks.”
My friends move down the hall to a beverage and snack station—they seem to be everywhere.
“Seriously, Dred, you are beautiful beyond words.” Flip takes my hands in his. “You want this, right?”
I nod. “I want this.” More than I realized maybe. I get the fairy-tale wedding I never dared to dream of, and my family stays close.
His eyes search my face. “I believe you.”
“I know this hasn’t been easy, but I appreciate you so much, Flip.” There’s so much more I want to say, but the words get caught in my throat.
“I’m always going to have your back.” He kisses me on the cheek. “You’re my family. Nothing will ever change that, okay?”
“Okay.” Tears well, all my emotions bubbling to the surface. “I really needed to hear that.”
He wraps his arms around me. “I will always be your brother, Dred, and I will always stand up for you, no matter what.”
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you, too,” he murmurs then pulls back. “You ready to walk down the aisle?”
“I am.”
Flip places my hand in the crook of his elbow, and we join our friends, who surround me as we walk to the hotel’s wedding chapel.
My palms start to sweat as we reach the doors.
My bridal party is huge. Lexi is my matron of honor, Shilpa, Hammer, Hemi, Rix, Essie, Tally, Portia, and Isabelle are my bridesmaids, and Fee and Callie are my junior bridesmaids.
Connor’s groomsmen are Kodiak, Quinn, Kellan, Dallas, Roman, and Tristan.
Connor refused to pull his brothers-in-law into the mix.
It feels like it takes eleven years for the bridal party to make it down the aisle.
“How you feeling?” Flip pats my hand.
“Nervous.”
“We can dip if you need to. No questions asked.”
I look up at him and repeat the same thing I said to Lexi. “I don’t want to run.” That’s the part that makes me the most nervous.
“I know. I was kidding.” He squeezes my arm. “The way he was looking at you last night… He sees what the rest of us do.”
I’m afraid to hope he’s right, just as much as I’m afraid of the flutter in my stomach upon hearing that from my best friend.
The “Wedding March” begins—of course there’s a harpist, because why wouldn’t there be? It’s the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever seen, and it’s mine.
Flip takes a deep breath. “All right, Dred, let’s get you married to the sandwich fucker.”
I bark out a laugh, then choke the sound as we step around the corner. “Oh my God, there are so many people.” Every seat is filled. Panic takes hold, and my mouth goes dry as cameras flash.
“It’s okay. I got you. He’s waiting for you. Eyes on Connor and nowhere else,” Flip murmurs.
“Eyes on Connor,” I repeat, and I can’t stop the wide, genuine grin that breaks across my face when I find him. The groomsmen are all dressed in black, but Connor is wearing a deep maroon tux, and he is glorious. He looks every part the defiant billionaire’s son. Regal, arrogant, unflappable.
His eyes spark when they meet mine, and he echoes my smile.
We’re in this together.
I stay focused on the only thing that matters, keeping my promise to the man waiting for me at the altar. Flip grounds me, and Connor’s promise carries me down the aisle.
When we reach Connor, I turn to Flip. “Thank you for being my best friend. I love you.”
“I love you right back.” He kisses me on the cheek and transfers my hand to Connor’s.
They exchange a look, and Connor nods in deference. “I promise I’ll take care of her.”
Flip sits in the front row with the rest of the Terror crew.
I smile and wink at Everly and Victor, who are sitting in the middle of them with a couple of my colleagues and Cordelia from the group home.
They seem completely awestruck. Meems sits on the other side with Connor’s parents and brothers-in-law.
She’s beaming, and my heart swells and breaks at the same time, because I’ve fallen completely in love with her in the short weeks since Connor and I made this pact.
Connor’s wide, warm hand curves around mine, pulling my gaze back to him as I move into position.
“You take my breath away,” he murmurs.
“You’re trying to upstage me with this tux.”
He winks. “I could never.”
“But you tried.”
We both smile, and it feels…right somehow that this serious, broody man is making jokes with me at the altar.
Lexi steps in to take my bouquet of night lilies, and we give our attention to the officiant, who looks slightly amused as he begins the ceremony. Connor’s hands around mine and the warmth in his eyes ground me. This is really it. I’m binding my life to his—at least for now.
Connor holds my gaze, expression earnest as he says his vows.
“Mildred Reformer, I vow, from this day forward, to put you first in all things, to cherish every moment with you, to give you comfort, to show you with words and actions that you are the most important person in my world. Your happiness is my happiness, your needs are my needs. I promise to take care of you, to honor you, and to give your heart the home it deserves with me, until death parts us.”
The weight of his words settles in my heart, and I recite my own vows.
“Connor Grace, you are the most incredible, loyal man. You love deeply, without reservation, and with inspiring conviction. I promise to cherish that love, to stand beside you and support you. It is an honor to give my heart to you and be claimed by you, until death parts us.”
His eyes glimmer with satisfaction.
Connor is a steady counterpart to my shaking hands as we exchange rings. And then we’re pronounced man and wife.
“You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant proclaims.
“I’ve been waiting all day for this, Mrs. Grace.”
My heart slams around in my chest as he cups my cheek in his trembling hand.
“My beautiful wife.” He dips down for a tender brush of lips, soft and sweet. Gentle and chaste. At least until I part mine.
Connor makes a deep sound in the back of his throat and tilts my head, stroking inside. He deepens the kiss for a few knee-weakening moments while cameras flash incessantly, and then he pulls back, his grin wry as he takes my hand and faces the sea of people.