46. Ally
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
ALLY
“You and I have never had a common interest. No father-son hobby to bond over. Let’s say we find something.” Josh raises his voice for Dan to hear over the wedding reception music.
The night is getting on, with the three-course meal and speeches behind us. All the guests are partying, mingling throughout the dining area or on the dance floor. The three of us are gathered around an upright wine barrel table, each with a flute glass in our hand. Mom’s among the guests somewhere, dancing and having fun. I’m pretty sure she’s tipsy. Josh too. It’s a sight I’m not used to, but I’m glad they’re enjoying themselves at Daxton and Jordan’s wedding.
I’ve been to this vineyard a few times in my childhood. It first belonged to Daxton’s parents before his brother took over the family business a few years back. The vineyard is beautiful. Rustic and timeless with a Mediterranean feel, like we’re partying in an Italian villa. The weather isn’t too cold either, being in California. It’s the perfect place for a wedding, with the most perfect bride and groom .
I’ve spent the entire day consumed with bridesmaid duties, puffing up Jordan’s dress and holding her bouquet, pampering her in the morning when we got our hair and makeup done. She went for a princess ballgown style wedding dress and looks stunning. All the bridesmaids are in champagne satin dresses.
“I could teach you how to play poker,” Dan says to Josh, the suggestion sarcastic and a joke.
To my surprise, Josh laughs, patting Dan on the shoulder. It has to be from the alcohol. “You know what, let’s do it. But absolutely no money involved. All right, I’m off to find Amabella. Have fun, you two.”
I watch Josh leave before making a comment. “Things are going well between you two, by the looks of it.”
“So far.”
Felix, Tyler, and Killian join our side, looking handsome in their suits. “Bro, becoming best friends with Dad. Have you painted each other’s nails yet?” Felix taunts, laughing a little. “Is this an act to please him so he’ll approve of you and Ally?”
Dan shrugs the comment off, lifting his drink to his mouth. “Dad and I had a long chat. He seems genuinely sorry about a lot of shit that happened in the past and is trying to be a better father. He’ll probably try to speak with each of you soon about the same thing.”
Killian laughs. “Oh, God. Something to look forward to.”
Beyonce’s Single Ladies starts playing over the speakers and guests are suddenly cheering. All the unmarried women flock to the dance floor.
“Isn’t this your cue to join the bouquet toss?” Tyler asks me, hands in his pockets.
“I’m happy to sit this out. I’ve always found it embarrassing to be in the crowd, fighting to catch the bouquet. Oh… shit . Hide me.” I step back, trying to get behind Dan when I see Mom and Harper heading in my direction.
“Not a chance,” Felix chuckles, nudging me forward. “Join in, baby sis. You and Dan could be the next ones getting hitched.”
My cheeks heat up at the suggestion. I glance at Dan, finding a smug grin on his face over Felix’s comment.
“Ally! Come on! You’re not getting out of this,” Mom shouts over the rabid women on the dance floor. Both her and Harper grab my hands and pull me along with them.
I give up the fight when grinding my heels into the floor gets me nowhere, and follow, calling back to Dan over my shoulder, “You’re in trouble later.”
“Looking forward to it,” he calls back, and I pray to God my mother hasn’t heard.
My relationship with her is doing well, but I don’t want to push my luck. She’s been acting her normal self with me again, minus the babying, which I’m grateful for. Most importantly, none of the recent family tension has been brought to the wedding.
“Go catch the bouquet, girls,” Mom says, leaving me and Harper at the outskirts of the crowd.
I stand beside Harper, waiting for this to be over, glad I’m not in the thick of the group where everyone is squished together and being pushed about.
“You and Dan look good together,” Harper says as we wait for Jordan to step up to the stage and toss her roses.
“Thank you. I know it must be weird seeing us together.”
“I’ve dealt with weird. You two are not weird when I can see how happy you make each other.”
“You’ve dealt with something stranger? ”
“Let’s not get into the specifics.” She rolls her eyes, not at me but at the topic, which sparks my intrigue. I couldn’t even guess what she’s referring to if I tried.
The cheering grows louder. I look over the heads of all the women in front of me, realizing Jordan is now standing on the stage with her back to the dance floor. She tosses her flowers into the air, and it’s as if I’m watching in slow motion, mortified as the bouquet travels in my direction.
Being with Dan has felt impossible for so long that I’ve never entertained the idea of marrying him. In these last few months, it’s become clear that we’re in this relationship for the long run. We wouldn’t have gone through all this pain if we weren’t. Dan is my forever. But I could seriously do without the whispers and strange glances that are bound to happen from the guests at this wedding if that bouquet lands in my hands.
I let out a breath of relief when Harper catches the bouquet. Everyone turns to look at her, clapping in applause. She smiles but it doesn’t touch her eyes.
“You and Tyler are next!” Mom appears out of nowhere, wrapping an arm around Harper and kissing her cheek. I try to slink away unnoticed, back to Dan, but Mom wraps her other arm around me. “The garter toss is next. Let’s watch together.”
I oblige my mother and clear out of the way with her and Harper as the crowd disperses. A chair is placed in the center of the dance floor and single men gather around, including all the Blackwood brothers. I get that same smug glance from Dan as before, and laugh in return, grinning back at him.
Jordan sits in the chair, smiling, laughing, and blushing as Daxton kneels in front of her, sliding her dress up her thigh. The look he gives her is so playful yet intimate that I feel like I’m intruding on a private moment of theirs.
The noise at this wedding grows even more hectic as Daxton takes the garter between his teeth and slides it down her leg. He tosses it into the crowd of men without looking and presses his lips to Jordan’s. The kiss is tender, and I can see the two of them laughing against each other’s lips. My God, they are perfection. I could melt from watching how cute they are together.
Mom cheers, so loud in my ear I flinch. She’s not tipsy, I’ve decided, but totally drunk. “The Blackwoods are on fire tonight!”
Scanning the crowd, I search for the man who caught the garter and find it in Felix’s hands. I scoff. Yeah, right, like he’s getting married anytime soon. He’s like Dan used to be, going through women but never having a girlfriend.
The crowd scatters and the celebrations continue with more music and dancing. Mom finally releases me from her grip, busying herself with another guest, letting Harper and me return to the brothers, the four of them gathered around the same barrel table as before.
Dan wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close to his side. I smile at him, knowing there’d normally be something more between us like a kiss, but that neither of us want to be too affectionate in front of our family. I’m not complaining. We’ve been sneaking around for years and it’s hot thinking about what he’ll do to me when we get our next private moment.
Dan leans in and whispers in my ear, the deep tone of his voice and tickle of his breath sending shivers down my spine and tightening my muscles. “Whatever you’re thinking right now, get that look off your face. We’re in public and the last thing I need is those little fuck me eyes making me hard. Wait until we get back to our room.”
My stomach coils at his words, the tension traveling to my clit. I lick my lips and turn into him, whispering back, “What’s waiting for me in our room?”
Dan’s gaze dips to my mouth. “That ribbon on your dress, wrapped around your waist—I’m going to tie your naked body up in it then strap you to the bed so you’re at my mercy to fuck however I please.”
A gasp slips out of me, aroused by the visual. I clear my throat, attempting to disguise the sound, hoping no one heard. Dan chuckles, his fingers tracing soft swirling patterns at my waist, teasing me.
I try to distract myself with the current conversation at the table, but whatever Harper and the boys are talking about is stilted and tense. It’s all generic chit-chat and one-word answers.
I shrug, trying to bring some humor to the group. “So, Harper and Felix are the next ones to get married.”
Killian doesn’t seem to think anything of my comment, but there’s no missing the way Tyler, Harper, and Felix’s eyes all flick to me.
“I didn’t mean you’d marry each other. Just that?—”
Dan squeezes my waist, quick to whisper in my ear again. “Touchy subject. Don’t say anything else. I’ll explain later.”
Clearly, I’ve put my foot in my mouth. I have no concept of how, unless perhaps Harper wants a proposal from Tyler, but he isn’t keen on getting married. Or the same situation but in reverse.
“Anyone need a new drink?” Tyler asks, the tone of his voice cold. Tyler never seems to be in an overly happy mood, but this is drastic, even for him .
I caused this by joking about marriage?
Dan and Killian take Tyler up on his offer and he leaves the group without another word.
“Harper,” Felix sounds just as cold. “Your boyfriend has a large drink order. You should help him.”
She scowls at Felix, and then she’s gone, muttering jerk beneath her breath as she follows Tyler through the crowd. Seriously, what the hell is going on between those three?
Killian is the only one who doesn’t seem aware of the tension, busy texting someone on this phone and grinning at the screen. “Violet says hi.”
“You’re texting Violet?” I ask, perking up. I don’t care what either of them say, there’s definitely something happening between them. “You know, you could have invited her to the wedding as your date.”
“I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, it’s not like that between us.”
“Sure. Whatever. Any romantic prospects for you, Felix?”
He side-eyes me with a look of amusement. “Baby sis, I’m flattered you’re taking an interest in my love life, but it’s non-existent.”
Dan laughs. “No romantic prospects for Felix. Just a lot of sexual prospects.”
The similarities between Dan and Felix resurface in my mind. Dan used to sleep around a lot without committing to anyone, but that was because he only wanted me and I was off limits. I laugh under my breath at the thought of Felix being in the same position, in love with a girl he can’t have.
Yeah, right. As if.
Dan slips his hand into mine. “Okay, enough chat. I’m stealing you away to the dance floor. See you boys later.”
I walk alongside Dan, speaking freely now that it’s only the two of us. “What was all that between Felix, Tyler, and Harper?”
His arms curl around my waist when we arrive at the dance floor. “I don’t know the full details, just that Felix and Tyler used to share Harper.”
My eyebrows lift in surprise. “She slept with both of them at the same time?”
“You can’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t. I’m just shocked. I mean, wow .” She said she’s experienced something stranger than Dan’s and my relationship. I suppose two brothers sharing her could be what she was referring to.
My hands rest on Dan’s shoulders as we sway to the music. He spins me out wide, and when he pulls me back in, my back is pressed to his chest. Dan holds me tight, kissing my cheek.
“Enough talk about them. Let’s dance and enjoy this moment,” he says. “You know, this will be us one day, having our own wedding. Let’s give everyone a few more years to get used to the idea of us.”
“You want to get married?”
“To you, I do. My Queen of Hearts.”
I smile and kiss his lips, keeping it respectful in public. “I have to say yes, first.”
“Like that will be hard to get out of you. You’ve been trying to get me out of your system for years and look how that ended up.” His voice dips for my ears alone. “Perfect, desperate little slut. Just the way I like you.”
I bite my bottom lip, resisting a smile, but there’s no hiding how happy Dan makes me. “Your slut and no one else’s.”
“Exactly. There’ll never be anyone else who owns my heart but you.”