Wesley
W hen your best friend asks you to marry them for fifteen million dollars, you say yes. That’s the rule.
Instead, mine raised a beer bottle to her crimson lips, took a long sip, and said, “No. Can we just drop it and move on?” A variation of the same response she’s been giving me since she told me what her grandparents did.
It wasn’t exactly how I imagined the night would go when I booked the rooftop bar overlooking the Strip.
The tour was going great, for the most part, but we all knew something—someone— was missing.
Tonight was supposed to be the tipping point, when all the pieces fell into place and we could finally say we all made it. Instead, they’re falling apart.
“Give me one reason why it won’t work.” I shifted closer to her on the couch we selected at the far edge of the party. It was scorching during the day, but at night the desert air cooled drastically, justifying the small flickering firepit in front of us.
“The money wouldn’t come all at once, it would be paid out over a few years,” Avery explained.
“That’s still fifteen million. And I’m failing to see what part of this is a bad idea.
” In my opinion, it was by far one of my best ideas.
Sure, I’d been in love with her since I was fourteen and that could make me a bit biased.
But for fifteen million? C’mon. “Is it because of your grandparents, that they’ll try to stop it? ”
“No. My dad put the trust together and his lawyer oversees it, so they won’t know. But I can’t ask you to do this. It’s too much.” She slumped, as if she was begging the crack between the couch cushions to swallow her whole.
“You’re not asking, I’m offering. It’s your birthday, so if you need to think of it as a present, be my guest.” I waved, flagging down a girl walking by. “Watch, even a stranger would say yes to me.”
Avery was stubborn and terribly self-reliant—had been since the moment I met her and wanted nothing to do with me. I was used to convincing her to let me help her and she was worth the effort.
When I captured the girl’s attention, she gave me an appreciative once over then flashed a smile. She was pretty with big doe eyes and springy blonde curls, but that didn’t matter. There was only one person for me.
“Oh, you’re one of those guys in that band.
Fool’s Gold, right?” she asked nonchalantly, like she didn’t want to come off as a fan.
God. We had fans. It was still hard to wrap my mind around.
We worked hard to get to this point, but the fame and recognition were so sudden.
It didn’t happen too often, but I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to complete strangers knowing my name.
“Yeah, Fool’s Gambit,” I corrected. “But would you marry me for fifteen million dollars?”
She blinked once, confused. “I guess?”
“Great! Thanks. That’s all I needed, enjoy the party.”
“No problem?” she said, her inflection warping her words into a question as she walked away, brows furrowed as she stole a final glance of Avery and me.
“That literally proves nothing,” Avery grumbled, though a thrill raced up my spine when I noticed her scorching gaze follow the girl until she disappeared into a circle of gyrating dancers.
I wasn’t trying to make her jealous, but I wouldn’t complain if she was.
I was ravenous for any proof she wanted me the same way I wanted her.
“That was a hypothetical. And she doesn’t know you. ”
“Are you saying that you don’t want to marry me because you know me? That’s harsh, Ave.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It can be. Marry me,” I said. “Nothing more to it.”
“How long would this be for?”
“Forever is fine by me. I’m not picky.”
She gave me a playful shove, bumping her shoulder against mine. Her hair moved with her, whispering against the side of my neck and forcing me to suppress a shiver. “Be serious.”
I was more serious about this—about her—than anything else in my life.
The fans. Our new found fame. The rush of adrenaline when we were on stage and perfectly in sync.
It all paled in comparison to her.
Forever was a given.
Even if I didn’t feel this way, I’d still show up for her this same way she’s shown up for me. Fool’s Gambit wouldn’t exist without her. She might have thought I was doing her a favor, but in a way, I was finally repaying a debt.
“Fine. Until you get sick of me. I’d say until you find someone better, but we both know that’s impossible.”
“You’re insufferable.”
“I try. So is that a yes?
“Just give me one second. I’ll be right back,” she said quickly, then stood up and marched across the room. I reclined on the couch, watching.
At the bar, she chatted up the bartender. I saw the poor guy fall for her the moment she tossed her hair over her shoulder. I couldn’t blame him; I was no better.
He slid her a clear shot. Vodka. She turned, leaning an elbow on the bar, her eyes locking with mine.
My mouth went dry at the sight of her. Legs for miles.
The ends of her hair like wild flames licking against her cheeks and shoulders, dark makeup smudged around her gold-streaked hazel eyes.
The thin strap of her silky dress drooped off one shoulder.
The stick-and-poke sun tattoo in the crook of her arm flashed as she saluted me with the glass before swallowing it in one go, exposing the column of her throat as she drank.
I was already on my feet by the time she returned to the couch, drawn upward by her gravity and my own eagerness.
“Okay.” She grabbed my hand. “Ready?”
“You know I am.”
It was a decent party, but hell, we had better things to do.
A nervous giggle burst from Avery as we pushed through the glass doors toward the elevators. “I can’t believe we’re doing this,” she said.
“I can.” Best. Day. Ever.
“Where are you two headed?”
Garrett leaned against the wall opposite the elevators. His cool gaze raked over us, calculating if we were worth his time.
“Getting married,” I said at the same time Avery blurted, “Strip club.”
“I’ll never get you two.” Garrett shook his head.
“If you’re interested, you could come.” My invitation earned me a glare from Avery.
“I’d rather do anything else.” The elevator dinged, doors opening. He looked between us and the small chrome compartment. “I’ll take the next one. And Wes?”
Avery gripped my hand and tugged me into the elevator, causing me to look back over my shoulder as I answered, “Yes?”
“Whatever you’re actually doing, please don’t end up in jail and mess up our travel schedule.” Pragmatic ass.
I winked at Garrett as the doors closed. “No promises.”
“You antagonize him too much,” Avery said.
“I think it’s the perfect amount.”
“I wish you didn’t tell him.”
“It’s not like he believed us.” I shrugged, pretending I wasn't disappointed. The guys had been giving me shit about Avery for years. I’d never admitted to them how I felt, but I guess it was obvious to everyone that I was a goner. Everyone but her at least.
“Just don’t, okay.” Her teeth carved grooves in the remaining red lipstick on her full bottom lip. “I don’t want anything to change between us or with the guys. We’re about to go on the road together, there’s no reason to make it weird. And I feel guilty for making you do this.”
“You’re not making me do a damn thing. I begged.”
And I’m so fucking in love with you, but let’s just breeze by that.
It was the easiest decision of my life to offer to be her husband.
Avery stood at the edge of the sidewalk, seemingly unable to step on the rose bush lined path to the small white chapel. Her expression was hard, carved from stone.
That wouldn’t do. I wasn’t going to let her walk in there looking like she was being sentenced for a crime she didn’t commit.
“Hey, you forgot something,” I said.
Her head jerked my way. “What?”
I came up beside her, my arms encircling her waist. I spun us until laughter tumbled out of her. I stopped, supporting her back as I dipped her. “You’re supposed to have fun on your wedding day.”
We stayed there for a moment, washed in the red light from the buzzing twenty-four hour wedding sign.
Her expression softened as she lightly squeezed where she gripped my arm. “Thank you. I needed that. This is all just a lot to take in.”
“I know but remember I’m here. You don’t have to do any of this alone,” I reassured her.
I helped her to her feet and we headed inside.
At the reception desk, Avery’s fingers trembled as she attempted to pull out her ID.
The plastic card tumbled from her grip clattering on to the counter.
The receptionist eyed us carefully, sending a new flood of nerves through my system.
After a long minute she gave us a clipboard with attached paperwork that we filled out.
There were two couples before us—an older man and woman who must have been in their seventies, and then a pair in their twenties who barely stopped making out long enough to enter the main hall.
My palms were hot and every few minutes I wiped them on my jeans.
I was getting married in jeans and a torn Nirvana shirt.
Why the hell didn’t I ask to change so I could at least look like I belonged next to Avery in her silver dress?
But there was no more time to second guess because our names were called. We stood in front of the officiant as he recited his script. Blood pounded in my ears so loudly that I could barely hear when he asked, “Have you prepared your own vows?”
Despite not having planned anything, I nodded. “No matter what. It’s you and me.”
“No matter what,” Avery echoed the simple promise we’d operated under for years. She had to tip her head slightly downward to meet my gaze, since she was about four inches taller than me in her heels. “Even if nothing else is, we’re permanent.”
The officiant waited as if he expected us to continue, but we didn’t need more than those few words. Once he realized we were done he directed, “You may kiss the bride.”
Avery and I both froze, her hands gripping mine tight enough to cut off circulation. We hadn’t talked about this part, or maybe we avoided it. Getting to the chapel and helping her seemed like the important parts.
“Weird if we don’t, right?” she whispered, looking at me through her lashes. Sheepish.
“Just say you want to kiss me, Ave. I promise it’s fun.” I wanted to ease the tension causing her shoulders to crawl up to her ears, but I also really wanted to kiss her.
“Ass.” She squeezed my hand on purpose that time.
“An ass who is about to be your lawfully wedded husband.”
The officiant’s amused drawl fractured the moment. “Are you going to kiss? You don’t have to but—”
“I think we should,” I said in a rush of desperation. Tonight might be my only chance and I wouldn’t let it go to waste.
Her wide eyes jumped between my eyes and lips. “Yeah, more official that way.”
I cradled the back of her neck, pulling her close so my mouth nearly brushed against hers as I spoke, causing her to shiver. “I’m going to kiss you now, wife .”
She was the one to close the gap. I was certain my heart was about to slam its way out of my chest with how hard it was beating.
Her lips were hesitant as they met mine, but then she melted into me.
I pulled her close, my hand slipping on the silky fabric of her dress as I drew her closer.
I knew her as a person who would do anything to get what she wanted, and this kiss was no different, she was in complete control.
Her hand gripped my jaw guiding me exactly where she wanted me and I happily complied.
It was as natural as the push and pull of the tides.
When she finally tilted away to suck in a sharp breath, her chest pressed against mine. Misty heavy lidded hazel eyes met mine. All final traces of her lipstick were gone.
I’d remember it forever.
The first time I kissed Avery was at our wedding. Little did I know, the last time would be before I broke her heart.