Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
ariana
Because we’ve been friendly for years, Lemmy and I got ready for the wedding together in my room. It took all my strength not to ask her all the burning questions in my head, but I didn’t, because I’m never going to actually pursue Boston so I have absolutely no right to.
It’s none of my business, anyway. Even if I want it to be.
Callum, who was accompanied by a couple of his teammates, got us a ride to the venue. We had to wait an extra twenty minutes for Reno Rossi to find his left shoe, but we eventually made it. On time, too.
The venue is beautiful. The ceremony is taking place outside, with stunning stone walkways and gorgeous greenery.
There is an intricate arch at the end of the aisle, with complex arrangements of black-and-white flowers woven throughout.
It’s the exact way I would have decorated it if I was in this line of work. Flawless design.
We were greeted by the boys upon arrival and I can now confidently say that Boston Black’s best look is not when his hair is pulled back, it’s actually when he is adorned in a perfectly fitting black suit.
I bit back my jealousy when he offered his arm to Lemmy to usher her to an open seat instead of me, and smiled at my brother, who led me to mine. When Boston turned to let me pass, our eyes met, and I made sure to act impeccably indifferent toward him.
Am I mad? No. Am I jealous? Beyond.
I am confident that he and Lemmy have slept together.
It’s just one of those things that you can tell about certain people.
Boston is a closed book, but he’s warmer and a bit more open whenever he’s around her.
I look at her, the exact opposite of me, and compare every single detail of her to myself.
It doesn’t look good for me, folks.
Declan Lowes walks down the aisle to a chorus of whistles and cheers. He grins, shaking his head, both of his parents at his sides. His mother is already sobbing into her tissues and his dad smiles from ear-to-ear, looking as proud as a parent possibly can.
Black suit, perfectly styled dark hair, and dimples to top it all off. Penny is going to run down the aisle to him.
The wedding is pure, classical elegance.
Penny’s bridesmaids all wear various styles of black dresses.
Their bouquets are full of white roses and greenery, a stunning contrast against the black fabric.
Every detail is beautiful, down to their gold, matching jewelry.
I couldn’t have designed this better myself, and I’m a picky bitch.
They look like supermodels on the arms of some of the best looking men in the world, and when Reno leans in to tell me that Penny’s sister is kind of hot, I’m too busy staring at the groomsman at her side to notice.
He takes his spot beside my brother, his eyes darting to my face when Reno leans back in his seat.
Well, that’s interesting, isn’t it?
Someone is checking up on me.
The game isn’t over yet.
I slide closer to Reno and bend my head to whisper something stupid, just to ensure that Boston keeps glaring my way.
“Tell me something useful to get Boston Black into my bed.”
Reno leans back and cackles. In the middle of the ceremony. Boston’s eyes flare and my brother’s head snaps to us with a look of warning.
“I don’t think Boss has a death wish,” Reno whispers.
Callum leans across both Lemmy and me to slap Reno on the leg. Hard.
Reno, wisely, shuts up.
Aura’s husband and her daughter are next, walking Penny and Declan’s three dogs down the aisle.
They’re wearing the black collars that we picked up, their names and flowers that match the bridesmaids’ bouquets threaded into the faux leather.
Two of them want to stop and say hello to everyone in the vicinity, unaware that they’re currently in the middle of a very important job.
The second that Declan drops to a crouch, they rush to the end of the aisle toward him instead.
My throat tightens as he takes a second to drink them in, his eyes filling with tears.
He kisses each of them on their heads, scratching their fur where he can, wiping at his eyes discreetly.
When he rises to his feet, Lauren’s husband swoops in to lead them away and keep them busy, and Aura’s husband finds his seat with his daughter in tow.
This might be the best wedding I’ve ever been to and it’s barely started.
The music changes, and a melodic violin rendition of Heaven by Bryan Adams begins to play. The crowd rises to their feet.
My heart tightens with anticipation. I love weddings, but I love this moment most of all. The moment where the groom sees the bride for the first time. This is when it all becomes real. This is the moment everyone holds their breath for.
I glance toward the altar.
Reno leans over to Oz. “Hundred bucks says he cries.”
Oz shakes his head. “He’s probably cried four times since he woke up. Not taking that bet.”
“Both of you,” Callum snaps, and they go rigid. “Enough.”
The doors to the venue open, and a quiet gasp rushes through the crowd.
My hand goes to my heart at the sight of her. Wow.
Penelope Sweeten is beautiful, but Penelope Sweeten as a bride might have the power to stop time.
On her father’s arm, she’s in a stunning gown, one that I can only imagine was made for her and her alone.
It’s a mermaid-style dress with a straight neckline, an image of pure luxury with French lace and detailed beading.
The gown is breathtaking, especially with its elegant off-the-shoulder sleeves that make her look regal and poised.
She has a veil, but didn’t pull it over her face, allowing it to trail behind the long train of her dress.
And it also allows her husband to see those eyes that he’s obsessed with.
“There he goes,” Reno whispers.
I glance at the altar and my throat tightens. Declan is fully crying, wiping at his eyes with a handkerchief that looks like it’s a piece of Penny’s altered dress, something she must have given to him ahead of the ceremony.
Seth swallows, patting Declan on the back.
I do a quick scan over the other groomsmen. My brother’s big, blue eyes are sparklier than usual. Caulfield is a lost cause. He stares at the sky to try and stop any tears, but he’s a goner. EJ might be beaming from ear to ear, but his eyes are a tad watery, too.
It’s only Boston who isn’t emotional. He’s smiling, but he isn’t affected the way the rest of them are. His eyes slide to mine, as if sensing my stare, and I rip my gaze away to watch the bride instead.
Penny passes our row, her eyes never once leaving the man at the end of the aisle. She mouths a silent ‘hi’.
He nods, mouthing it back.
She blinks to try and stop her own tears, taking in a big, stabilizing breath.
“Wow,” Lemmy says.
“She’s beautiful,” I confirm, quietly.
When Penny makes it to the end of the aisle, she slowly reaches up to brush the tears from Declan’s face. He leans into her touch with big, soft eyes, pressing a kiss to her palm, and the world around them appears to vanish. It’s just them. Like it’s always been in their world, I imagine.
Caulfield is hanging on by a thread now. So is my brother.
Declan and Mr. Sweeten share a few quiet words. Penny’s dad pulls him in for a hug, and it lingers, like it will be the honour of Declan’s lifetime to take care of her from this point onward, and like Mr. Sweeten fully believes that he will.
And I’m gone. I’m a sucker for a dad who loves his daughter, clearly. I suck in a shaky breath, trying to suffocate the emotion before it overflows and ruins my makeup, but I am done. My throat itches as I clear it, lip wobbling at the idea of a love that I never want.
A hand suddenly appears in front of my face, holding a tissue.
Callum is still staring straight at the ceremony as he offers it.
I thank him quietly and he nods. I dab the tears from the corner of my eyes desperately before they can fall.
Damn, I really didn’t think I’d cry today.
Declan and Penny find their place at the altar.
He studies every inch of her face the entire time.
They stay completely focused on one another throughout the duration of the ceremony.
Smiling, winking, squeezing hands—forcing the other to stay calm and in the moment. It’s their moment. Nobody else matters.
It’s sweet. Endearingly sweet.
Then, there are the vows. I don’t think there is a dry eye in the house after those.
Declan goes first.
“Lucky,” Declan says, sucking in a breath.
He swallows, reciting from memory. “If someone would have told me all those years ago that the girl I met in college would end up being my wife, I would have counted down the seconds until this very moment with bated breath. I would have stopped worrying about who you were spending your time with, and instead spent those years waiting for you to smarten up and fall in love with me instead.”
EJ barks out a laugh.
“I would have probably saved myself a ton of headaches with the knowledge that it would be me and you at the end of the day, no matter what. As it should be. As it was always going to be.”
He clears his throat, and Penny’s eyes glisten with tears.
“Oh god, I can’t look at you,” he says, tearing his gaze away as his voice breaks.
She breathes out a laugh. “I have loved you through college. I have loved you through fights and fallouts. I have loved our friendship, both its ups and its downs. I have survived the woman you are before caffeine, and loved the woman you are after that hazelnut latte hits your bloodstream.”
The crowd erupts in laughter. I dab at my eyes again because they won’t stop watering. I’m malfunctioning.
“I have endured mouthfuls of dog hair, nights of sore hands from all the neck massages you need after headbanging to eighties rock songs, and endless moments lost in those eyes that I’ve loved this whole fucking time.”
That’s the part that sends Tiffany and Avery right over the edge.