Chapter 25 #2
Yes. But it’s the very last thing I want to do.
A throat clears, and we all look to see Winnie standing in the doorway. “How do I look?”
Her wedding dress is simple but gorgeous, a tea-length cream satin with tulle under the skirt, giving it some body and accentuating Winnie’s waist. The neckline is low but tasteful, and her arms are bare, showing off absolutely gorgeous tattoos I’ve only seen hints of before now.
Her blond hair is softly curled, resting on her shoulders, and she’s traded out her black-framed glasses for a pair that’s the same soft pink as the rose behind her ear.
“You look beautiful,” Lindy whispers, almost reverently.
Val sniffles, wiping her cheeks. “You are nothing short of stunning, Win.”
“You think James will like it?” Winnie asks, looking uncharacteristically nervous.
“My brother is going to have a coronary.” Harper appears behind Winnie and gives her a one-armed hug, clearly being careful of the dress.
“You look perfect, Winnie. Happy wedding day! Chase and I just got here. He’s headed over to help James with set-up.
I thought Pat and Collin would already be here by now with the way he was driving. ”
“Collin got pulled over,” Lindy says, standing and stretching before walking over to brush back a strand of Winnie’s hair.
“I can’t imagine why he was in such a hurry to get back.” Smiling, Harper crosses the room to sit next to me on the bed. “You doing okay, Mol?”
I watch as Lindy and Val flutter around Winnie, admiring her dress and smoothing away imaginary wrinkles. Jo walks in, a cheese stick hanging out of her mouth like a cigar. Without saying a word, she hands another one to Lindy, who immediately bites it in half, like she was starving.
It’s a tiny gesture for Jo to know Lindy would be hungry and bring her food without asking, but somehow, it feels huge. Like the littlest, most normal symbol of how this big, loud family cares for each other.
And now for me.
I think of Collin, getting a speeding ticket because he was in such a hurry to get to me.
I think of the dress I’m wearing, which Tank had the idea for and Winnie picked out just for me.
I think of everyone already knowing our big fake dating secret.
Of the wedding I’m about to attend. Of the friendships and the family I’ve been not just invited but welcomed into.
“Yeah,” I tell Harper. “I’m doing great.”
I’m not sure I’d say the same thing an hour later.
Because it is absolute torture being around Collin, watching him from a distance, feeling the intensity of his gaze without being able to talk.
The minute we locked eyes from across the room when I walked in with the ladies, though, relief coursed through me.
His blue eyes flared, and he immediately and unapologetically stepped away from whatever conversation he was having with Tank.
The way Collin strode purposefully across the room then grabbed and held me in a tight hug was an unspoken promise.
Though I absolutely want all his words too. We have a lot to discuss. Later.
Thankfully, the ceremony makes for a great distraction.
The big, main room in Dark Horse has been cleared, tables pushed aside.
Only a few chairs in a semi-circle near an exposed brick wall where the wedding party stands.
Lights are strung from the ceiling along with some simple flower garlands and battery-powered tea lights on the tables.
The bar holds an array of foods, including a simple two-tier cake.
There are more people in the wedding party than there are guests.
I sit between Kyoko and Big Mo. The only other people seated with us are Thayden and his wife, Delilah.
My eyes bounce between the bride and groom and Collin, who looks downright delicious in a fitted navy suit.
Behind the bar, a one-eyed cat wearing a bow tie watches the proceedings.
“That’s OC,” Kyoko whispers. “Their cat.”
James and Winnie have a cat? “Who dresses him up?”
Kyoko smirks. “You’d think Winnie. But it’s James.”
The ceremony is short and simple with the traditional wedding liturgy and simple vows Winnie and James wrote for each other.
Winnie recites hers with a huge smile and eyes bright with unshed tears, while James reads his from a well-worn notecard he pulls from his charcoal suit jacket.
His voice is soft, but he speaks the words with a conviction that makes my throat feel tight.
I’ve only met Kyoko a few times in passing, but we clasp each other’s hands throughout the whole thing like it’s a life-or-death matter.
And when the officiant pronounces them man and wife and they kiss, our small group stands and applauds wildly.
The Graham brothers, Tank, Chevy, and my brother hoot and holler like the home team just scored the winning point in overtime.
Someone—Lindy, maybe?—hands the women confetti cannons, so tiny sparkles flutter down around James and Winnie as they kiss … and kiss some more.
“All right, son,” Tank finally says in a booming voice. “Let’s remember there are children present.”
They finally pull apart, grinning at each other, cheeks flushed and eyes bright.
James sweeps Winnie up in his arms, careful of her dress, and then kisses her again.
When I glance over at Collin, he’s staring intently at me like he’s thinking about doing the same—though maybe picking me up and running off with me by the look in his eyes.
There aren’t many people in the room, but everyone is rowdy with celebration. Winnie cups her hands around her mouth and says, “Let the reception part of the wedding begin! We’ve got food from Big Mo, Kyoko will be serving drinks, and Pat’s got the music.”
As if on cue, music starts playing over the speakers and Kyoko darts off behind the bar.
I’m about to look for Collin when he appears next to me, looking a little out of breath and with desperation in his gaze as he grabs my hand. “Molly-girl,” he says on a long exhale. “Come.”
And then he’s tugging me away from the noise of the room, down a hallway and through a door into what looks like an office. It’s lit only by the glow of a small lamp, and as soon as the door is closed, Collin lifts me onto the desk and steps right into my space, his big hands cupping my cheeks.
His gaze roves over my face like he hasn’t seen me in months, not just over twenty-four hours.
And then his mouth finds mine—searching, reassuring, promising. His hands don’t leave my cheeks, thumbs lightly brushing my skin with a tenderness that makes my stomach flutter. His lips caress mine, at once both possessive and adoring, stealing my breath and my heart.
After a moment, Collin pulls back, resting his forehead on mine, eyes closed. I wrap my arms around his neck, studying his dark lashes and the strong cut of his jaw as I try to catch my breath. His blue eyes drift open, meeting my gaze.
“Hi,” I say. Suddenly, I feel shy. But I no longer hold even the smallest ounce of insecurity.
I knew, but now I really know that Collin is mine—and mine alone.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t come back last night,” he says.
“I hated that I couldn’t reach you. And I’m even more sorry if you’ve been worried after whatever Liza posted.
I still haven’t seen it, but I heard.” He shakes his head.
“It was nothing. She was waiting for me outside the gym. She apologized, hugged me, and left. That was it. I guess she had someone hiding and filming us? But there’s nothing going on with—”
“I know.” Smiling, I reach up and run a hand over Collin’s smooth jaw, freshly shaved with only the barest bite of stubble against my fingertips. “And I’m glad you’re here now.”
“Are you okay? Are we?” he asks.
I nod. “I’m more than okay now. And based on that kiss, I’d say you and I are just fine.
” I kiss him once more, softly, for good measure, then pull back again.
“You should know that your family knows that we’re really together.
Apparently they have known for a while. Jo let it slip.
She said she’s sorry and doesn’t want you to be mad at her, so make sure you tell her you’re not. ”
Collin nods, like this isn’t coming as a surprise. “I’m sure they would have figured it out anyway. I wasn’t very good at acting like I was just acting with you, Molly.”
“Well, then how about no more acting or joking or faking?” I suggest.
Collin leans forward, pressing another kiss, this one silk-soft, on my lips.
He trails kisses over my cheeks, my jaw, and then starts moving down my neck.
Before I can fully lose myself in his lips, I slide my hands to the front of his shoulders and gently push him back until we’re face to face again.
“In the interest of full honesty and disclosure, there’s something else I want to talk to you about.”
And after drawing in a deep breath, I tell Collin about my dad.
I tell him how he’s always been overbearing, but how it shifted after Chase left and I became the sole focus of his control.
I share how he paid for Chase’s college and not mine, plus my suspicion that Dad hoped the debt would keep me financially dependent on him.
And it probably would have—if I didn’t have money in an account he didn’t know about.
“This is why you lied in your job interview?” Collin asks. “Why you didn’t want to go back up to Kansas for your car or any of your things?”
I nod. “I felt like he’d find a way to make me stay. I’m not sure I can stand up to him yet. Though I want to. I’m trying. It’s why he cut off my phone service. One more little punishment for my defiance.”
Collin pulls me into his arms then, and I can’t remember the last time I felt so safe, so seen. So loved.
“I was serious earlier about getting you a phone,” he says, giving me a last squeeze before pulling back to look at me.
“But I can understand if you don’t want to go from one man having control of your phone to another.
I can just go with you to the phone store to make sure you get an iPhone this time. ”
I can’t help but laugh, even though a deeper part of me is truly moved by Collin’s thoughtfulness. “Thank you. I’ll consider it. I’ll get paid soon from influencing, so I might just need a little loan.”
“Whatever you want. One more question,” Collin says. “Does Chase know about your dad?”
I shake my head. “No. Dad was controlling with him too, but it was different and worse with me after Chase left. I’ll talk to him. I just didn’t want him to worry or feel responsible. I also just hate feeling weak. Like if I were as strong as Chase, it wouldn’t have gotten so bad.”
“Don’t you dare blame yourself for this. You hear me?”
All I can do is nod as Collin pulls me into his arms again, giving what’s arguably the best hug of this year. Maybe the one before that too.
There’s a sudden banging on the office door. “Are you coming out, lovebirds?” Chevy drawls. “They’re waiting on you to cut the cake.”
“Just a minute,” Collin calls, then sighs. “I guess we should get back out there. The downside to a small wedding is that everyone notices when you’re missing.”
But when we get out of the office, it’s no longer a small wedding. The entire brewery is filled with what looks to be almost every resident of Sheet Cake. At least, everyone I’ve met, plus many I don’t know.
I recognize the Bobs and most of the women from the LLLS meeting.
I recognize Nan from the diner and Wolf Waters—who’s thankfully not wearing chaps but is sporting a kilt.
I wave at Kalli from across the room, and she points to the big man next to her who must be her boyfriend, Deacon, and mouths what I interpret as, I’ll introduce you later.
“What happened?” I ask as we walk over to where Lindy and Pat are standing with Val and Chevy.
“Sheet Cake happened,” Lindy says with a laugh. “Basically, the whole town showed up outside. They said they were happy just to be nearby to show their support.”
“As in, they wanted to be respectful but also couldn’t leave well enough alone,” Val adds.
“And in an uncharacteristic move for our antisocial oldest brother, James invited them all in,” Pat says. “And now, we’ve got ourselves a real party.”
Collin’s hand never leaves mine as Winnie and James cut the cake.
Wolf joins Kyoko behind the bar to serve drinks, and someone puts a big jar on the bar top that’s stuffed full of bills by the end of the night.
And then the whole town is on the dance floor.
Sheeters—which is apparently what they’re called—can dance.
Or, at least, they love dancing with wild abandon, not caring whether they are any good or not.
I’m not particularly skilled at dancing, but Collin is, and we boogie until my feet are practically numb.
As the night wears on, the celebration spills out onto the patio, the music slowing. Collin and I sway under the stars, and not even the racoons who creep close to steal half-eaten cake off plates can ruin the vibe.
Winnie and James finally prepare to leave, and everyone gathers to watch them walk down Main Street. Lindy, Val, and Harper pass out sparklers, though I’m not sure how there are enough since the guest list more than quadrupled. Maybe someone suspected it would end this way.
An odd sound tugs my attention to Wolf, who’s standing on the sidewalk, warming up a set of bagpipes.
“Well, I guess that explains the kilt,” Collin says. Whatever he starts to say next is drowned out as Wolf starts playing in earnest.
The tune is familiar, though I can’t remember the name of the song, and the sound rings through the night, echoing off the buildings around us and creating a sense of importance and magnitude to the moment.
Collin wraps an arm around my waist and tugs me closer as Winnie and James turn around halfway down the block to wave one last time.
Then James picks Winnie up again and starts to sprint away. I can’t hear her laughter over the bagpipes and the people around us, but I can see her laughing, head thrown back, as the full moon casts its silver blessing on them both.