Chapter 19
Summer
Istep onto the verandah and stare out over the railing. The lawn down below is a whirl of activity and pre ceremony checks that we hopefully won’t have to repeat tomorrow for the real deal.
As long as Ivy and Rogue are back by then.
They’re definitely back in Kansas.
Rebel got the call from Tex about an hour ago. Ten minutes after that West was in one of the rentals, flying down the driveway with a cloud of dust behind him. Rogue and Ivy landed twenty minutes later. Since about ten minutes ago, West has been back.
He arrived with a subdued pink haired girl he called Lily instead of Dizzy. He bustled her out of the back seat and under his wing while shooting us all a warning to stay back. He’d led her away to the cabins and hasn’t come up to the house since.
It’s awfully quiet without Dizzy actually. The kind of quiet that gives me goosebumps. I can’t imagine Ivy is dealing well with the change in her sister. And that’s before Rebel told her and Rogue about the fingerprints Agent Lane found.
Kia and her clipboard direct some of the wedding crew to fill the back rows of seats while guests move to the front rows and find a spot to watch from.
Sonatina Savant teeters in on heels that make no sense in this setting, followed by her downcast assistant.
She takes an end seat close to the front.
My brothers and nephew file in—all of them with their hats in their hands like they’re attending Sunday mass—and take up an entire first row.
Rebel and Riot stand in front of a floral archway at the head of the grassy aisle. Rebel shifts his weight from foot to foot and rubs the heels of his palms together as he looks around.
When his gaze shifts to the verandah I step back, my heart beating strangely quick.
It doesn’t matter if he sees me like this…
like a bride. It’s not the real deal. Hell, if it were this would be the fifth or sixth time my fiancé has gotten married.
We’re actors playing a role. That’s how I should be thinking.
He’s so handsome in his black suit. Waiting for me to join him. Looking every bit the nervous groom when he adjusts the knot in his tie.
Beside him Riot looks completely at ease while he says something that makes Rebel grin from ear to ear and turns his attention back to him.
Adira looks up when I return to the railing and waggles his fingers at me. He looks gorgeous in a gold minidress with flowing sleeves that he’s paired with pearls and a sleek blonde ponytail that hangs down his back. He’s my escort—like he’ll be Ivy’s tomorrow—and the officiant.
“You look…” I turn at the sound of Kelsey joining me. Her round eyes run the full gamut of my dress. A full A-length gown with cold shoulder lace sleeves and a floral strap detail. The bodice is covered in flowers, and they thin out over the full skirt. “Holy shit! That’s stunning.”
“The queens of Mojito Bar are real life fairy godmothers.” They pulled together an outfit for me that shouldn’t be possible in an hour. And they used my mom’s old lace curtains to make it.
It turns out nostalgia will make my mascara run if I’m not careful.
“Don’t ruin your makeup,” Kelsey tells me carefully using her thumb to remove a trace of black from my eyeline. She’s playing the role of a bridesmaid with Dizzy not attending this evening. “Not before Rebel gets to see you like this.”
“You know we’re not really getting married.
” I laugh because I have a hell of a lot of emotion about how real it suddenly feels.
Perhaps I don’t want to wait after all. If all the chaos and things that could go wrong were taken care of.
If all I had to do was show up in a pretty dress and tell the man I’m in love with that I promise to spend the rest of my life with him…
I wouldn’t wait. “Weddings take time to plan and execute.”
“Especially with a drag queen running the whole event like a production.” She winks at me as Adira strides toward us.
“They got to you too.” I point out the outfit they’ve put her in. A simple strapless plum colored mini dress she’s paired with her motorcycle boots and a velvet choker.
“Well, look at you two…” Adira climbs the steps. “Lovely.”
“Thanks,” I say. “I still don’t understand why it needed to be a full-dress rehearsal.”
My dress being the same dimensions as Ivy’s one of a kind designer gown didn’t seem like it was necessary. And I could have worn my comfy leggings while holding a tablet with Ivy on a video call instead of filling her shoes.
“Because tomorrow has to be perfect,” Adira says. “If we’re going to have bad luck for any reason, I would prefer it be today.”
“Fine.” That at least makes sense. And he was right when he told Rebel that we’re a draw card. The talk of leaving certainly quieted down when it was announced. “Were you able to get Rogue and Ivy on video?”
“Kia is handling it,” he says. “Are we ready?”
“I think so.” I catch my breath quickening and try to relax.
“Actually, no. I’m officiating so this would be much easier if I didn’t have to walk you down the aisle.”
“I can walk myself.”
“That simply won’t do.” Adira turns around and scans the group. He gestures to my eldest brother. “Owen? Could you be a darling and join us.”
Owen strides toward us. His face is a mix of emotions. “Little, you look…”
“Like a bride,” I say when he can’t seem to say anything.
He nods several times in quick succession.
“You’ll be her escort,” Adira orders. “Tuck your arm into his, Summer.”
I follow his directions. “Let’s get this over with.”
“That’s the spirit.” He pumps his fist in the air before turning to my bridesmaid. “Kelsey?”
She scoops up the train on my costume. “Ready.”
“Music please,” Adira says into his headset.
Kia signals to Riot who nods and reaches for his acoustic. His fingers pluck and strum a beautiful piece of music. But it’s not the song Ivy and Rogue picked. For a rehearsal we’re not off to a good start. None of the details are being used.
“We’re keeping the element of surprise,” Adira tells me. “Keeping the small details under wraps.”
I nod. It doesn’t matter when Rebel is staring at me the way he is…
making my heart swell… filling me with an emotion that feels far more than anything I’ve experienced before.
What I feel in me is what I see reflected from him.
The world ceases to exist outside of our locked gazes as Owen guides me toward my future.
I need to remember this isn’t real. It’s a taster of what will be. God, that’s going to be hard.
Faces familiar and not so familiar smile at me hazily in my peripheral. I barely notice. I do notice the way Owen is speechless. He swallows like he’s holding in a lot of emotion.
And my other brothers sit quietly together, which almost never happens. Jett’s facial muscles contort as he tries to keep stoic. Burke looks solemn. Even Kale is still when we make eye contact.
The back of my dress is yanked hard and that wakes me from my fantasy. Kelsey yelps. She has one knee on the grass and her hands wrapped around her other ankle. The train of my dress is caught under her knee.
Kelsey glares daggers at Sonatina. “You tripped me.”
“I did no such thing.” Sonatina touches a hand to her chest, appearing outraged.
“You did. You put your leg out and tripped me.” Kelsey shoots to her feet then winces. “What is wrong with you?”
“All right. This is why we’re having this rehearsal.” He glances to Kia. “Let’s add an additional two foot to each side of the aisle. That way there will be no possibility of accidental tripping.”
“It wasn’t accidental.” Kelsey is seething. Her neck and cheeks are almost as red as her cherry lipstick. She towers over Sonatina. “You need to stop or—"
“Are you threatening me?” Sonatina cowers. “She’s threatening me. Everyone can see that, right?”
“Kelsey.” I put my hand on her arm. “Is it possible it really could have been an accident?”
“Not with this bitch.”
There’s a gasp from somewhere in the crowd. There’s almost zero chance that this moment won’t be leaked by one of the guests or a crew member.
Riot slides between them, his back to Sonatina. He stern eyes Kelsey. “Breathe. Just breathe.”
“You’re defending her?” Kelsey’s eyes shine with emotion.
“I’m protecting you,” he says. “Keeping you from doing something you’ll regret.”
“That you’ll regret you mean,” Kelsey argues. “You’re protecting the band. Your career. Not me.”
“She’s not worth it,” Sonatina places her hand on his shoulder.
Riot turns to stone.
Kelsey’s eyes widen. She steps back. Winces at the way she lands on her twisted ankle. But that hurt is nothing compared to the pain in her gaze.
“Sonatina, you should go back inside,” he says, simmering with barely restrained anger.
She has the decency to do as he ordered. Gesturing at her assistant to follow, she pushes past Riot and rushes up the aisle and into the house.
“Could we please leave the drama until personal time.” Adira’s voice rings out, bringing everyone back to attention. “And get this rehearsal done. Summer, if you would like to join Rebel. Kelsey, Riot if you could take your places too that would be great.”
Rebel extends his arm and holds out his hand. I put my hand in his and he curls his fingers warmly around mine, drawing me next to him. “You look incredible.”
“Do we have Rogue and Ivy with us?” Adira turns to Kia who holds her tablet up to show the actual bride and groom in the backseat of a car.
“We’re here,” they say.
“Then let’s begin.” Adira lifts his chin and waits until all attention is on him. “We are gathered to witness the wedding of our bride Summer Heart and our groom Rebel Maddox.”
“What?” That’s not right. It’s a rehearsal. Surely, he should be using their names. Not ours.
Rebel tips his head toward mine. “We have two choices right now. Go along with it. Call it fun. And not pick up a marriage certificate before we leave Kansas. Or…”
“We’re getting married,” I whisper. “For real?”
“If you want to.”
“I want to. But Rogue is going to kill you.”