24. Kennedy
I will never, for the life of me, understand how people stand in front of a mirror and feel beautiful while wearing a bridesmaid dress.
All month while preparing for Parker’s wedding, I’ve gone along with what she wants. It’s her wedding. So we rush around and get measurements for dresses. I don’t care what they look like. Honestly, it’s Parker’s day, so I don’t bother even looking at myself in the mirror when I get my final measurements. All I can remember is the color gray, and maybe a purple accent.
We are so busy working, planning, and putting together the dream wedding she didn’t get with Danny that I barely have time to sleep, let alone think about anything to do with my relationship with Linc.
On top of everything, my little sister has her babies. Twin boys that we are all absolutely in love with. Which means there is even more for me to do to help prepare for my brother’s wedding. Especially since our mom is helping Casper with the boys.
“You look amazing,” Parker calls out from her side of the room, dragging me out of my thoughts and the only piece of quiet I’ve had since she dropped the surprise wedding on everyone. “Why can’t I look like you do?”
I try not to move; otherwise, the awesome woman trying to work wonders with my curls will stab me with a knife or something.
“Because you’re like seven months pregnant and finally starting to show.” I also eye the plate of French fries that sit in front of her pointedly. “And you keep eating like I do, so you’re gonna get fat like me.”
Parker shrugs, not caring in the slightest about the comment. She knows I’m not calling her fat and that I never will.
“How are the boys?” She starts to squirm in her seat, and the man putting on her makeup sighs good-naturedly and then sits back so she can get up to pee.
“They’re good,” I call out loudly. “Casper’s dealing with trying to boob feed them at the same time, and she said it’s like having the devil sucking on her tits.”
Emma and Vi both laugh at whatever Parker is doing, but I can’t see it from my position. So, I just have to wait for her to get back in my line of sight.
“That’s a terrible image,” Nia, my stylist, says with a grimace in the mirror. “You’re just about done. I wish all my clients had hair like yours. So thick and it just goes exactly where I want it to. I barely had to use any product.”
“Well, you’re a badass,” I tell her. “Because all I can get it to do is either curl or sit in a bun.”
I stare at myself in the mirror, and I have to admit that she’s made me look good. I can’t see everything because I have a gray robe on to cover the bridesmaid dress. But my face looks immaculate, with a slight blush and lipstick that complement my complexion perfectly.
“Holy shit, I’m the last one.” Parker groans when she sees that I’ve joined Emma and Vi just sitting there, doing nothing. “This isn’t cool.”
“You know, if you sat down and let Chris finish your hair, you’d have been done first, right?” I grab a bottle of water, hoping that maybe if I drink something, my pounding headache will go away. “Meanwhile, I still feel like I got hit by a truck.”
“That’s what you get for staying up until dawn for three days straight to make sure things were done.” Vi yawns and then leans against Emma’s shoulder, closing her eyes. “We could have been doing that now.”
“Yeah.” I roll my eyes even though they can’t see it. “Because it’s not like the wedding’s supposed to start in five minutes at all.”
Chris, Parker’s stylist, steps back and eyes everything critically before smiling. “You’re gorgeous,” he says. “And even if you moved constantly, I don’t think it messed anything up.”
We take off the robes and pick up the bouquets that we stayed up until three in the morning putting together, and I almost cry when I see how stunning Parker looks.
Her dress is pale silver, with hints of lace all around the bodice and down onto her train. The dark-brown hair that she refuses to cut is styled elegantly. Half up and half down, with braids and flowers cascading down her back.
We all turn right as the door opens and Nox sticks his blond head into the room. “Come on, Mom, you’re late.” His eyes take in the sight of all of us dressed up, and they turn to saucers. “Holy balls, you guys look good.” Nox steps into the room and makes a beeline for his mom. “Actually, Mom, you look beautiful.”
We get to see him in his tux for the first time, and my heart melts. The little trousers and the suspenders I can see poking out in the opening of his suit, which isn’t buttoned. To top it off, he has a bright-purple bow tie on, one that he picked out himself.
“I look good, I know.” He winks at us badly, and then he hugs his mom.
She kneels down, and thankfully the photographer is in the room with us, because I completely forgot to bring my phone. It is currently sitting in Linc’s truck, with my hidden stash of tacos that I had the cook at Lucy’s make for me so I have something to snack on after the wedding.
“I’m not gonna cry.” Vi wheezes as we all stand there and watch the touching scene between mother and child. “Don’t let me cry and ruin this makeup. I’ll never look this good again and I haven’t even had pictures taken yet.”
We are all a blubbering mess by the time the wedding march starts two minutes later. And by the time we make it to the aisle, I’m ready to throw up. I can’t tell if it is from anxiety or nerves, but whatever it is, I’m not feeling great.
Linc and the rest of the men are standing at the front of the hall of St. Joseph’s, and my heart starts to race when I see him.
I expect his eyes on me, but I never thought I’d see him as focused as he is. Remy, whom he stands next to, says something to him quietly, and all Linc can do is nod.
When it is my turn to make my way down, I smile despite the feeling in the pit of my stomach that something is wrong. When I make it to the front, Linc winks at me and all the nerves vanish.
The music changes, and I smile broadly as the notes of Parker’s favorite song fill the air around us. While Remy sighs and runs his hands though his hair, Linc shakes his head.
“This is the one?” Remy asks me seriously.
“Yep.”
We all turn to see Parker and Nox walking down the aisle together while the beginning strains of Gabby Barrett’s “Rivers Deep” play over the speakers.
“I love her more than anything.” Remy never takes his eyes off them, and when they make it to the front of the church, there are more than a few people in the crowd already wiping at their eyes. The music fades, and Remy crouches down next to Nox.
Nox lets go of Parker’s hand to throw his arms around Remy’s neck. “I love you, Dad.” His voice echoes through the massive room, and I can’t keep the tears in anymore.
Needless to say, by the time the ceremony is over and we are walking out, there isn’t a dry eye in the building.
“I need a drink,” Vi mutters as we finish the last of the wedding photos.
There is more than a little agreement from the men and me. “Oh, I got you,” Emma calls out from the other side of the wedding party.
Then Linc’s little sister hikes up her bridesmaid dress and reveals the fact that she has four flasks strapped to the inside of her leg.
Dom chokes on air, and Remy has to slap him on the back.
When Dom finally catches his breath, he shakes his head. “You brought bootleg booze? To a party full of cops?” We all stare at her, but Dom isn’t letting it go just yet. “How did you even know to do that? How did you walk with that many bottles of alcohol? What happened here?”
Emma pushes past the obviously bewildered man to get to me and Vi. “What are you gonna do? Arrest me? Or do you want a drink?” She holds out a flask for him to take. “I’m a woman, Dom. We’re smart enough to be resourceful when we need. And I knew I was gonna have a need for alcohol before facing the masses. The masses being our friends and family while I look like a sad and fluffy cloud.” She takes a giant drink from the flask in her other hand, while still waiting for him to make up his mind.
“I’ll take one.” Remy grabs one for himself, and Linc grabs another. Pretty soon, there is only one left, and Dom is staring at his hands like he’s missing out.
Since we are out in the woods, too far to get a drink without a hassle, Dom does the smart thing. He shuts up and drinks the bootleg vodka out of the flask Emma had strapped to her thigh. Just like the rest of us.
We start walking through the field back toward the reception area, and everyone drinks except for Parker, who eyes us jealously.
Cain, who hasn’t spoken at all during the entire conversation or walk, eyes Emma up and down. “I think I need to introduce you to Mayhem.” He nods toward the reception area. “If you can carry that many bottles on the inside of your thighs without anyone noticing, I think we need to get you in a pair of skates on the track.”
“No,” Dom insists suddenly, burping after his exclamation. “She’s not doing it. She’ll kill me out there on skates.” As soon as he realizes that he’s spoken aloud, his face flames and he turns away.
“I think it’s a great idea.” Linc eyes the two of them suspiciously before turning to Cain. “Seriously. Get her on some skates. Maybe she can save my honor.”
“Oh!” Parker claps her hands together. “Let’s go to Galloway Bay. I want to try, too. It’ll be so much fun.”
“You’re not allowed.” Cain shakes his head wildly. “You’re gonna have a baby soon. You’re not getting on skates.” He nods at Remy’s dark expression. “Don’t worry. I won’t let it happen.”
“I want to do it.” My voice is a little lower than I think it will be, and I hadn’t realized how nervous the thought of skating makes me. Especially since Parker sent me a video of the derby team in action. They are fierce, powerful, and everything I don’t feel like I am anymore.
“I think it would be great for you,” Linc says right next to my ear, moving in so that he can wrap his arm around my waist. “You look beautiful, Kennedy. Just like always.”
It is the first real moment that we have together, in the quiet, since we found out about the wedding. We’ve been so busy helping everyone else that I forgot how much I need him. Him and quiet.
“I don’t want to stay for the reception.” I lower my voice so no one else can hear.
He kisses my forehead. “Me either. Wanna get some fresh tacos that aren’t on the floorboard of my truck and go home for a movie?”
“Fuck, yes.”
He laughs. “Let me handle this.” And he kisses me soundly on the lips.
“Kennedy and I are leaving after the first dance.”
Everyone else is quiet while they process his announcement.
“What?” Cain’s eyes go wide for a second. “That’s an option?”
Linc shrugs, looking at Parker and Remy. “We’re leaving as soon as it’s done. I don’t care if it’s allowed or not.”
The music starts, and the bride and groom are introduced for the first time.
Linc spins me around the dance floor, and then he buys tacos and takes me home.
Just like he promised.