by Smoke, Lucy
Cody chuckled and then winked my way. “See you soon, lady-love,” he said.
I groaned and rolled my eyes. “That’s not going to become a thing from you, is it?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Probably not. I like your name just fine, but if Donovan hears about it…”
My eyes widened and I reached for him, intent on wheedling a promise never to tell Taylor about that stupid name when he was interrupted by the arrival of my father.
“Oh, um, pardon me, there…son,” my dad said awkwardly.
Cody nodded to him. “No apologies necessary, Mr. Houston. We’re thankful you could make it today.”
“Yes, I—um, I appreciate you all still wanting me to be here despite, um, some things I may have said last night.”
Cody shook his head. “We wouldn’t have it any other way.” He turned back to me. “See you on the other side, Jamie.”
I sighed and waved him on, taking my dad’s arm as the music began to play. Roxi moved up in line, waited for her cue and then blew me a kiss as she moved out and started her long trek to the altar.
“Thanks,” I whispered to my dad, “for being here. It means a lot.”
My dad looked down at me and then took my hand firmly in his, holding it in the crook of his elbow. “I assume your mother spoke to you last night when I was...indisposed.”
I chuckled at how he worded it but nodded.
He sucked in a breath as our cue rang out with the changing beat of the music. “I’ll always be here for you. Rise or fall, Jamie,” he said as we took a step into the church and the first of many happy tears fell from my eyes as he led me towards the future I had always wanted but never knew was possible.
“Thank you, Dad,” I whispered.
He didn’t reply but merely squeezed me to his side as the doors into the chapel were pushed open. I looked up and met four pairs of eyes. Each of them shining. I smiled around a full throat as Dex’s face slackened with shock and then he straightened and held his breath as I approached.
Dare couldn’t seem to gather himself up in the same way, however. He stared at me as though he had never seen me before in his life and it almost made me laugh. Taylor, on the other hand, did make me laugh when I slid my gaze to him. He winked and then wiggled his eyebrows, letting me know exactly what he was looking forward to tonight.
I laughed quietly, my shoulder shaking even as I held back the tears. My eyes fell on Cody, the last, but never the least of my boys. Men, I reminded myself. My men.
“I think I got lucky,” I whispered to my dad.
“What?” He looked down on me as he pulled me to a stop at the end of the aisle.
“I can’t believe I’m getting married,” I said. A few family members in the front rows chuckled—a combination of mine as well as the guys.
“Well, believe it,” Dex said as he descended towards us. He took a moment to take my hand and then give my dad a nod of acknowledgement. “Thank you, Mr. Houston. You won’t regret this.”
My dad puffed out his chest. “I better not,” was all he said, causing Dex to smile and nod again.
“What’s this about luck?” he whispered as we reached the altar.
I looked at him for a moment and then past him to the rest of the guys, all of them handsome in their suits. “I got so lucky with you. All of you.”
Dare grinned back me. “You sure did, Sweetheart. And believe us, we got lucky with you too. You’re our lucky break.”
“Now, hurry up and say ‘I do,’” Taylor said, “so we can get to the good stuff.”
“We’re not there yet, son,” the officiant said with an amused chuckle.
I laughed and turned to face the man. Dex held my hand as the officiant started us off. He was wonderful and gracious for a rather unusual wedding. I was sure he’d never seen a wedding party with all of the men giving their own vows. And when the time finally came, the resounding ‘I dos’ from each of the guys had me biting my lip to keep from sobbing like a baby.
In the end, though, as a single tear slid down my cheek and the officiant announced it was my turn, I looked at them and smiled as I said the two most important words in my life.
“I do.”
About the Author
Lucy Smoke is an indie author that focuses on romance of many genres - including, but not limited to, reverse harem, science fiction, fantasy, contemporary, dark romance, and new adult romance.
She lives in the Carolina region of the United States in relative simplicity with her dog, Hiro, and a plethora of stuffed penguins.
Only in her wildest fantasies did she ever truly think she would become an author. But now that her wildest fantasies have been brought to life, she endeavors to come up with more stories that satisfy her increasing need to put tears in people’s eyes and her name on their shelves.
To learn more, you can visit any of the social media outlets in search of her name or visit her website at www.lucysmoke.com
Also by Lucy Smoke
Other Contemporary Works:
Iris Boys Series (completed)
Now or Never
Power & Choice
Leap of Faith
Cross my Heart
Standalones:
Expressionate
Wildest Dreams
Otherworldly Works:
The Dark Maji Series
Fortune Favors the Cruel
Blessed Be the Wicked
Twisted is the Crown (Coming Fall 2019)
Nerys Newblood Series
Daimon
Necrosis
Resurrection (Coming Soon)
Sky Cities Series
Heart of Tartarus
Shadow of Deception
Sword of Damage (Coming Soon)