Elaina

by Jennifer Hanks

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. You think it has anything to do with the jackass who broke into her house?”

  “I’d bet my job the two are linked, most likely the same guy.” I could hear the frustration in his voice.

  I bit the inside of my cheek before asking the question I think all of us were wondering. “You don’t think it could be Julie do you?”

  “I considered that, but why, what’s the motive? She has you as far as she knows and the break in, cutting up her bras and shit, that sounds like a man to me.”

  “True.” I agreed.

  “What about the guy she was dating awhile back?”

  “Trey?” I asked.

  “Yeah. Has he been around? Called her at all?”

  “I have no fucking clue Cam, remember, I’m the piece of shit who as far as she’s concerned is dating my ex again and fucked her over. There’s no way in hell she’d tell me if anyone was bothering her.”

  “Jake…” He sounded apologetic.

  “Save it Cam.” I raked my hand through my hair. “I’m not going to quit on the plan, but I need someone to keep her safe if I can’t.”

  “I’m putting Pike on it. I’ll call him with the new information and have him watching her more closely.”

  “Thanks.” I muttered.

  “You doing okay?”

  “I guess as good as I can be.”

  “Thanks for doing this brother. It really means a lot.”

  When I didn’t answer, he continued. “See you Sunday, right?”

  “Dinner?” I hadn’t even thought about it. “Yeah I guess so, I mean if I can come.”

  “I got a message from Brody earlier that he wants us all there because he has something to talk about and he doesn’t want to do it more than once.”

  I pulled the phone away from my ear and saw I had a message that I hadn’t listened to. “I see a message on my phone. I’ll be there.”

  “See you then.”

  “Yep.”

  I hung up and looked around my jobsite, happy with our recent progress, making it easy to not have to put in extra time this weekend. I’d been working a lot of overtime to avoid going home because when I’m there, I stand at the damn kitchen window and stare at her house, wanting to go over, to make this shit right. Bray’s been spending a lot of time with my folks and they’ve been watching Lexi too, so Bray’s been distracted, although every night when we finally get home, no matter how late it is, he asks to see Lanie. I’ve been telling him it’s late and she’s already sleeping, but I have a feeling I’m going to break one of these times and we’re both going to show up at her door.

  I quickly listened to the message from Brody, which was exactly what Cam had already told me and sighed.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  JAKE

  “We’re getting married.” Brody announced after the food had been passed and everyone was talking. It was the Sunday dinner we were all summoned to and Cam wasn’t kidding when he said Brody had talked to everyone. My entire family was in, including Grace, who I hadn’t seen since we were all in that damn hospital waiting room. I’d been texting with her and she’d been in town to see Luke, but I was working so damn much, I’d missed every visit.

  “We all know that man, we were here when you proposed.” Ben spoke up.

  That was true. It wasn’t that many months ago that we celebrated Gia’s birthday and in front of all of us, he proposed to her. That was also when she told him she was pregnant, so it was a pretty exciting birthday and one I’m sure neither of them will forget.

  “We’re getting married next weekend.” Brody said calmly like he hadn’t just created a storm in the room. I waited for it and wasn’t disappointed.

  Words like, “What” and “Why so soon” flew around the room, but Brody held up his hand and shook his head. “We want to be married before the baby comes.”

  Dad rubbed his hands together. “Well, that doesn’t give us much time to plan, but we can do it, right Anna?”

  “We don’t want anything big. I actually wanted to go to Vegas, but Gia wants to have it here and have Lexi in it. That made sense so here it will be.”

  Mom gulped, her attention now focused solely on Brody. “Here, as in here at the house?”

  “Yep.” Brody said, assuredly.

  Gia rolled her eyes. “Anna, we don’t have to have anything here. We’d been talking about it and decided we wanted something small at the church and then an equally small reception and Brody…”

  “I think having a reception here makes the most sense, the wedding too now that I think about it.” Brody interrupted.

  “I do too, son.” Dad agreed.

  “Is that what you want Gia?” Mom asked.

  She smiled at Mom. “I just want to marry Brody. I don’t really care where that happens.”

  Mom returned her smile. “Okay, well then we have a lot to do in a week.”

  Grace clapped, Lexi sitting on her lap clapped too, laughing. “I’m so excited. This will be so much fun. Do you have a dress yet?”

  Gia shook her head. “No, I’ve been looking at one in the bridal shop’s window for a month now, but never went in.”

  “Why not?” Grace asked.

  Gia looked around the table at all the girls. “I was kind of hoping you guys would all go with me.”

  Kasey squealed. “Oh this’ll be so fun! I love looking at wedding dresses.”

  “Me too! Just tell me when and I’ll be there.” Sydney agreed.

  “Same for me.” Lucy spoke up, a huge smile gracing her face.

  “I go mama?” Lexi’s small voice quieted the room.

  Gia smiled at her. “You bet Lex and you can pick out a brand new dress there too.”

  She clapped her hands. “Bway go?”

  I looked at the seat next to mine where Bray was pushing his truck around his plate, bored with the adult conversation, but listening enough that he wrinkled his nose. “I no weah dwess, wecksie.”

  Dad slapped his hand down on the table before erupting in laughter, the rest of the family joining in.

  “Since we decided to keep it small, I’m going to have Bella be my maid of honor. I’d love to have all of you, but I feel like that may get too big and complicated.” Gia said, apologetically.

  “Don’t worry about that Gia,” Grace said waving her hand in the air and all the girls nodding in agreement. “I’m glad you’re having Bella and I can’t wait to see her again.”

  “Me neither.” Gia said. “It feels like so long, but it’s only been a few months.”

  Bella is Gia’s best friend who still lives in Las Vegas where she lived and worked until she came here in search of Lexi’s daddy.

  “And Lexi of course is going to be a flower girl, but we were hoping,” She glanced at Kasey, “that Mia could be one too.”

  “I’ll wear a dress mommy.” The excitement in Mia’s voice was clear.

  “I think you have your answer.” Jax laughed, swinging his arm to lay on the seat behind Mia’s head.

  “Thank you, Mia.” Gia said sweetly before her gaze met mine. “Jake, we were hoping Bray would be the ring bearer.”

  “I no weah dwess.” Bray spoke up, still pushing his truck across his plate.

  I laughed and leaned down, putting my hand around the back of his neck. “You won’t wear a dress, bud. You’ll have to wear a suit though.”

  He looked up, thoughtful, his little face set in concentration before dropping his head back down to his truck. “Otay.”

  I chuckled. “I guess that’s settled.”

  Gia smiled, relief evident on her face and I wondered if she thought we’d say no, but from what I knew of her history and her family, I shouldn’t really wonder.

  “Wanie tum daddy?”

  I looked down to see my boys’ face upturned, his eyes on me, and I closed my eyes slowly, only opening them when I heard Gia speak.

  “Of course she’s invited Braydon. We all like Lanie very much.”

  Bray’s head swive
led until his gaze settled on Gia. “I wuv Wanie. She sweeps a wot.”

  Gia’s eyes flicked to me for an explanation and I realized Brody hadn’t shared what was going on with me and Lanie, or me and Julie actually. What a fucking mess and now my kid’s been missing her, it seems, as much as I’ve been.

  “I’ve been working late.” I explained. “Until we get home at night it’s late. I explained to Bray that she’s probably sleeping.”

  “That makes sense.” Gia smiled.

  I met Brody’s eyes and he frowned, probably thinking the same as I was and how the hell we were going to handle this without telling the girls and Bray anything that’s been going on. He seemed to shake it off and turned to face Jax.

  “You up for being my best man?”

  Jax smirked. “You know it, brother.”

  “Okay. Well.” Mom glanced between all the girls. “Looks like we have a wedding to plan and less than a week to do it.” She stood from her seat and motioned towards the living room, just off the dining room where we were all currently sitting. “Let’s go girls. Gia’s going to give us our orders.”

  Lexi squealed when Grace jumped up from her seat, still holding Lex and running towards the living room, even going as far as pretending to push everyone out of her way.

  “Ti-ti!” Lexi laughed. “Top, Ti-ti.”

  “I still cannot believe she already has a nickname for Grace, like Ti-ti and doesn’t call the rest of us anything.” Jax complained.

  “It’s even more insulting that she calls Pike, Unky, and none of her actual uncles, Unky.” Chris joined in.

  “Oh, quit your bitching.” Brody teased.

  “Boys.” Mom’s voice from the doorway to the dining room interrupted our bitch-fest. “You’re on dish duty.”

  A series of groans and complaints circled the table. My eyes shifted around the table as my brothers stood and starting stacking dishes until they landed on my dad and he winked, his day made by the announcement of a wedding, the knowledge another baby is on the way, and having just had dinner with all of his kids and their significant others.

  I circled the table with my brothers until my dad came to stand beside me. “I hope to see Lanie here again soon.”

  I looked over, eye to eye with the best man I’ve ever known and answered honestly. “I hope for that too, dad.”

  He slapped me on the back and smiled. “Then make it happen son.”

  “I wish it were that easy.”

  “It’s always that easy.” He said.

  “Not always.”

  He wrapped his large hand around the back of my neck and leaned in close, his blue eyes full of support like they always have been. “It will be when the time is right. You do right by your brothers and then you bring your girl home to you, Bray and your family. Give her what she needs, but has never had.”

  “You know about her family?”

  He nodded, his blue eyes full of sympathy. “Yeah son I do, Luke told me.” He shook his head. “Never knew my life without family, never want to, and lucky for us we have enough to share.”

  “Jake, get your ass in here and help!” Ben yelled from the kitchen.

  “You’re just pissed because your manicures getting ruined washing the pans.” Chris teased, but then his voice grew serious. “You better know what you’re asking for if you throw that on me, baby brother.”

  I closed my eyes and let my head fall back, knowing Chris just poked the bear by calling him baby brother. I heard a lot of commotion before I saw Ben running through the dining room, laughing, rounding the table before going out the sliding doors to the back yard with Chris and Cam hot on his heels covered in water and soap suds. How the hell he got them both I have no idea, but I couldn’t contain my laughter when I heard my dad’s rumble in his chest before breaking loose.

  “Jack, seriously?” My mom’s voice traveled from the living room, sounding a little exasperated and a little like she was laughing at the same time. “Will you please take care of those boys?”

  Dad let out another chuckle before he headed out the sliding doors, to I had no doubt watch my brothers roll around, beating on and teasing each other until they tired themselves out.

  Yeah, I wanted to give this to Lanie.

  And I will, just as soon as I’m able.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  LANIE

  I twisted around the skirt of my dress, looked in the mirror, and sighed. I did not want to go to this wedding, and at the same time I did. Gia had called to invite me, and I had initially thought I’d find a way to politely decline, but I’d started working this past week on the website for Sydney’s coffee shop, “Joe’s” and she’d been over, along with her friend and business partner, Maddie a few of the days and she’d somehow found a way to convince me to go.

  I’d also spent the last week avoiding my best friend and trying my hardest to never look at Jake’s house. Because of that I’ve been at home almost the whole week, hiding, afraid if I left I’d run in to him or worse him with her, in the driveway or something, so I reverted back to my old ways and stayed home cuddling Beasley. He of course didn’t seem to care one way or another if I was there or not, but I convinced myself he’s only happier when I’m home.

  Seeing Jake with Julie brought to life my fear from the beginning when I met him that he would eventually come to realize we were too different and move on. They also share a child so their bond must be even stronger, but if I was being honest, I miss Bray as much as I miss Jake and I’ve been kicking myself for getting so close to both of them.

  A final look at the clock showed me my time was up and I needed to get moving if I wanted to make it on time for the ceremony. I thought it was so romantic that Brody and Gia decided to get married in the exact spot he asked her to marry him only a short while ago, and from what she’d said when she called on Thursday to invite me, all the girls, including Anna had pulled together to make it happen. Of course they had, that’s the kind of family they are, it made me feel amazing that they even thought to include me on such a special occasion.

  I cocked my head looking at my appearance in the mirror and surveyed the end result of some effort on my part. My navy blue dress was loose fitting and flowy, stopping at my knees. I really liked the off the shoulder design, and it had long sleeves in the same loose flowy material because it made me feel sexy, especially when I added silver heels with a strap hooking around my ankle. Dressing sexy or enticing wasn’t usually my style obviously, but today I considered it my armor for what I knew I was about to face. I had no idea if Jake planned to bring Julie, part of me thought he would, although I knew from what everyone else said, she wasn’t their favorite person.

  I walked to the side door off the kitchen and called for Beasley, who was sitting by the door, welcoming the shade of the garage, as always. I also thought it was romantic that they had planned an evening wedding. They would be saying their vows as the sun went down. I wasn’t sure anything could be more beautiful than how I envisioned this wedding would be.

  I was careful to lock up and set my alarm. Even though nothing more had happened and Pike checked on me regularly, I was still anxious sometimes when I’d come home alone. Maybe that was another part of the reason I’d been staying home, feeling safer if I never left. I drove to the Dimarco’s home, slowing when I saw the number of cars already parked. I smiled to myself, thinking Brody was going to be a little annoyed by the number of people in attendance. After talking to Gia, she said they’d kept it a little quiet because he’d originally wanted to fly to Vegas and have a quick ceremony, just the two of them. They’d both decided to keep it small from what she’d said, but then the list grew on its own as she and Anna started planning. Even if he was annoyed, from what I’d seen of Gia and Brody, he wouldn’t care as long as she was standing beside him.

  Parking on the street, I locked my doors and made my way around the side of the house, following the chatter of people, coming to the wide opening of their backyard decorated beautifully
in whites and red. White streamers decorated nearly every corner of the spacious back yard. White chairs were set up in rows with tall white vases standing at the end of each row holding blood red roses. Round white tables and white chairs were set off to the side of where the ceremony would take place I assumed and a wooden dance floor had been built in the lower half of the yard, a DJ already there and waiting. Red rose petals were scattered all along the tables and along the white runner placed on the ground between the rows of chairs. It was magnificent in its simplicity. I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful setting for a wedding and a reception.

  People were already seated, so I carefully chose a seat towards the back, avoiding the seats up front, leaving them available for family. I watched as people came, talking and laughing, sitting with family and friends and for the first time in a long time, loneliness overwhelmed me. I used to feel it all the time, before Paige and even sometimes during our friendship, but I hadn’t lately. I looked down at my lap and rolled my bracelet through my fingers, wondering not for the first time what my life would’ve looked like if I’d been blessed with this kind of family, or at least with a parent that wanted me.

  I felt a warm hand touch my shoulder and I looked up, smiling when I saw Luke looking down at me. “Will you sit with me?”

  I nodded, the words stuck in my throat, him having caught me at a vulnerable time, lost in my thoughts, mad at myself for thinking things couldn’t be different no matter how badly I wanted it.

  He put out his hand. I slipped my hand into his warm one, and stood, following him to the second row of seats, where he ushered me in before he sat at the end of the row.

  He leaned over and whispered in my ear. “You doing okay?”

  I turned my face until we were close enough to continue talking to one another quietly. “I’m okay.”

  His eyes scanned down over my dress before landing back on my face. “You look beautiful Lanie.”

  God, he was sweet. Why couldn’t something happen between him and I? Why couldn’t I feel for him what I feel for his brother? “Thank you.” I smiled softly. “You look very handsome.”