“Same place that’s making our wedding cake. I admit, the lady at the shop had the idea. She just told me to tell her a little about each of us, so I did. She came up with these. I’m glad you like them,” he murmurs softly.
“Yes, sugar bear, I like them very much,” I promise, then his lips are on mine again.
19
Wilbur and Milton are here, but have kept to themselves in the kitchen, even though I’ve insisted over and over they join us. The DJ is playing music softly, while Max and I walk around saying hello to our guests. Bella and Garrett, along with Raleigh and their dad, RJ, are here. When Case and Skye arrive, they say hello to us before heading to get a drink at the bar, then they join Bella and Garrett, and Raleigh and RJ. Johnny and Macie arrive not long after, and join me and Max. Something big is going down here. Johnny leans in and gives me a kiss on the cheek, while Max does the same with Macie.
“Can’t believe it, brother. You’re getting married. So happy for you both,” Johnny says. Johnny is just as handsome as Max. His unruly, shoulder length, dark hair fits his tough SWAT team personality ideally. His skin, like Max’s, is a beautiful olive and, like Max as well, he’s built like a Mac truck. He’s wearing a snug fitting short sleeve snap down denim shirt, so I’m guessing he somehow got wrangled into going to the mall with Max and the other guys under Bradley’s direction as well. Bradley should give up his hardhat with McGinty Construction and become a personal shopper. He’s that good. He’s wearing tight jeans with black cowboy boots, and red and white shirt with a funky pattern. Of course, he’s left a couple of extra buttons undone, as well as leaving it un-tucked. His sleeves are rolled up all the way up to his bicep and, like Max’s, his muscles are dying to rip the seams right out of his shirt. Connor is wearing gray very stylish slacks, black sneakers, and a nice dark blue V-neck t-shirt.
“Yes. Congratulations, you two,” Macie adds sweetly. She’s worn a very short black skirt with stilettos and, a sequined silver halter top. She has long thick and amazing brown hair, with natural red highlights, and it’s pinned to the top of her head with a few trundles falling carelessly, yet perfectly, around her beautiful face. Her hazel eyes are so unique with yellow and gold specs and those, along with her full pouty lips, make her breathtaking. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Macie was an angel here on earth, as she always seems to be carrying a glow.
“Thank you,” I reply.
“Yeah, thanks,” Max affirms.
“You look beautiful, Macie.” I lady swoon, and she blushes.
“Thanks. So do you,” she responds, then leans into Johnny when he slips his arm around her shoulder and pulls her closer into him. One of her arms wraps around his back, the other slides across his abs and rests there, like that’s the very reason God made them. Oh yeah, something serious and real is in the works here.
“Hey, have you seen Mom and Dad?” Johnny inquires.
“No. I hope they’re okay.” Max removes his phone from the back pocket of his blue jeans and swipes the screen. “Let me call them and see where they are,” he mutters, concerned. But before he’s able to even hit the button, the door of Holloway’s opens, and in strolls Acer and Ana. Max and Johnny let out a string of curses, while Macie and I both gasp.
“What the fuck is Dad thinking letting her out of the house like that,” Max moans in pain. I’d scold him for making that chauvinistic statement, if I didn't find the whole thing so funny.
“Holy shit! I’ll never un-fuck-ing see this,” Johnny groans.
“Holy cow,” I murmur. Ana has got to be the hottest woman in the room. This is not the dress she tried on at the shop, but she did buy more than one, so, yeah, wow.
“Wow,” Macie whispers. “Johnny, your mom is…”
Before she can finish her thought, Johnny’s eyes snap down to hers and he places his hands in a praying position then aims them at her. “Please, do not finish that sentence,” he begs, and Macie’s lips twitch as her eyes dance with laughter, but she doesn’t finish her sentence as requested.
Ana is wearing the highest gold heels I’ve ever seen, and a nude colored mesh dress with strategically placed sequined patterns to cover areas that need to be covered, and not get her arrested. Her hair is in a long braid that’s pulled over her shoulder. Acer is not wearing his normal t-shirt and jeans. Well he’s wearing jeans, but has on a white, long sleeved button down tapered shirt, with the sleeves rolled up his forearms, leaving his tattoos on display.
“Hey Mom,” Johnny chokes on his words, when Acer and Ana step over to us. “Um, I have a jacket in the car if you’re cold,” he offers, and Ana glances at him with humor in her eyes.
“Yeah, Mom, you seem cold,” Max agrees. “Johnny, go get it for her.” He all but demands.
“No problem,” Johnny replies, and takes only one step towards the door, before Acer halts his quest.
“Your mother isn’t cold, boys, but if she does need to be warmed up, I’m here. Don’t you worry,” Acer declares sternly, while holding Ana close to him. Macie and I giggle, when Max and Johnny nod at Acer’s unspoken warning for his sons to get a grip.
“So, is everything okay? I was about to call,” Max asks, concerned, and attempting to change the subject from his mom’s barely-there outfit.
“Yeah, you’re late. Car problems?” Johnny inquires, while reviewing everything in the room to keep his eyes off his mom’s dress.
“Sons, do you really want to know why we’re late?” Acer asks, and Ana giggles and slaps him on his chest.
“Nope!’ Max rushes out.
“For the love of God, it’s none of our business,” Johnny groans.
“You asked?” Acer smirks.
“I retract my question,” Johnny barks, then turns and stares at the bar like it’s a life raft. “Getting a beer. Anyone else?” he asks, as he prepares to make his getaway. I’m genuinely amazed Max did not hightail it first.
“I’ll help,” Max adds.
And, there it is.
20
Macie and I laugh, along with Acer and Ana, over Johnny and Max’s reaction before Macie excuses herself to go say hello to her great-grandpa, Chief, who’s just arrived.
“Ana, wow,” I gush, then glance up at Acer. “And might I add, you’re looking very dapper yourself, sir.” He smiles at me, and I blush.
“Thanks doll,” Acer replies and chuckles. Acer is a very handsome man, with long blonde hair that he keeps mostly in a ponytail, and a somewhat lengthy goatee. He has blue eyes and wears silver rings, one a skull, on almost all of his fingers. Johnny and Max favor him so much, only they have Ana’s dark hair and eyes. If this is what my sugar is going to look like when he gets older, I’m more than okay with that.
“Where are your mom and dad?” I ask, and he glances back at Holloway’s door.
“They were about ten minutes behind us. Didn’t think there was a woman in the world that took longer to get ready than Ana. I forgot all about my mom.” He chuckles, and Ana gives him a teasing punch to his stomach.
“Uff.” He jokes, and grabs his waist like he’s in pain.
“Behave,” Ana pretends to reprimand Acer. While we’re all laughing, the door opens, and there they are.
“Okay. I’m going to go say hello.” I adore that Ana and Acer are still madly in love. I hope Max and I are the same way when we’ve been married as long as them.
“Okay, sweetheart. We’re going to get a drink and then we’ll be over. Do you want anything?” Ana inquires.
“A Bud Light?” I reply.
“You got it,” Acer responds.
I walk over to welcome Mason and Sophia, and a few moments later Max joins us. Soon, Acer and Ana walk over, and Acer hands me a chilled pint of beer. Sophia is in cowboy attire, and it matches her husband’s look. She’s wearing an off shoulder, brown embroidered dress, with long skirt and wide tan leather belt. She tops it off with dark brown cowboy boots, and turquoise jewelry, while Mason is in his jeans, boots, leather belt with huge belt buc
kle and tan long sleeved, snap up western shirt, and white straw cowboy hat. We all talk for a while, us introducing them to my family, and then we all make a trip to the bar for a drink.
“I doubt you two want to be hanging out with two old fogies. Go,” Sophie instructs, after Ana and Acer step away to speak with my dad and Violet. “We’ll talk later.” she says.
Max begins to protest, but then Mason speaks up. “We got all night, son. Go visit with your friends,” he encourages.
On that, Max and I walk around and visit with our friends. We stop and talk a while with Bradley and Connor, and they surprise us when they tell us they’re not only thinking of building a home near Jesse and Allie, but also that they’ve been researching adoption. Bradley and Connor will be amazing parents. They have an abundance of love to give a child. They also offered to have our flowers done as their wedding gift to us, so we talked about that for a while too. He said they know “people,” and after I saw what his friends did for Allie, I was all in. Betsy Kay and I met with him, and I told him what I would like.
He describes my bouquet, explaining it will contain soft pinks, some peach, as well as white, and the flowers will be tulips, roses, orchids, accented with eucalyptus, and Peiris will make up a traditional round bouquet. He shares that smaller one will be made and used for the bouquet toss. Similar arrangements will set as center pieces for all the tables, along with the guest book table. Abigail’s bouquet will be all pink and peach roses, and the rose petals that Callie will spread are pink, white and peach. The women’s corsages are lilies and peach roses, while the men will wear a single white rose, but Max’s will have two roses–one white, one peach.
“Hey everyone!” The DJ calls out to get our attention. “I’m Magic Mike,” he announces. “No relation to Channing Tatum, though people get us confused all the time,” he jokes. Magic Mike is a short Hispanic man, with a rounded belly and bald head. “First, congratulations Jaycee and Blue,” he cheers, and the others join him while clapping. “I’ll get to say that again at your wedding, as I’ll be your DJ that day as well. I hope you all came ready to dance. Ladies and gents?” he asks, and we all holler yes’ in agreement.
For the next couple of hours, we dance, eat and cut the cakes. Our parents have ruled the dance floor, because they bribed Magic Mike to play music from the genre. I didn’t take them for the disco type and maybe they’re normally not, but tonight they sporting moves like I’ve never seen, and as funny as they are, I’m not sure I want to see them again. Of course, we do some line dancing, and everyone hits the floor to do the Cotton Eyed Joe. But the night’s two favorites were Cocoon by Milky Chance and Love Shack by the B-52s. Between fast dances, slow country waltzes, and two-steps, Magic Mike has us grabbing partners to hit the floor. Everyone has danced with everyone. But Grandma has been the bell of the ball, and her dance card has stayed full all evening. I imagine her feet will be sore tomorrow. I haven’t seen her smile like this since before Grandpa was diagnosed with cancer.
I’m at the bar sipping on my drink with Kore and Bella, when Magic Mike announces he’s going to set up for karaoke, but first we’re going to toast. At the tables, my uncles and dad begin popping the tops off all the bottles of champagne. The glasses are filled and passed out, as Johnny and Abigail take the stage holding their own glasses, while Max makes his way to me holding two. I take one glass from him, and we walk to the front of the room near the stage. Max stands behind me, one arm around my waist as we wait. When they get to the center front of the stage, Magic Mike steps forward and positions the stand holding the microphone, in front of them.
“This is will be short and sweet, because we’re both saving the good stuff for the wedding toast,” Johnny gestures to Abigail, before draping the arm not holding his glass of champagne across her shoulder. “As, not only the maid of honor and best man, but as the brother and sister, we just want you both to know how happy we are for you.”
Abigail then leans into the microphone. “Not just us, but everyone here.” she says, and the rooms cheers.
“We just want you to know that there’s not a doubt in our minds that this is meant to be,” Johnny says seriously. “The two of you are an inspiration to everyone here,” he goes on.
“You’ve always inspired me, sissy,” Abigail says with sweetness, and my breath hitches. What a beautiful thing to say.
“So just know, we’re happy for you and we all love you both,” he concludes, and raises his glass along with Abigail. They both lean into the mic and salute, “To Blue and Jaycee!” The room shouts out, “Blue and Jaycee,” and we all enjoy the chilled bubbly, then we’re on to karaoke.
Magic Mike insisted, along with all our guests, that we sing first. I’m so nervous I’m shaking. Max and I sing together in the car and at home, but mostly I sing alone. I’m not as good as him, by far. My Max can sing. Max takes my hand, and gives me encouraging tugs towards the stage. When I see the chicken wire, I grin. It’s perfect for the fun country dancehall feel of Holloway’s. When it comes time to pick a song, Max asks Magic Mike to play When I Said I do. I love this song. Magic Mic hands us each a microphone and when the music begins our eyes never stray from the other’s as we sing. It’s an intensely beautiful moment between us, that has the outside world drifting away. I try with all my might to hold it together, because I’ve already reapplied my makeup once and I sure as heck don’t want my guests to see what I saw in the mirror earlier, because it was truly terrifying. I make it through with dry eyes, and after we hand the microphones back to Magic Mike, Max pulls me into a kiss that has my foot lifting off the ground. And just like that, he’s swept me off my feet, again.
Next up are Ana, Lei, Dali, Katrina and McKinley. While they sing We Are Family, all the women and Bradley hit the dance floor. We end up doing The Bump, which Bradley also taught me and Abigail. Next, Jesse and Allie sing, Let’s Make Love, and the room goes silent except for the two of them. No one takes the dance floor as we soak in their love. I’ll never get over how breathtaking those two sound together. Mason surprises us all when he sings, Whiskey River, by the legendary Willie Nelson. We all rush to the dance floor, grabbing whoever is closest for a partner. I end up dancing with Jake, while Kore dances with Nick, and Abigail pairs up with Max. I manage to glance around as Jake turns us, and see the dance floor is packed and no one is with who they came with, but they’re all having a good time.
Later, Garrett drags Bella on stage, and they let Magic Mike pick a song. When he chose, Endless Love, Bella smiles, but Garrett groans. “Had to be done, brother,” Magic Mike explains, laughing, and Garrett nods in understanding. We all know, Endless Love, is a must on karaoke night. Bella sings like a beautiful shy songbird, and this seems to surprise Garrett. Once he hears her hesitant, but lovely voice, an atomic bomb exploding behind him wouldn’t get him to tear his gaze from her. Of course, Garrett’s voice is country-rock-star spectacular, and when he begins to use that striking talent of his to harmonize with Bella, it’s so pretty. We all stand back and watch as they fall even more in love. I manage to glance at RJ, and when I do my hand flies to my heart as I witness a heavy sheen of tears in his eyes, but a beautiful proud smile on his face. That family is the real inspiration, because they’ve literally been to hell on earth and back, separated by hate, but now bound by love.
When Macie walks onto the stage, she sways a tiny bit when she leans in and whispers in Magic Mike’s ear. Magic Mike smiles, and leads her to the microphone and stand. She’s a bit tipsy and giggling, but when Johnny walks up and stands just on the other side of the chicken wire, his huge frame almost blocking her from everyone else’s view, she steadies herself and grips the microphone as she sings, Cowboy Take Me Away. Max holds me next to him tight, and I smile as we all watch Macie sing her dreams to Johnny. Her walls, gone, thanks to him not giving up on her, even though she pushed him away over and over. Abigail has her phone out and is recording the entire thing, with a stunned expression on her face. As soon as the song is over, Johnn
y walks to the side of the stage where the stairs are, and waits for her. When she’s within his reach, he takes her hand and guides her to the door. She almost stumbles in her attempts to keep up with his hurried long strides. Before they walk out, they shout their goodbye which we all return, then Magic Mike announces last call.
Nash, who has done nothing but lean against the bar all night and drink, suddenly shoves off the side and prowls towards Raleigh. When he reaches her, he glares down into pretty eyes and she glares right back up at his angry ones. Her date, Don, who we met when he arrived a little later than everyone else, studies the two of them then steps closer and protectively in front of Raleigh. Nash snarls at Don, then stomps across the room and out the door.
“Fuck,” my dad groans. “He’s been drinking all night. He’s got my truck too,” he grumbles as he rushes for the door.
I watch Dad as he all but jogs to the exit, then I turn back to the room and my eyes catch on Raleigh. She’s staring after Nash and her eyes are glassy. She glances down at her dress and shakes her head. It’s a chocolate brown sleeveless dress, that sits mid-thigh. Compared to the rest of us, her dress would seem conservative. But it’s not, and that’s because it’s leather, and hugging every inch of her body. She sighs as she turns and surveys the empty door, with sad but beautiful eyes and a frown. “Oh Raleigh, I’m sorry my brother is such a stubborn ass bull. He thinks he’s protecting you,” I say to myself. She was definitely trying to get Nash to notice her tonight, even though she was here with Don. We all saw that, and we also saw that Don didn’t seem bothered by it.
Don leans in close to Raleigh, and says something only she can hear. She stares at him for a couple of moments, seeming to contemplate what he’s said, then takes off for the door in a panic. Her high wine-colored heels are hindering her, so she grabs onto a nearby chair and quickly pulls them off, letting them fall to the ground, and this all while Don watches with a grin. “Thank you, again,” Raleigh calls back to him before continuing for the door. Don chuckles and gives her a wave she doesn’t see, then walks over and puts his empty glass on the bar and begins for the door, along with a few of our other guests.
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