Knots_Jinx and Wyatt's Wedding

by Olivia Devon

  He stretched his neck, rolled his shoulders, and turned to head back to the house. That’s when he saw her, his sweetheart, just beyond an outcropping of rocks, walking a ways down the beach. Wyatt raised a hand and squinted, yelled her name, but she didn’t look up, so he dug his phone out of his pocket and texted.

  Wyatt: Hey beautiful. Fancy meeting you here.

  He watched as she patted her pockets, found her phone and smiled, looking up to finally catch sight of him. He waved and Jinx waved back, and they each started walking toward each other. She stopped walking for a moment, and started tapping on her phone. His phone chimed with her response.

  Jinx: Quickie behind that sand dune? Whaddya say?

  Wyatt: Naughty girl. What would the Moms think?

  Jinx: I don’t care. I miss you.

  Suddenly his eyes were leaking. It was probably the salty air, or the sand, or the very narrowly avoided episode of anxiety. No way was he getting all teary about getting married. That wasn’t very macho.

  Wyatt wiped the dampness from his eyes and focused on the path in front of him, the one that led to her, his anchor. Jinx smiled again, picked up the hem of her skirt and started walking faster, nearly running now, down the beach. He picked up his own pace, felt the power knee kick on, and managed to meet her halfway, just as she reached the outcropping of rocks.

  They slammed together like waves on sand, limbs tangling and mouths offering fervent kisses. He reveled in her, felt all his distress washing away with each touch of her hand, each press of her lips.

  “Oh my god,” she said, breathless. Her hands were everywhere—in his hair, sliding under his shirt. “I missed you so much. I’m so sorry we…” She kissed his cheek. “Didn’t get to,” …she kissed his neck… “sleep together…” Her hands gripped the hem of his shirt and lifted, trying to peel the sweaty thing off his torso.

  “Hey, hey, hey.” He laughed and grabbed her hands, stopping her. “I missed you too, kitten but we can’t do that. No way, uh-uh.” He moved to hug her, but she braced herself against him and hopped up in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist before he could pry her off.

  “That’s crazy talk, cowboy. I want you, right here, right now. Giddy-up.”

  “No. Jun, babe.” He threaded one hand in her hair and tried to slow her progress down his chest. “Honey, seriously, I don’t want to.”

  “What?” She stopped kissing him and pulled her face back to frown at him. “Since when, you sex fiend?”

  “Since just now, when I saw you on the beach.”

  “The hell? Way to destroy a girl’s ego on her wedding day.”

  “No, babe.” He laughed and pulled her in for a kiss, claiming her mouth, pouring every bit of feeling into that kiss that he could muster.

  “Wow,” she said, when he finally pulled away. “That kiss is full of promises. Sure you don’t want to start delivering right away?”

  “Nope.” He shook his head. “I’m now on board with the Moms. I think we should wait. It’s romantic.”

  Jinx rolled her eyes and hopped out of his arms, her bare feet sinking into the sand beneath them.

  “Well if you’re going to get all gallant on me, the least you can do is walk me back to the house.”

  “Of course.” Wyatt held out his hand, Jinx wove her fingers through his, and together they headed over the dunes back to the house.

  “I’m ditching you before we get within sight, though,” he said. “I don’t want them to see us and get the wrong impression.”

  Jinx blew raspberries. “Who cares? What are they gonna do? Ground us from our own wedding?”

  Chapter Seven

  The Big Night

  “That’s it. You’re grounded.” Mama Mimi tapped her foot and folded her arms, studying Wyatt’s farmer-sunburn with irritation.

  “Mooo-ooom.” Wyatt sighed. “It’s fine.”

  “It’s not fine. Your face is all pink and you’ve got visible lines on your arms.” She grabbed his ear and Wyatt whined while she turned him around.

  “Lookit that!” She slapped the back of his head. “Redneck! And on your wedding day!”

  “Mom. Calm. Down.” Wyatt rubbed his neck and smiled. She could never resist him when the dimples came out, but he couldn’t whip those out too soon. If he flashed them right away, she’d catch on and hurl up the defenses, and probably get even madder. “Once I’m in the suit, no one will see the tan lines.”

  “It is a beautiful suit,” his mom said, crossing the guest room to the brilliant dark blue suit, waistcoat, and tie that Jinx had picked out for him. Mimi picked up the tie, rubbed the satin fabric between her fingers, and sniffed.

  “Mom?” Wyatt said, as he toweled his hair off. It was still wet from his post run shower, but even on the longish side, it would dry before the ceremony. “You okay?”

  “I just,” she choked up, brought a hand to her mouth and turned away, laying the tie down softly on a nearby table. “I just always wanted a daughter.”

  “Well, thanks,” Wyatt said, injecting his tone with plenty of sarcasm to tease her. He knew where this was headed and he wasn’t offended, he was delighted actually, but still, a guy had a right to bust his Mom’s chops, especially when she’d just accosted him over a sunburn.

  “Oh stop,” she said, waving off his comment. “You know I love you. But I always hoped we’d have another, a girl. But then your dad…” She sniffed again, and Wyatt crossed the room, gathered her into a hug, and kissed her on the top of the head.

  “I know Mama, I know.”

  “Ignore the tears,” she said, forcing a laugh. “I’m not crying about the daughter I never had, heck I’m not even crying over your father. I know he’s up there, looking down, watching everything from his front row seats.”

  “Then…”

  “I’m crying because I love her you idiot.”

  “Jun?”

  “Yes. She’s, well, I love her, honey, and I just wanted you to know that. I approve. She’s really wonderful.” Mimi reached up, combed her fingers through his hair to try to make some sense of the curls, gave up, and turned back to the blue suit still hanging on the armoire. “She sure knows how to pick a suit too. Beautiful color. Goes with your eyes.”

  “Something blue?” Aiko asked, fussing with Jinx’s hair in the mirror. “Do we have that yet?”

  “Uh…” Louise, their mother, scurried over from the other side of the room. “Let’s see, something old?”

  “Aunt Margaret’s broach, the one that belonged to Great Grandma, pinned to my garter,” said Jinx.

  “Right.” Louise nodded. “Something new?”

  “This dress, Mom!” Aiko said, exasperated. “Doesn’t get newer than a dress made the day before the wedding.”

  “Okay then…um…something blue….” She looked stricken. “I don’t think we have anything for that?”

  “Wyatt,” said Jinx, smiling at them both in the mirror. “He’s my something blue. First thing I ever noticed about the man were those beautiful blue eyes.”

  “Oh sweetie.” Louise held a hand to her heart, reached into her shirtsleeve for a tissue, and dabbed at her eyes. “That is truly–”

  “Disgusting.” Aiko said flatly. “Seriously, you guys are giving me diabetes. I can’t with all this sweetheart shit.” She flashed the peace sign and headed for the door. “I’m out, gonna hit the rum before we get this thing started. Only way to wash the taste of saccharin outta my mouth.”

  Jinx smiled at her sister’s retreating reflection. Not even Aiko’s bratastic attitude would ruin this day for her. She was marrying her cowboy. Everything was perfect.

  “Oh that girl.” Louise fluffed her daughter’s hair and caught her eye. “She doesn’t mean it, honey.”

  “I know mom.” Jinx caught her mother’s hand and kissed it. “She’s a little envious and a lot scared.”

  Louise smiled at her daughter stroked her hair and then draped her arms around her neck for a hug. “You’ve always had her number,
even when I didn’t. You’re right. She’s afraid of all that mushy stuff, as she calls it. But one of these days…”

  Jinx laughed. “You’re right Mom, one of these days. She’ll fall for someone and when she does, it’ll be epic.”

  Malcolm Blackwell stood on the balcony of Mr. Harrington’s Hamptons estate and surveyed the scene below him with a keen eye. They’d done very well, this little group they’d put together, the assortment of talents Jack had collected over the years. True, this wedding was nothing like Calvert Consulting’s usual jobs, but then, nothing this group did was ever typical. As far as Malcolm was concerned, any time this particular band of misfits worked in unison towards a common goal, he was happy to be a part of it. And what a worthy goal this was, to facilitate a ceremony that would lead to the lasting happiness of two people he considered dear friends.

  Jinx would be the loveliest of brides and Wyatt, a handsome groom. They were perfectly suited for each other. Yin and Yang, complementing each other, filling in the gaps where each were lacking.

  If only he could find such a match.

  Aiko came bursting out of the doors behind him like a pink chiffon tornado. She was beautiful. The dress, a style far more romantic and feminine than he suspected she would have picked on her own, nevertheless suited her. It brought out the color in her cheeks, and the delicate velvet rose pinned above one ear was decidedly romantic and thoroughly charming.

  “This fucking dress!” She cursed and turned in circles, grabbing the skirt up in fistfuls. “It’s pink! And as if that isn’t that bad enough, the thing keeps trying to kill me!”

  Malcolm inhaled deeply and found his center. Then he smiled and greeted Aiko, his counterpart at Calvert Consulting, his frequent partner in crime, and occasionally, his weakness. “Darling bird?” He said, raising an eyebrow in query. “What is the matter?”

  “I fucking hate when you call me that, freakshow. You know it. So, knock it off.”

  He ignored the request and moved to catch her elbow as she struggled with the dress. “By the way,” he said, “Did they inform you?”

  “Of what?” Aiko shrugged and glared at him. “What are you on about–”

  “Jack will be escorting you down the aisle. He agreed to be Wyatt’s best man.”

  “He did? I thought…I mean…whatever, jeez…” She trailed off, adjusted her dress, and cleared her throat, looking anywhere but at Malcolm.

  “You thought what? That Jack would decline, and Wyatt would ask someone else?”

  “Like I said, whatever.” Aiko twisted her mouth into a frown and rolled her eyes.

  Malcolm reached up and softly caressed the velvet petals of the rose above her ear. Then he leaned in, his lips pressed close to her head, and spoke again, his voice low and intimate.

  “Did you think he’d ask me? Did you want me to escort you this evening, darling bird?”

  She shivered, and he smiled. His hands fell to her bare shoulder, and down her arms to pull her hands into his own. He lifted them, pinned her in his gaze, and kissed her knuckles lightly, his eyes suggesting far more than his words had.

  She shivered again, more violently this time, as though she were trying to shake him off.

  “Goddammit,” she said finally. “I’m gonna ask Jack for my own office. I’m pretty sure creepy flirting at an employee’s wedding is good for at least half a dozen OSHA violations, you limey bastard.”

  Malcolm kissed her knuckles again, and released her hands. “Whatever you feel is necessary, Aiko my dear,” he said as he turned away.

  Silence. She hadn’t said a word, but he could still feel her presence. Her annoyance was so strong it radiated into the air around her and he could feel it rising, building until finally she snapped.

  She screeched, turned on one unsteady heel and flew back through the doors into the house.

  Malcolm smiled to himself, straightened his tie, and headed inside as well.

  Below, the orchestra began to play. The evening was beginning, and he hoped, before it was over, he’d hold Aiko in his arms again, if only for a dance.

  “Is that music?” Jinx gaped at her sister in horror. “Are they starting? I’m not ready!”

  “You’ve been living with the guy forever, sis, when the hell are you gonna be ready?”

  “No, you dork.” Jinx lifted the train of her dress and tip toed gingerly to a small nearby table. She picked up a blue velvet box and opened it, holding it so that Aiko could view the contents. Inside lay a tie tack and two cufflinks, multiple strands of shining platinum, twisted into an intricate knot.

  “Jeez you two are adorable.” Aiko grinned, produced a similar velvet box from behind her back and handed it to her sister. “Here, he got you something too.”

  Jinx set down the blue velvet box and took the one her sister offered, opening it gingerly. Inside, on creamy satin, lay a pair of earrings. Rose gold set with pink diamonds, they glittered softly in the dim evening light. Jinx removed one earring and held it up. “Knots,” she said with a teary smile. “He got me knots, too.”

  “Yeah, I’m sensing a theme for sure.” Aiko rolled her eyes and held out her hand. “Here gimme yours, I’ll go give it to him.” Jinx handed Aiko the box, finished putting on the earrings, and turned to admire them in the mirror just as the Moms came into the room.

  “Let the gushing commence.” Aiko waved at her sister and ducked out of the room as the Moms circled Jinx and cooed , dabbing at their eyes and clasping their hands over their hearts.

  Jinx was alone. The Moms had gone to take their seats, and Aiko and Mr. Yoshida were waiting for her outside. She’d asked to be alone for a few minutes to steady her breathing and collect her thoughts. Now she wasn’t so sure that had been a good idea.

  Her pulse was jumping like crazy, and she felt a bead of sweat roll down the back of her neck.

  She crossed to the window, pulled the curtain to the side, and peered out. The wedding arch looked beautiful, dripping with crystals and flowers and flickering lights. It was exactly as she’d envisioned. The guests were all in their seats, and Bryce was up at the altar, hands folded, feet tapping impatiently. Jack was there too, glancing at his watch. That’s when she noticed. Wyatt wasn’t there. He wasn’t up at the altar with the others.

  “Psssst.” A voice sounded from the doorway. “Babe! It’s me. Close your eyes.”

  She froze. “Wyatt? What are you doing? Did you see me?”

  “No,” he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. “I’ve got my eyes closed, too. Don’t worry.”

  “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be out there.”

  “I just needed to be with you,” he said, and she could hear him stepping into the room, then the sound of furniture being bumped into and a muffled curse. “Babe follow my voice, see if you can come over here.”

  “Wyatt, this dress is difficult enough to walk in with my eyes open let alone….oh alright.” She picked up her train, and scooted forward, trying not to lift her feet too much. She was headed to the left when she felt his presence—the heat off his body and the smell of his cologne, that unique combination of sexy that belong only to her man—so she redirected and bumped into his shoulder.

  “There you are,” he said, reaching out to pull her closer, up against his chest. Wyatt leaned down, nuzzled up her neck to her jawline and pressed kisses against her ear. “Oh you got them, the earrings.” He reached up and fondled her earlobe. “Do you like them?”

  “I love them.” She kept her eyes closed, but tilted her chin up and smiled anyway. “They’re beautiful. Did you get my gift?”

  He felt for her hand, dragged it up his chest and placed it over his heart, where she could feel the knot of the tie tack just under her palm.

  “I did,” he said. “And I love it.”

  The music changed, and they heard Aiko calling for them impatiently.

  “Time to go,” he said. Cupping her chin in his hands he kissed her softly but paused when he felt her tremble. �
�What is it?”

  “I’m nervous,” she whispered. “It’s crazy. I never get nervous. I want to marry you. It doesn’t make sense.”

  “It doesn’t have to make sense,” he said, pulling her into his embrace. “Just breathe.”

  She inhaled deeply and then sighed against his chest. Aiko knocked on the door and hissed them. “Come on, love birds, let’s get this show on the road!”

  “Ignore her,” Wyatt said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Just breathe, focus on me, and everything is going to be okay.”

  Jinx smiled and squeezed his hand as he stepped away.

  “Better than okay,” she said. “Perfect.”

  “Calvert, get a move on.” Aiko stepped into the room, Jinx opened her eyes a bit, and saw Wyatt’s tall frame retreating out the doorway and down the hall.

  “Time to go.” Aiko stepped forward, lifted Jinx’s bouquet from its stand on a nearby table, and handed it to her. “This thing weighs a ton. What are these? Lead roses?”

  “Aiko…” Jinx warned, raising an eyebrow.

  “Don’t worry,” Aiko said, as they walked out the door and down the hallway to where their father waited. “I’m on my best behavior from here on out.” Aiko stepped behind Jinx, lifted the edge of the train, and straightened it as Jinx took her father’s arm and peered out the doorway, trying to get a look at Wyatt through the sea of people.

  “Wouldn’t want to ruin my sister’s wedding day,” Aiko said, crossing in front of them to take her place in the procession. She turned over her shoulder and grinned at her sister. “Especially when I worked so hard to get you two together.”

  “What?” Jinx said, squinting at her.

  Aiko just smiled sweetly and watched the dance of facial expressions on her sister’s face as realization slowly dawned.