by Toni Aleo
I laugh when I see everyone is wearing paper hats and blowing paper horns. Soon, I’m in the middle of all my friends as they hug me and pat my back. Someone puts a crown on my head and then a sash with very girlie writing and glitter that reads “Bride to Be!” Someone hands me a beer, and then Jayden is clearing his throat.
“Now, now, now,” he hollers as Aiden and Everett bring in a huge, wrapped box. “Our boy has decided to get himself an old ball and chain,” he says through laughter. “Some of you don’t know what it is like to be married, so let me explain.” He waggles his brows at all the single guys before meeting my gaze. “She’s always right. She’ll drive you nuts. You’ll never love anyone the way you love her. And just when you think you can’t love her any more, she’ll give you a child. Communication is the key to happiness. But my biggest advice… When those pregnancy hormones hit, just sleep on the couch. But-but-but…” he says, trying to quiet everyone down as they cheer and catcall. “Make sure there is room for her. To Hoenes! May you and Posey live a beautiful and fulfilling life together.”
Everyone toasts me, and I grin as I take a long pull of my beer. Then Coach walks up to the box and pulls off the wrapping to reveal a grill. “Every husband needs a grill. We expect a barbecue since most of us aren’t invited to the wedding.”
I’m overcome with emotion, but I’m a bit bashful too. “In my defense, this wedding has been a whirlwind, but it would mean the world to me if you all would be there. You guys are my family, my brothers, and my wedding wouldn’t be complete without you.”
“There will be tacos and margaritas!” Wes announces, and everyone explodes with cheers before I’m wrapped up in another bro-hug. The last time we hugged like this was last year at the Cup final. There is a good chance we’ll do it one more time in the next twelve days. I feel we’ll win, but if we don’t, not only do I have the best family of brothers, I will have the woman of my dreams as my wife.
What more could I ask for?
Chapter Eight
Posey
My family home is full of all the strong, phenomenal women I grew up admiring.
Harper is helping Mom and Shelli get ready. As Piper does my makeup, Reese does my hair. Grace is on the phone, yelling at someone about how they set up the chairs in the field. My grandma hasn’t stopped crying. Seriously, she has a box of tissues under her arm, bawling that I am getting married. To my surprise, my mom doesn’t match her; she’s actually keeping it together pretty damn well. The day is still young, though.
Amelia sits on the bed, ready, with one of her twins in her lap. The other twin is in my newest cousin Sofia’s lap. She’s also ready, in a stunning yellow floral dress, showing the world why my cousin Ryan is totally obsessed with her. Ally sits on the floor beside me, her feet in my lap as she wires flowers to the headpiece my mom got me. I didn’t even know I was having a cake until Audrey Odder showed up, not only to get ready but to finish my cake. Fallon, Aiden’s mom, is actually helping her since it’s all so last minute. I told them they didn’t have to, but neither listened to me.
I didn’t even know how much I needed to be around these women until this moment. I still can’t believe it’s about to happen. It feels like I have a million butterflies in my belly. I’m almost light-headed, and I have gooseflesh all over. I am so excited, terrified, and a little sad. I wanted so desperately to call Tina and beg her to come, but I didn’t want to go against Boon’s wishes. Even Wes said it wasn’t worth the call or text. I don’t know what that means, but it sucks. I just want Boon to be happy. I want him to feel whole. Can he do that without his mom watching him give himself to me, and me to him?
I also can’t seem to fathom what the real issue is. I thought we were getting along just fine. She was so kind when I was recovering, helping and being attentive. She called weekly to check on me, texted daily. But something changed, and I don’t know what it is. My stomach hurts from the tension of it all, but Boon was so reassuring when we woke up this morning. He kept saying how he can’t wait to marry me. How this is going to be the best day of his life, and I agree—it will be.
My sister stands from where Harper had just curled her hair to perfection in the way I love it. Small curls, all wild and free. I grin over at her, and Piper’s annoyed with me since she is trying to make the perfect cat eye. “Woo-hoo, sexy lady!”
Shelli giggles as everyone catcalls her. My mom asked for all the women in my life to wear floral to go with the lace of my dress. My sister took it one step further, not that I’m surprised. Her crop top has a beautiful halter neck and is made of lace. The floral skirt fits her waist tightly and flows beautifully. I know she has a pair of red-bottomed shoes by the door, along with my mom’s and mine.
Like a blessing, I get to wear the shoes from the day my mom got married. They were a gift from my dad, and they’re stunning. They are specially made Louboutins with the red bottoms, but they have glitter on the heel and back before a nude mesh on the sides leads into more glitter. The date my parents got married is embellished on the right shoe, and their initials are on the left. I’m a little worried my heels will sink in the field, but Mom says she has these guards she’ll put on my shoes to make sure that doesn’t happen. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Shelli flips her hair, posing as pictures are taken by the photographer Harper brought with her. Shelli comes over to me, kissing my cheek before heading out of the room. “Gotta go warm up my voice,” she says, grabbing a guitar that is leaning against the wall. “Aiden and I have something special for y’all.”
My heart warms. They wanted to sing for Boon and me as I walk down the aisle. It’s incredibly sweet. “Don’t expect the same. I can’t sing for shit.”
She laughs. “Nope. Just be ready to dance.”
In unison, Ally, Amelia, and I all groan. Sofia just laughs. “Do you not want to do it?”
“No,” I say simply, giving her a “Come on” expression. “No one wants to do a group dance.”
She giggles. “I think it’s cute.”
“I am going to be the size of a beach ball, while she is a mini beach ball. There is lifting, there is dabbing, and there is some arm dance thing. Let me tell you, I go into labor, I’m blaming Shelli,” Amelia complains, and I snort with laughter as Piper goes back to my makeup. When my grandma walks over, taking my hand, I have to fight laughing at her. She’s a ball of tears.
“I just can’t believe my baby girl is getting married.”
“Believe it, Grandma. It’s happening.”
“You’re too young, just a baby.”
I side-eye her. “You got married at eighteen.”
“I was an idiot.”
Everyone starts laughing as her fingers lace with mine. “Liar. Y’all have been together like fifty years.”
She smiles at me in the mirror. Everyone says I look like her, but I don’t see it. Maybe the eyes, but the rest of me is my mom. I’ve always been Grandma’s favorite, though. We’d cook, craft, and just hang. Golden Girls is our jam, and I even gave her the log-in to my Hulu so she can still watch it. She’s always said I had an old soul. As I hold her hand, feeling the wrinkles, I’m so thankful I waited to do this until she could be here. I want her to be here.
“Want to know the secret to a good marriage?”
I beam at her. Piper is carefully putting glitter on my eye, and I swear I’m gonna look like that ice queen Shelli played way back when on Broadway. “Sure.”
“Always hide the receipts when you go shopping.” Oh, this is going to be good. Everyone is laughing, agreeing, as she holds my gaze. “Always make sure he is full. Carry snacks—I swear, they can act like toddlers sometimes. Plus, when you’re hungry, then you have snacks.” I grin widely, and for some reason, my eyes are welling up. This kind of advice doesn’t just come at any time. No, it’s special for a special day like this. “Never let him have the remote, or you’ll be stuck watching hockey, SportsCenter, or anything that deals with any sport at all.”
Mom giggles as Sofia nods
. “It’s so bad!”
Grandma nods, but I grin. “Grandma, I love sports. It’s okay.”
“Okay, ignore that one. But my last bit of advice, my sweet, beautiful girl,” she says slowly, her eyes burning into mine. It’s almost like staring into my dad’s eyes. She’s so beautiful.
“Yeah?”
It’s like everyone is waiting too. The girls have stopped getting me ready. Mom and Harper are listening intently instead of finishing my mom’s hair. All eyes are on Grandma.
With the widest smile and such excitement in her eyes, she says, “Blow jobs, honey. You have to suck that cock like a porn star, and I promise you’ll get everything you want.”
I think I just swallowed my tongue. Everyone loses their shit laughing. Except my mom. She cries out, “Jenna! For the love of God!”
Grandma just looks at her. “What? I’m not stupid. I know how you have Shea wrapped around your finger and how I have Mark.”
“That’s your granddaughter!”
She nods. “My knocked-up granddaughter. She’s obviously been around the bases a time or two.”
I can’t breathe, I am laughing so hard. The whole room is in a ruckus, and I am loving every second of it. When Shelli pops her head in, I’m crying, I’m laughing so hard. “What is happening?”
Grandma looks at Shelli with a straight look. “How do you keep a man?”
Shelli grins like a cat with a canary in her mouth. “Keep him fed and drained.”
“Jesus Lord!” my mom cries, but I’m lost in my giggles. I hold my belly as I laugh, and as I look around the room at everyone laughing and cutting up, it’s like growing up all over again. Yes, we had our dramas—people are human—but this is what I loved. The laughter, the comfort, and the love that my mom provides everyone with.
Once the giggles subside, it’s time to get my dress on. As my grandma and mom pull up my dress, both stopping to rub my belly, Shelli stands behind me to put in my floral headpiece. As they adjust and start to zip, I can see into the kitchen where Audrey has put together a beautiful masterpiece of a cake with lace designs and orchid flowers. If I’d known, I would have told her I only needed one tier, but she did three. Tears rush to my eyes at the outpouring of love I am receiving from all these amazing women. When my mom squeezes my shoulder, I take in a deep breath.
“All right, everyone! Come on! She’s about to see herself!” Mom yells as Shelli steps up to me with my shoes, helping me into them. Soon, everyone is running into the room. Amelia’s son Carter squeals in excitement, and I grin at him as everyone beams at me, tears in their eyes. “Okay, sweetheart.”
Why am I nervous? I hold my breath as I turn slowly, and the image that looks back at me… I don’t believe it’s me. My hair is up in a huge, slick bun with a thick braid wrapped around it. On the side is the comb of beautiful orchids. I may resemble the ice queen from Shelli’s Broadway show, but a Southern ice queen—even though that makes no damn sense. Either way, I’m stunningly beautiful.
“Wow.”
And that’s when my mom breaks down. She tries to hold in her sob as she wraps her arms around me, hugging me tightly. I close my eyes, holding my mom, and soon, everyone is hugging us. As each woman wraps her arms around me, I have never in my life felt so loved, so supported, or so cared for by a group of women. These women raised me and grew up with me, and again, I am glad I waited. Because my heart container is full, and I haven’t even seen my groom yet.
How in the world am I going to handle seeing Boon?
We ride as a convoy to the field. Grandma, Mom, Shelli, and I all ride together as Shelli warms up her voice. I don’t know what she is going to sing, but I am excited. My sister sings like an angel. When Mom comes to a stop at the bottom of the hill, I notice that outside, my dad is waiting by his truck. My lips quirk as she parks, but before I can get out, Mom chastises me loudly. “Wait a damn second. We need the photographer.”
Shelli snorts as Mom gets out and gets everyone in place. I know my dad is trying to see me, but Mom has the darkest tint she can have on her SUV. My dad looks dapper in a gray suit that fits him like a glove. His hair is brushed to the side, and he’s wearing dark sunglasses over his eyes. That is, until Mom yells at him to take them off. I laugh as he does as she asks, but then we’re all laughing when she comes to the door saying, “Shit, Grandma is right about the blow jobs.”
Grandma grins. “Damn right.”
We’re still laughing as Mom helps me out. Instantly, I’m thankful she was right about her little disk that she put on my shoes, because I don’t sink into the ground. I hear the click of the camera as I walk around the SUV with my mom into view of my dad. Within seconds, I am thankful for the waterproof makeup Piper used. My heart explodes in my chest as tears start to fall down his cheeks. I don’t know if it’s because I’m the spitting image of my mom on her wedding day or if it’s because his baby is getting married. He wraps his arms around me, kissing my jaw, and I hold on tight as he whispers, “I can’t believe I have to give you away.”
I melt in his arms as I hold him even tighter. “I love you.”
He pulls back, looking at me. “I love you, sweetheart. My God, you’re an angel.”
My lips wobble. “I can’t believe it’s happening.”
“Shit, you and me both, kid.” He then kisses my forehead, and I know that’s the picture that will hang in my living room. When he laces our fingers, guiding me to his truck, he helps me in so we can drive over to the back of the seating area and then walk down the aisle together. Shelli is mad we didn’t use her idea of riding in on horseback, but I quickly reminded her that we all play hockey and no one has ridden a horse in their damn lives.
Though, seeing Boon on a horse would have been the funniest thing ever.
As we drive up, I look over at my dad. It’s obvious he’s barely keeping it together. “Dad, can I ask you something?”
He looks over at me. “Turn the car around?” he asks, but before I can even stop him, he whips it to the left, and I laugh loudly.
“Dad! You’re gonna piss off Mom!”
He laughs as he turns the truck around once more, getting back on the road behind the rest of the cars. “Fine, what is it?”
“Do you know why Tina isn’t going to be there?”
He swallows hard as, around us, everyone parks their cars. He stops so they can get set up and looks over at me. “I do, baby. But I told Boon I wouldn’t tell his business.”
I nod. “But he confided in you?”
“He did, and I think I gave him good advice.”
“She didn’t want him to marry me, did she?”
He bites his lip, watching as my mom and the other members of my family head the rest of the way to the chairs. He sighs heavily. “No, baby. She didn’t.”
I press my lips together. “And we’re sure he’s up there, right?”
Dad chuckles lightly. “He is. He’s ready. He loves you, baby. So damn much, which I’ll admit, made me hate him less.”
I snort. “You don’t hate him.”
He gives me a look that says otherwise, but then we’re both laughing. He covers my hand with his, squeezing it. “You’re gorgeous, Posey. Stunning, really.”
I beam at him. “Thank you, Daddy.”
Before my dad can answer me, Owen is in the window. “Hey. Wow, you’re pretty!”
“Hey. Thanks!”
He grins. “We’re ready.”
Dad takes in a deep breath, and Owen heads back up toward the gazebo. Dad looks over at me with tears in his eyes. “You sure?”
“Damn sure.”
He nods. “Well, let’s do this.”
Dad gets out and comes around to help me out. As I fix my dress, he hands me my bouquet that Ally made of yellow orchids and white daisies. I look up at him as our hands meet from the passing of the bouquet, and he brings his hand up to cup my face. “I have been preparing myself to give Shelli away since the moment I knew she was getting married. But with you, I know that
no amount of preparation would ever make me ready to give you away, Posey Rose.”
My lip quivers as I gaze up into my hero’s eyes. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, sweetheart.”
His lips come to my cheek, and I lean into his kiss with my eyes closed. When he pulls back, he tucks my hand into his folded arms and exhales.
“Well, come on. Let me go give you away before the angina kicks in.”
“Aw, I miss the angina. Is it finally leaving?”
He scoffs. “If I hadn’t played golf with that guy yesterday, it would be in full effect.”
We share a grin before heading up the pebbled path that leads to my aunt’s gazebo. The soft sounds of two guitars reach me as we get closer. When I hear Aiden’s voice, the song he is singing hits me right in the soul. “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. But then I hear Shelli’s voice, singing “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis. It’s amazing the way they take turns, both songs becoming one. It’s beautiful, and soon, the tears won’t stop flowing. When we arrive to where everyone is seated, I see the taco truck and the dance floor, but what I didn’t expect to see is the whole Assassins team. Everyone is grinning at me, so happy for us, and it’s overwhelming.
But then my gaze is captured by a certain pair of hazel eyes that are my future.
Just like that, everyone else is gone.
All I see is him.
My forever teammate.
Chapter Nine
Boon
I’m utterly speechless and completely breathless as I gaze into her eyes. Posey is stunning, perfect, and I can’t believe this is the woman I get to marry and spend the rest of our days together. “I will love only you,” I promise, my hands shaking as they hold hers. “No one can, or ever will, compare to you. I promise to love you, cherish you, and make you smile. When you’re sick, I’ll take care of you. When you’re happy, I’m happy. You guided me to love. I never knew how to show affection, how to be emotionally available, until I met you, and I thank you for that. Each day, you make me feel things I’ve never felt, and man, I can’t get enough. Posey, you are the best part of me, and I am so lucky that you want to love me, let alone spend the rest of our lives together. I love you, lovely, and I always will.”