Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
She glares at me. “Juniper, are you trying to start shit with your maid of honor on her big day?”
“Pretty sure you mean my big day.”
“It’s not always about you, June.” She scoffs. “Anyway, back to the important shit—aka Bethany banging Seth’s dad.” She laughs, but then her eyes turn very serious. “I don’t know if you can come up with something wild to do in the next five minutes so your whole thing isn’t boringgg in comparison, but we’re going to have start brainstorming now if we want to figure it out before you walk down that aisle.”
“We’re good, Ave.” I grin. “Truth be told, I think coming to terms with the fact that I’m actually marrying your brother is wild enough.”
Avery nods, her eyes narrowing. “Are you sure you wanna go through with it? He’s so…Beau. I can totally call for a getaway car and have us out of here in no time.”
I grab her hand in mine, smiling. “I’m sure. In fact, him being ‘so Beau’ is my favorite part.”
She wrinkles up her nose and shoots to standing. “Suit yourself.”
Her black dress fits her body perfectly, and she looks as beautiful as ever as she hands me my bouquet before picking up her own.
“Avery.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m also really excited that you’re going to be my sister.”
She winks. “Yeah, obviously. That’s the best part. Now, let’s do it before another brawl breaks out.”
I nod, and she grabs the back of my train to help me down the stairs. Neil waits at the bottom, ready to escort me, even though my dad is here in the crowd with Lola, and my mother is also sitting somewhere with her latest boy toy she apparently met in Antigua. I’m glad they made the effort, my dad arriving earlier on the beach in his helicopter and my mother showing up via her guy driving them in a neon-green Lambo, but Neil Banks is the man who should walk me down the aisle. I’m certain of it.
“Oh, Junebug,” Neil says softly at the sight of me. “You look so beautiful.”
Avery clears her throat, and Neil smiles. “You look beautiful too, Avery, of course. I was just complimenting the bride specifically.”
Avery snorts. “Like there’s some law that you can only compliment the one in white? Get real, Neil.”
“I love you guys so much,” I cut in to say. As weird as it sounds, this is exactly how I pictured this part too. Avery and Neil and Diane and Beau—they’re my family. After today, that’ll be official.
Avery hugs me quick before sniping, “You bitch. You made me cry.”
I smile. “It’s worth it this time.”
Avery shoos me away with her hand. “Okay. Shut up. Time for me to do my thing down the aisle so you can follow.” She turns to Neil and points a finger in his face. “She’d better not fall, Daddy. It’s your job to make sure of it.”
He gives her a thumbs-up. “You got it, honey.”
“And don’t do that,” Avery says, nodding toward Neil’s offending thumb. “Ever again.” She turns on her heels and steps up to the back patio door as soft violin music starts to play.
She walks on her cue, and I wait inside, my arm clutched in Neil’s and my breath shaking. I can’t see Beau yet, not with the way the back is set up. We put plexiglass over the pool and a white runner and flowers down the aisle, and all the guests sit on each side in white-bow-festooned chairs.
The altar is at the front, with the beach in the back, and even though I can’t see him, Beau is waiting up there too. For me.
He’s waiting for me.
Neil pats at my hand. “Love you, Juni. I’m a proud man today and a proud man every day. Thank you for blessing us with your gifts. Beau couldn’t have picked anyone better.”
A tear pricks my eye, and my nose stings with the fight to stave it off. I can’t believe in just a few short minutes, Banks is going to be my last name.
The music shifts to the “Wedding March,” and Neil goes through the door first, holding a hand back for me to take next. I step through and arrange my dress, and after one more deep breath, we walk to the edge of the patio and out into the sun, where everyone can see us.
The guests are on their feet, and Beau stands at the altar, his friends beside him in a row. Avery stands on the other side, waiting for me, her face a natural smile of pure happiness at the sight of me.
She may joke like it’s otherwise, but Avery is quite possibly the biggest believer in love of all of us.
Beau’s smile is wide, his happiness undeniable as he takes me in. Neil starts to walk, holding tightly to my arm, and I tread carefully down the professionally constructed aisle.