Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
People we’ve known throughout different phases of our lives fill the loose, airy tents the guys helped me put together this week.
“Are you enjoying the day?” Hope stops and curls her hand around mine, then Charlotte’s. “Do you need anything?”
“No, Mom, we’re good.” I grin at her as she shakes her head.
“I’ll allow it since it’s your wedding day.” She sighs.
Rock joins us, holding Grace in his arms.
“What do you think, little sister?” I tease my finger over one of the puffy sleeves of her dress. “Are you having fun?”
“Yeth.” She grins at me.
“Hard to believe she’ll be an aunt in a few months,” Hope says, a smile flickering over her lips.
I catch Rock’s eye. “Nah, seems about right.”
Charlotte and I continue circulating through our guests, but as the night goes on, we’re drawn to hanging out with my New York brothers.
“You look spiffy.” I run my gaze over Dex’s tailored pants and button-up shirt under his cut. “I’m honored you dressed up for us.”
“I’m not a total heathen.”
Grinder walks over and holds out his hand, giving mine a quick shake. “Never thought I’d see this day, Teller. Congratulations.” He leans in to give Charlotte a quick kiss on the cheek and they step away to talk for a bit.
Murphy joins us, holding a now sleepy baby Brittany. Dex reaches out and traces his fingertip over my niece’s cheek with a fond smile curving his lips. “Tire yourself out, little one?”
“It was like she was waiting for the right moment to let loose,” I say.
“True story,” Murphy says. He turns to me. “You mind if I take her inside?”
“Of course not,” Charlotte says, returning to my side. “Things are still all set up in Alexa’s room if you want to chill there.”
“Thanks, ginger twinny.” He leans in and kisses Charlotte’s cheek before leaving.
“You don’t have to be the hostess on your wedding day,” I whisper to Charlotte.
She flicks her eyes skyward. “Don’t meddle in the affairs of gingers, husband dear.”
Dex cough-laughs and pounds on his chest. “You’re something else, Charlotte.”
“Thank you.”
An arm curls over my shoulders, tugging me backward. Wrath. He pulls Charlotte closer in a much gentler manner. “That’s what I love about Charlotte. Knowing she’s calling Teller out on his shit twenty-four seven gives me endless joy.”
“Endless joy,” Grinder mutters, shaking his head. “You sound like a hippie.”
Charlotte sputters with laughter. “That’s not true. You didn’t like me at first.”
The amusement slides off Wrath’s face and he releases us. “I didn’t know you. Now I do. You’ve proven yourself. And you sass Teller relentlessly. What’s not to love?”
“Thanks, big guy.” Charlotte pats his arm. “The feeling’s mutual.”
He gives Charlotte another affectionate squeeze, then walks off to talk to Chaser and Mallory over at their table.
“He made your life miserable at first, didn’t he?” Grinder asks Charlotte.
“I wouldn’t say miserable,” Charlotte answers as if she’s trying to come up with a nicer word.
“He definitely tortured Hope more,” Dex says.
“Hope?” Grinder’s eyebrows shoot up.
“Charlotte grew up around an MC.” I nod to Merlin who’s standing on our patio talking to a few of the guys from Downstate. “Hope didn’t.”
“Merlin,” Grinder grumbles, sliding a stink eye in his direction.
Charlotte half-shrugs. “We can’t help the families we’re born into.” She tilts her head back to shine her smile on me. “It’s the family you choose to love and make a life with, that matters.”
“Without a doubt,” I agree.
We seem to have lost Dex’s attention. I turn and follow his line of sight straight to Serena, her friend Emily, and Emily’s younger sister Libby.
“Why don’t you go talk to Emily instead of eye-fucking her from all the way over here?” I ask.
Dex scowls at me.
“Marcel,” Charlotte scolds.
“Still got that famous tact, I see,” Grinder says.
“What?” I shrug. “It’s my wedding day. Charlotte said I don’t have to be polite.”
Charlotte steps away from me, shaking her head. “I said no such thing.”
I pull her back against my side. “No? I swore I heard that somewhere.”
Dex chuckles. “That’s for the bride. Not you.”
“Hey,” Charlotte protests.
“Forget Teller,” Grinder says, slapping Dex’s chest. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to not be having this conversation right now,” Dex answers in a flatter tone than usual.
“She’d want you to move on, don’t you think?”
For fuck’s sake, I can’t believe Grinder’s bringing up Dex’s dead wife at my wedding. I can’t let Grinder keep on emotionally torturing Dex. I place a hand in front of Grinder in a “back off” gesture. “Ease up, old man. Let’s let everyone enjoy the evening.”
Grinder looks at me, then Dex. “You’re right. I just want to pass on whatever wisdom I’ve picked up. No matter how small.”
“Thank you, Father Time,” Dex sneers.
In a gentler tone—well, gentle for Grinder—he adds, “Since I’ve been out, all I’ve seen you do is work and help your brothers, Dex. It’s admirable. But you need more. Don’t let guilt rust you up so tight, you never move forward. Take chances. Move forward. Rust or ride.”