I sighed. “Are you trying to get rid of me, Drake?”
“Of course not. I just don’t want you to keep the bride waiting.” He stuck his head out of the bathroom. “You seriously need a nap, Angel. You’re starting to sound like a cranky bitch. It started just outside of the Nevada state line.”
I gave him the finger and turned toward my room. “Nice. I’ll talk to you later, asshole.”
Strong arms wrapped around my waist before I could reach the door. “Don’t leave mad,” he murmured against my ear. My shiver was involuntary, making my entire body come alive. “I’m sorry I called you a bitch...” he kissed the back of my head “...but you have been cranky.”
I closed my eyes. He was right. I had been cranky. The events from the night before and this morning kept replaying in my head, and I wanted to hit something. I had been stupid and now I was paying for that stupidity.
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” I leaned into him for another few seconds before pulling away. “I’ll try to do better,” I promised, shooting him a forced smile over my shoulder.
Lucy and I met Layla and Emmie downstairs. There was plenty of time to shop for dresses since Layla wasn’t looking for the typical wedding dress. “Just something beautiful,” was her only requirement.
Emmie, having been to Vegas a few times, knew some really good boutiques that didn’t cater to the trashy and nasty. We all found something pretty to wear, except for Lucy. She required an additional stop. I loved Emmie’s silver dress. It ended about mid-thigh and showed off her milk filled breasts beautifully. My own was a shimmery blue that was a little more conservative in length but just as daring at the bust. I had them and tonight I wanted to make sure that Drake realized I had them too.
Nothing compared to Layla’s dress. It was creamy beige and hugged her curves, letting everyone see her for the goddess she was. The sheer happiness shining from her big chocolate brown eyes made my breath catch when I saw her after we had all showered and gotten dressed.
A car was waiting for us down stairs. Lucy tugged at her blue lacy dress, not used to wearing a dress at all. “You two look beautiful,” Layla murmured as the car pulled into traffic.
“Not nearly as beautiful as you, Layla,” I assured her, blinking back tears. “I’m so glad you’re happy. No one deserves it more than you.”
“Stop it,” Emmie scolded gently. “Don’t you two dare start crying! It took me forever to get my makeup just right.” But she was already blinking rapidly, tears filling those big green eyes of hers. Mia cooed between us, letting us know that she wanted in on the conversation too. It broke the serious moment and we all laughed, wiping away the tears that had escaped. Before I knew it, the car was pulling to a stop outside an adorable little chapel.
It was white, and more serious than some of the other chapels in Vegas. The man and woman that ran it had been married for fifty-two years and only married people they deemed truly in love. If they couldn’t see how in love Layla and Jesse were, then they were blind.
Emmie left us in the back of the chapel for a few minutes while she made sure everything was perfect. When she returned she was without the baby and all smiles. “Okay. How would you like to do this Layla? Do you want one of the guys to give you away?”
She bit her lip and glanced from me to Lucy. “No. I think Lana and Lucy should walk me down the aisle. We kind of come as a full package anyway.” She blinked, fighting tears again. “Will you give me away, girls?”
“Of course we will, silly.” I kissed her cheek, careful not to mess up our makeup.
With Emmie leading the way as the matron-of-honor, we walked Layla down the aisle. As we started the short walk, I looked at the front of the chapel. Jesse was all smiles at Layla, the same light shining from his unusual, ever changing eyes.
Beside him stood all three of his band brothers: Nik, Drake, and Shane. I couldn’t help but linger on Drake as my eyes took them all in. Their suits looked new and they probably were. Drake Stevenson looked hot as hell in a pair of ragged jeans and a thread bare tee shirt, but in a suit that looked like it was made just for him? Oh dear Heaven above!
As Lucy and I handed our sister over to Jesse Thornton’s safe keeping for eternity, I was unable to keep my tears at bay a second longer. My sister was so happy she was trembling. Jesse’s fingers actually shook as I put my sister’s hand in his. The owner’s wife discreetly offered me a tissue as I took my place behind Emmie, and I dabbed at my damp eyes.
By the time Layla had said, “I do,” Emmie and I were both quietly sobbing. The owner’s wife tossed rose petals at the happy couple as they walked back down the aisle. I started to follow after them when Emmie rushed into Nik’s arms, sobbing.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry. I love you. I want to get married.”
“Ah, Em!” Jesse called from the front of the church. “Couldn’t you have waited a day or so longer?” But he was grinning.
Emmie shook her head. “I don’t want to get married in Vegas. I want to do it right…Not that this isn’t awesome, Layla,” she was quick to correct, “but I want a small wedding back at the house…” She looked up at Nik with hope in her big green eyes. “Will you marry me, Nik?”
He laughed, his ice blue eyes glazed with tears. “Yes, Emmie. I will marry you.”
--
Lucy was exhausted by the time I carried her up to our room. After the wedding we had gone out for dinner and Emmie had pulled out all stops to get us the VIP room at one of the most exclusive restaurants in all of Las Vegas. There had been a full buffet waiting on us as well as a two tiered cake.
I hated to admit it, but Emmie could probably rule the world with her cell phone in hand if she wanted to.
After dinner, Nik and Drake sang one of the band’s new songs as Layla and Jesse shared their first dance as husband and wife. I spent more time watching the way Drake’s fingers strummed across the strings of the acoustic guitar, mesmerized as he played so effortlessly. And his voice! Good heavens his voice made something deep inside of me melt.
From the first time I had heard him sing, I had wondered why he wasn’t the band’s frontrunner. He just shook his head and told me that he didn’t like being front and center on stage. He liked playing from the sidelines.
When Lucy had fallen asleep at the dinner table, I knew it was time to call it a night. Layla and Jesse had taken off for their honeymoon suite more than an hour before and Emmie and Nik were making noises about following. I had hoped that Drake would come up with me, but he had promised Shane a night on the Strip. So with a heavy heart, I had picked up my sleeping sister and carried her up to our room.