They weren’t high-tops, but they were sweet. I was definitely going to have to get some more of these.
Next, I reached for the jacket. It was royal blue, fitted, and made of velvet. I liked the color; it was vibrant, but not over the top. I felt like me when I stood back and gazed in the mirror at everything all together.
It was modern, but it was pulled together and nice enough for a casual wedding.
Running my hand through the blond strands of my hair, I adjusted the jacket once more as butterflies began fluttering around in my stomach.
I anticipated seeing Hopper. I knew I’d just seen him this morning, but it was hours ago. I missed his face. I missed his presence. I wanted to hold his hand and look at my rings on his finger. I couldn’t wait to marry him.
Lorhaven knocked on the door before sliding it open. I spun from the mirror, and my face split into a huge grin.
“Shut up,” he muttered, pulling at the tie.
He was wearing a traditional black and white tux.
“You look like a penguin,” I cracked.
Joey appeared seconds later, attaching an earring in her ear. “Leave him alone, Arrow. He looks sexy.”
I snickered, but she gasped and rushed over. “It’s perfect!” She turned to Jace. “Doesn’t he look perfect?”
“How come he doesn’t have to wear a tie and gets sneakers?” Jace complained.
She ignored him, turning back to me. Grabbing the lapels on the velvet jacket, she gave them a tug, then smoothed them out. Sniffling, her made-up green eyes connected with mine. “You look so amazing. I’m so happy for you.”
I tugged her against me for a hug, wrapping both arms around her back. “Thanks for everything,” I whispered.
She jerked back, swatting me. “Don’t make me cry.” I tried not to laugh as she fanned her eyes, trying to dry the forming tears.
“You look pretty amazing yourself,” I told her.
“Sexy as hell,” Jace half growled.
She smiled and did a little turn. “It’s not every day your brother gets married.”
Joey was dressed in a silver dress that hugged her curvy body like an ace bandage. It was short, ending at mid-thigh, and did this crisscross thing around her neck, leaving her shoulders bare. Her legs looked even longer than usual because the black stilettos on her feet had to be at least five inches.
Her hair was still pulled up, her makeup still on, with what looked like a new coat of something on her lips because they were shinier than before.
“One thing,” she said, walking over to a small bag and pulling out something square. On her way back to me, she folded it, then tucked it into the pocket on my jacket. “There,” she said, standing back to admire her work. “Perfect.”
Glancing around in the mirror, I looked at the handkerchief just poking out of the pocket. It looked like a checkered flag.
The hotel landline rang, and I stepped toward it. Joey practically hissed me back as she picked it up. “Hello?” She listened a moment. “Okay, thank you.”
After hanging up, she turned to us. “Cars are downstairs. Time to go!”
“What about Hopp?” I asked.
“I’m going up to get him. I’ll ride to the hotel with him. You ride with Jace.”
I blew out a breath. It was silly to feel nervous, especially when I was about to get everything I ever wanted.
“See you there!” Joey exclaimed, then breezed out of the room. How anyone could breeze around in shoes that looked like hers I would never understand.
Lorhaven went to the door and pulled it open. “You ready for this?”
A wash of calm came over me. “I’m ready.”
“All right then, little brother, let’s go get you married.”
The entire way through the hotel and to the limo waiting outside, I craned my neck for Hopp. He was nowhere to be seen. After settling back into the leather of the car, it glided away from the curb, toward the Aria Hotel, where we were getting married.
The next time I would see Hopper, we’d be standing at the altar.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect when we basically gave Joey free rein to plan our elopement in Vegas. Hell, I wasn’t even sure what I wanted in terms of a wedding. In all truth, I’d have been happy with one of those drive-thru chapels she forbade the second we announced a wedding.
I didn’t care about the details. I only wanted him to be mine.
We knew the location of the wedding of course, the size, the casual feel… but when the limo pulled up to the Aria, I realized something. As I stared through the tinted windows, I realized it did matter where we said our vows, only because something that was so beautiful to me should take place in a beautiful place.
And man, this place was amazing. And this was just the outside.
Joey was sitting against the leather seat beside me, her long, tan legs crossed over the other, with a wicked-looking pair of shoes strapped to her feet.
“This place look as impressive on the inside?” I asked.
“It’s better,” she mused. “But you aren’t getting married inside.”
My brow wrinkled. I glanced around. “Okay, maybe I should have asked for more details.”
She grinned, the wicked curve to her mouth matching her shoes. “Too late now.”
The driver opened the door for us. Gamble, who was sitting opposite me, went first. “I’ll meet you inside.”
He was gone before I could even nod. Joey and I looked at each other, neither of us making a move to exit the limo.
I cleared my throat. I was bad at this stuff. Instead of speaking, I reached between us and linked our hands. “Thanks for everything, Joey. For not giving up on me even when I gave you every reason to.”
“Family doesn’t give up on each other.”
“Thank you for considering me family.”
She smiled, squeezing my hand. “Always, Jay.”
“You’re my best friend. My only friend until recent months,” I admitted.
Her eyes glistened. “You’re my best friend, too.”
“I know I’ve let you down.” I began. Why I chose this moment to bring up all the shit with the hazing, what happened to her under my management, and how we ended up not speaking for a while I wasn’t sure. I just knew I needed to get it out before I got married. Suddenly, she felt like the final loose end in my life. I couldn’t have any loose ends anymore. I was tying a bow.
“We haven’t talked about that because we don’t need to,” she said gently, turning a little more toward me. “I was too stubborn and proud to tell anyone, and you were too lost in your own head to see.”
“I should have been there.”
“You were there. I just pushed everyone away. You know about that.”
I made a sound. “I do.”
“Everything turned out the way it should have. I’m happy. You’re happy. And we get to be family forever.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her close for a hug. “If you ever need anything, anything at all, come to me. I’m here for you.”
Pulling back, she sniffled. “Don’t make me ruin my makeup, Jay!”
I chuckled. “Thanks for being my best lady today.”
That got me a smile. “Nothing else is traditional about this wedding, so why shouldn’t your best man be a woman?”
“You’re way better looking than any best man I’ve ever seen.”
“C’mon.” She pushed on my shoulder. “We have a wedding to attend.”
“Wait,” I said, pulling out a square white box with a black bow. “I have something for you.”
Surprise lit her green eyes. Her hands hovered between us when I held it out. “This is for me?”
I nodded. “A thank you for everything you’ve done. For putting up with me. For being you.”
“Oh, so it’s a million dollars, because that’s how much I deserve for dealing with you.” She teased.
I felt my eyes crinkle at the corners. “It definitely isn’t a gift that
equals your worth, but I hope you like it anyway.”
Taking the box, she pulled it close, untied the ribbon, and opened the lid. Her small intake of breath was sort of like my sigh of relief.
Do you know how hard girls are to shop for? Especially when it’s your best friend, she’s totally rich, and is kinda a tomboy. But hell, you wouldn’t know that by looking at her tonight. Tonight, Joey was all woman.
“Oh my God,” she breathed out, dropping the lid of the box into the seat.
“It’s from me and Arrow,” I clarified, wanting to make sure she knew it was from both of us.
Her fingertips caressed the white gold, crystals, and diamonds. “This is absolutely stunning.” Her eyes came up to mine. “I was totally kidding about the million dollars, Jay. This is too much.”
I was quick to smile. “Relax, it wasn’t anywhere near a mil.”
“But the diamonds alone…”
It was a wide cuff bracelet made of white gold with a cut-out design. The cuts were all framed out with Swarovski crystals, which seriously sparkled better than a lot of diamonds I’d seen. As an added bonus, there were larger yellow crystals throughout the design nestled between some of the cutouts.
“They aren’t actually diamonds.” I cleared my throat. “Swarovski crystals. I looked at all-diamond bracelets, but this one reminded me of your skyline, you know, ‘cause of the yellow.”
Her fingers dropped down to the bracelet, carefully lifting it out of the box. “You picked this out for me?”
“Me and Arrow both. I’m pretty sure the lady who helped us went in the back and drank when we left the jewelry store.”
Joey laughed. “It’s the most beautiful piece of jewelry anyone has ever given me.”
“You really like it?”
I watched her slip it onto her wrist. It glittered and caught the light brilliantly.
“I love it.” She hugged me again. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I whispered.
Jolting back, she fished a giant wad of tissues out of her tiny purse she was carrying. Hurriedly, she began dabbing the corners of her eyes.
“Seriously, though,” I drawled, dubiously. “How did you fit all those tissues in that bag?”
She kicked me.
“Ow!” I howled. “You don’t kick the groom on his wedding day!”
“Get out of the limo,” she ordered.
I slid out because I didn’t want her to kick me again. Before she could follow, though, I turned, braced my arms on the doorframe, and leaned back in. “Oh, one more thing.”
She arched a dark brow at me.
“Maybe don’t call me Jay anymore. It kinda makes A jealous.”
I thought she might kick me again. I was prepared to shield my boys. But she didn’t. Instead, she nodded swiftly. “I totally get that. Names are important. Hopper it is.”
Moving back, I helped her out of the limo, and we went inside.
We were greeted by a woman I assumed was an event planner or some shit. She led us for what felt like a mile-long hike through part of the indoor area until we made it outside again.
“Where are we going?” I complained, my eyes searching every inch for just a hint of Arrow.
Joey pointed ahead.
“Seriously?” I asked, impressed. “There?”
She nodded. “Told you it was impressive.”
The woman escorting us overheard and chimed in like a tour guide. “The focus waterfall here at Aria is one of our best elopement attractions. It’s a two hundred and seventy-foot-long by twenty-four-foot-high water wall—basically a living piece of art. You will say your vows with the synchronized rhythm of the water falling.”
We were getting married in front of a waterfall. How freaking cool was that?
“And even though this is outside, you will find the sound of the cars from the road”—she motioned off behind her— “are barely noticeable.”
She glanced at Joey, then at me. “As for privacy, we promised Miss Gamble as much secrecy as we can provide. We’ve been on the watch all afternoon and haven’t seen anyone out of the ordinary lurking with a camera.”
I leaned over to Joey, speaking out of the side of my mouth. “Can press just walk right up to us out there?”
She shook her head. “Standing room for ten only.”
I nodded. “Well, we only have, what, five?”
Joey cleared her throat. “Ten.”
I jerked back. “Ten?!”
“Here we are,” the woman said, directing us.
The rhythmic sound of water falling eclipsed almost all the other sounds. I stepped toward the wall, which was lit with white lights and had some landscaping of rocks and various plants around it, gazing around in awe. The justice of the peace was already standing near the water, dressed in a suit with some kind of small book in his hands.
Butterflies kicked up just seeing the man there. I glanced down at the ring on my hand and Arrow’s name above it.
Arrow was going to love this place.
“The guests are here,” the woman said. “All we need to do is have you sign the marriage license. Then the ceremony will be performed.”
“Oh, no,” Joey said. “They’ll sign it directly after the ceremony. Before we head into the private dining room we booked.”
I glanced at her. “Private dining room?”
She waved her hand. “It’s here at Aria. We rented a private room, you know, for privacy.”
When I only stared, she made a sound. “You can’t really think we’d just let you get married and that’s it. We’re having dinner and cake.”
“You had a cake made?”
“You are such a man,” she muttered.
“Where’s Arrow?” I grumbled. This was awesome, but I wanted him. I was done waiting.
“Oh, here comes everyone now,” Joey said.
I spun, thinking it was Arrow I was going to see. It was everyone but Arrow. My parents, Ron Gamble, Arrow’s mom, and Trent and Drew.
“I had no idea you were coming.” I grinned, holding out my hand to Trent and then Drew.
“Are you kidding?” Drew said, shaking my hand. “We’d never miss this.”
“Congratulations, man,” Trent told me, smiling.
They were both dressed in suits. Drew’s was black on black, and Trent’s was gray. Neither of them was wearing a tie.
“Thanks for being here. It’s going to mean a lot to Arrow.”
“We saw him,” Drew said.
Trent nodded. “Dude looks sharp. Like the new tats.”
“You saw him?” I asked, craning my neck around.
Trent laughed knowingly. “Joey keeping you apart I see. He’s in there with Lorhaven. They’re on their way out.”
“If we could begin,” the justice of the peace called.
“See you after.” Trent promised. He and Drew moved toward the wall where Gamble and Donna were standing together, smiling at each other.
Well, wasn’t that interesting?
My mom and dad stopped beside me on their way to their places. Mom was crying. Dad actually looked like he might, too.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to see each other much today. I know we have a lot of catching up to do.”
Mom shushed me. “This isn’t about us. This is your wedding. We’re so proud of you, Jayson. I know we just met Arrow, but we can see how much he loves you and how happy you are. It’s all we want for you.”
It meant so much to me, more than I think they would ever understand. I grabbed my mom’s hand. “We’ll come to Seattle, visit. Catch up there.”
“I would love that.”
“Just might happen sooner than you think!” Dad quipped.
Mom elbowed him in the stomach. Before I could ask what he meant, she hurried him off toward their places.
Joey grabbed my arm, trying to pull me toward the justice of the peace. I dug the white Adidas sneakers into the ground. It was my ode to my husband. He loved a pair of sneakers, and I happene
d to think they looked pretty bomb with the blue chambray suit I wore. It looked perfectly summery (according to the tailor) with the pant legs rolled just once to give way to my white footwear. The white dress shirt I wore beneath was unbuttoned at the collar, and there was a white square of fabric in the pocket.
I wasn’t wearing my leather bracelet today. No, today I was letting my infinity tattoo with the arrow and the coordinates marking Matt’s death show. They were part of me. Of this day. Part of the journey I took to get here.
“Where is he?” I demanded.
“I’m going to get him right now,” Joey said. “Go stand over there and wait.”
Giving up, I went to the wall, but my eyes stayed glued to the corner where everyone else had appeared.
Just a moment later, Joey hurried to my side, taking up her place as “best lady.”
There was no music.
No aisle with flower petals and no parade of a wedding party.
What we had was a night sky, a lit waterfall, and the gentle sounds of it cascading behind us. The people we cared about most in the world stood close by, giving silent support.
It was more than I thought it would be, yet it was nothing compared to the moment Arrow finally stepped around the curve of the water wall.
My heart physically stopped. Blood drained from my head and pooled in my feet. I saw nothing but him. He was the complete center of my universe for one long, blissful moment.
And then he smiled.
My heart restarted, blood rushed through my limbs, and a flush filled my cheeks. He was still all I saw, and amazed, I watched as he walked directly toward me.
People who claimed to have seen the future—I understood them now.
Because I was looking upon my future right that very second.
For so many years, I thought I wasn’t good enough, that happiness was for people who lived by the rules society dictated.
I was wrong. Happiness was attainable for anyone who had enough courage to reach for it. Just because I had to reach further than some only made it that much more appreciated. Today, in this moment, I was wrapping both hands around my happiness, grabbing it tight.
#FinishLine (GearShark #5) Page 14
