Wildflowers (JACT 2.5)

by Jennifer L. Allen

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Joey

  “You sure about this?” Trevor asks me…for the tenth time.

  I’m pacing the sidewalk outside the court building where Evie is supposed to meet me in—I glance at my cell phone screen—three minutes.

  “Yes, I’m sure. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.”

  “Don’t get me wrong. We love Evie. This just seems a little rushed.”

  I stop pacing and face Trevor. “When you know, you know,” I tell him.

  Trevor looks behind me, and his eyes widen slightly. “Good luck with this,” he says, heading inside where Chase and Alex are waiting in the lobby.

  I turn around, hoping to meet the eyes of my love, but instead seeing the serious eyes of Tommy James. Shit.

  He stops right in front of me. Tommy is an easygoing guy. He’s been nothing but nice and fun the entire tour. Right now…right now, he’s intimidating as hell.

  “Look, I like you Joey, but I love Evie. She’s like a little sister to me. Any fool who has been within five miles of the two of you can tell that you’re crazy about each other. But if you think for just one minute that this isn’t the right move…if you have even the slightest hesitation, I’m going to ask you to back out now before you break that girl’s heart, and I have to kick your ass.”

  I audibly gulp—just like they do in cartoons. “I have no reservations, Tommy. Not one.” I’m proud of the fact that I can speak without my voice cracking.

  His posture relaxes as he smiles. “I figured you’d say that,” he says, sticking out his hand for me to shake.

  “You scared the shit out of me,” I admit.

  He laughs. “Sorry, with her dad and brothers not being here, I had to step in. She really is like a sister to me, bro.”

  “I know, and I appreciate you looking out for Evie. Now, it’s my turn.”

  His smile widens, if possible. “That’s what I really wanted to hear. I told her brother, Jason, that you were a good guy.”

  “You talked to him about me?” I ask, surprised he’d say anything.

  “Well, when he calls me whooping and hollering about why I’m letting his baby sister marry ‘some punk,’ I kind of had to say something.”

  I feel the blood leave my face. Her family is pissed. Of course, why wouldn’t they be? Some guy they don’t know is about to marry their daughter in Las Vegas of all places.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Tommy says, patting me on the back. “They’re more bark than bite. They all have a soft spot for Evie.”

  “I sure hope so,” I say, feeling incredibly guilty that our spontaneity is robbing them of the opportunity to share in this special day with their sister and daughter.

  “Hey, don’t look so glum,” he says, looking beyond me and smiling. “Your bride awaits.”

  I spin around so quickly I could have probably given myself whiplash. My mouth drops when I see her walking down the sidewalk. No, not walking. Floating. My girl looks like an angel.

  Evie’s wearing a knee-length white, eyelet lace dress with cap sleeves. I laugh when I see her shoes, a pair of white eyelet lace Chucks that match her dress perfectly.

  “You look beautiful,” I tell her once she’s within earshot.

  “You don’t look so bad yourself,” she says, leaning in to kiss my cheek.

  I’m wearing a pair of khaki pants, a black button down shirt, and my black Chucks. I had the clothes on hand in case we had to dress a little nicer for an event or interview.

  “Great minds think alike,” she tells me, eying the shoes.

  “Guess so,” I agree, sticking out my elbow. She wraps her arm around it and smiles up at me. “You ready, Sweetness?”

  “Let’s do this.”

  We walk into the building, and the guys all smile and clap.

  “We’re just getting the license,” I laugh at their display. I reserved a spot at the chapel across the street while I was waiting on Evie. It had the best looking Elvis impersonator. I know Evie will get a kick out of being married by Elvis.

  We meet with the clerk and fill out the application, then wait as it’s processed. About thirty minutes later, we’re out the door, license in hand.

  “Seems like it should be more complicated than that, right?” Evie asks, laughing as we step out into the Vegas heat.

  “Totally,” I agree, squeezing her hand as we lead our crew across the crosswalk to the chapel.

  “This place is so cute!” Evie says as we walk inside the double doors.

  If she thinks that of the lobby, I can’t wait until she sees the chapel. The inside is designed to resemble an actual church chapel, complete with a deep red carpet, light wood pews, and stained glass windows. There are white bows and artificial flowers all over, but it’s pretty tasteful considering we’re in Vegas.

  I sign us in and give her a quick kiss, before heading into the chapel and leaving Evie with the coordinator in the lobby.

  I take my place at the altar, beside Minister Elvis and my best men…Alex, Trevor, and Chase. Again, I feel bad Evie’s got no one on her side, but she’d said earlier that she didn’t mind. All that mattered was that she and I were there. I couldn’t agree more. Plus, she has Tommy. He didn’t say, but I’m certain he’ll walk her down the aisle. He wouldn’t let her go alone.

  The pianist comes in and plays the song I selected earlier, Elvis’ Can’t Help Falling in Love.

  Evie walks in the chapel, and I smile at the sight of her. She tilts her head to the side, picking up on the music, then glances at Elvis. She laughs that musical laugh of hers, and it lights up my world.

  I knew she’d love it.

  Tommy walks her to the end of the aisle, whispers something in her ear, making her smile, and then kisses her on the cheek before placing her hands in mine. Using his index and middle fingers, he points to his eyes, then at me, silently letting me know he’ll be watching me. I nod, and he smiles, taking his seat in the empty front pew.

  Minister Elvis says a bunch of stuff in his Elvis accent, but I barely hear it. I can’t take my eyes—or my mind—off my girl. We say “I do” in the appropriate places, and when he tells me I can kiss my bride…

  I do.

  Chapter Thirty

  Evie

  Our little Vegas wedding was charming. Elvis was a hoot, and the novelty of it all was a trip. I’m now Mrs. Joey Adams. Evie Adams.

  And I couldn’t be happier.

  But I’m nervous.

  So nervous.

  On the way over to the chapel, I used my newly downloaded travel app to purchase two roundtrip tickets to Texas. Our flight leaves first thing tomorrow morning, and we’ll fly into San Diego to meet the tour the following evening.

  I probably shouldn’t have started our marriage off with a secret, but Joey will understand.

  After a late lunch at the hotel, Joey and I head to the room to start our wedding night early, while the rest of the guys head to the casinos. On the ride up in the elevator, Joey looks at me like he wants to eat me.

  We exit the elevator on our floor and walk down the long hallway to our suite. I know I have to tell him when we get inside; I just hope he isn’t upset. He unlocks the door and steps aside to let me in. I set my purse down on the entryway table and turn to face him, quickly frowning. He looks…sad.

  Does he have regrets?

  No, he can’t possibly have any regrets. I know he loves me. I know he wanted to marry me.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask him, my voice shaky for new reasons.

  He steps towards me, taking my hands in his. “I’m so sorry, Evie.”

  My heart thumps in my chest. “For what?”

  “I’m sorry we did this today without your family here. I had everyone who means everything to me there, well, almost everyone,” he adds, and I know he’s talking about Ally. “But you only had Tommy. I know you would have loved to have your parents and brothers with you on your wedding day.”

  I breathe out a
sigh of relief. That’s what he’s worried about? “Oh, Joey. It’s okay,” I say, stepping towards him and resting my head on his chest. “We can celebrate with them later. It’ll give my Momma a chance to make a big deal. I’m not worried about that. Today was perfect. It was me and you and that’s all that matters. I don’t care about all that fanfare. I care about you.” I can feel him relax at my words. This is the perfect time to tell him about Texas. “But I have something to tell you.”

  He stiffens again, and I take a step back, looking into his soulful brown eyes. Just rip off the Band-Aid. “I booked us a flight to Texas for tomorrow.”

  His eyes widen. “You what? The tour…”

  “No, it’s okay. The return flight is the following day and it’ll take us straight to San Diego.” I watch as he processes the information, a million thoughts running across his face.

  Eventually he nods his acceptance. “All right. We’re going to Texas,” he says, offering a small smile. “I can’t wait to meet your family,” he tells me, pulling me into a hug.

  “Do you really mean that?” I ask, hoping he says yes.

  “Of course, I do. I can’t wait to meet the people who raised you…the family you love so much. Plus I’ll get to see the ranch and those sheep you’re so fond of.”

  I laugh. “Smart ass.”

  “Yeah, but I’m your smart ass.”

  “That you are.”

  He wraps me up in his arms. He’s so warm, loving, and safe.

  It’s heaven.

  ***

  As the wheels touch down at Dallas/Fort Worth, Joey’s white knuckle grip on the armrest eases. I think his anxiety is partly due to the fact he’s meeting my family, and partly because it was only his second time on an airplane—there was a bit of turbulence on our flight.

  To distract him from the rocky ride, I told him all about my family, which may not have helped his other anxieties. Although, he now knows things about my brothers that can be used as blackmail, so there’s that.

  We left most of our things on the bus, so all we have with us is the backpack we carried on with clothes for tonight and tomorrow. Joey takes that from the overhead compartment and we disembark the plane. The terminal is busy, as usual, but it doesn’t take long for us to make it to the curb where someone should be waiting for us. I’m not sure who my mother was sending to pick us up; when I told her the time our flight was landing, she started shrieking too loudly for me to make out anything else she said.

  I smile when I see the old black Jeep pull up. So Brad is the one picking us up. I silently thank my mother for sending Brad to get us. He’ll be the easiest for Joey to win over as he’s the least conservative of my brothers. He’s also the youngest, only three years older than me.

  He gets out of the Jeep and heads right for me, giving me a big squeeze and spinning me around. Being petite certainly has its disadvantages…makes my brothers think I’m a doll or still a toddler.

  “Okay, okay. You’re gonna make me sick!” I say, smacking him on the back.

  He sets me down and steps back, looking me over. “You look good, sis.”

  “Thanks, Brad.” I step over to Joey, who has been silently watching our interaction with a smile, and put my arm around his waist. “Joey, this is my youngest older brother, Brad. Brad, this is Joey…my husband.” That was weird, but also kind of cool. It’s the first time I introduced Joey as my husband. I look up at Joey, and he’s smiling down at me, probably thinking the same thing.

  Brad is checking Joey out, doing one of those dude assessment things guys do. Eventually, he smiles and sticks his hand out. “It’s nice to meet you, man.”

  I hear Joey’s exhale, right before he shakes Brad’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you as well. Evie’s told me a lot about you all.”

  “All good, I hope,” Brad answers, eying me.

  “Mostly,” Joey says.

  “Hey, now,” I scold. I can’t believe he’d give me up like that.

  “I’m just keeping it real,” Joey responds.

  Brad laughs. “I like this guy.”

  I roll my eyes and open the back door of the Jeep, but Joey intercepts me. “You sit in the front. Catch up.” He gives me a kiss on the forehead, keeping it tame around my brother, I suspect, and opens the front door for me.

  “Thank you.”

  “Anytime, Wife.” He winks and closes the door, then settles himself in the backseat.

  Brad gets in and starts the car, a slightly evil smile on his face.

  “What?” I ask.

  “Dad’s been out shooting this morning. Jason, too.”

  I lean my head back against the headrest.

  “Great.”

  “Shooting?” Joey asks from the back seat. “Shooting what?”

  “Don’t worry, baby,” I tell him. “I’m sure he’s out of ammo now.”

  “What?!”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Joey

  I’m going to get shot.

  I have experienced all the best things life has to offer—Evie, the band, touring the U.S. with my best friends—and now I’m going to die. Shot by my wife’s father. My father-in-law.

  What the hell did I get myself into?

  Brad’s laughing in the front seat, probably having seen my pale face and expression of terror in the rearview mirror. I thought I liked him. Maybe that was a little presumptuous of me.

  “What are you laughing at?” Evie asks him. He throws his thumb over his shoulder, and Evie looks back at me. “Oh my jeez. Joey, stop freaking out. He’s not going to shoot you. I was just teasing.”

  “You could have told me your dad had a gun,” I tell her, scowling.

  Brad laughs. “It’s Texas; everyone has a gun. Dad’s got like ten of them.”

  My eyes dart to Evie’s. “He’s not going to shoot you.” Great, now she’s speaking to me in a tone she probably reserves for speaking to children. “Brad, shut up.”

  “This is hilarious.”

  “You know what else is hilarious?” Evie asks him.

  “What?” he responds, eagerly awaiting the next stop on the Joey Adams Humiliation Express.

  “The pictures I have of you, drunk and buck-ass-naked, pissing in the hay.”

  Brad’s jaw drops. “You wouldn’t.”

  “I would,” Evie says, crossing her arms over her chest. “You gonna make this easy or hard?”

  He narrows his eyes, trying to determine how serious she is. He must not like what he sees because he eventually nods. “Fine, I’ll behave.”

  “You’d better.”

  After a few miles of silence, Brad finally asks, “So what else do you have pictures of?”

  Evie smirks. “Too much, brother. Too much.”

  “Couldn’t have picked up a hobby like sewing or something, could you? Had to choose one that leaves evidence,” Brad mutters to himself. I have to stifle my laugh since I don’t want to make his shit list.

  The ride to the ranch is long, but listening to Evie give Brad her perspective of the tour keeps me entertained. She’s so animated about it all, sharing every last detail. Well, almost every detail. She leaves the bedroom stories to herself, thank God. He tells her what’s been going on at the ranch, and she eats up every last word. Witnessing her interact with her brother shows me a side of Evie I haven’t seen before…the sister and the girl who grew up on a farm. I already knew she was passionate, but what I hadn’t realized is that she’s passionate about everything.

  Finally, we pull off a dirt road and through an iron gate with the letter “C” on each side. The long driveway runs through a field and is lined with a white picket fence. At the end of the gravel drive, Brad pulls the Jeep into the circular driveway and parks in front of the house.

  The gravel crunches under my feet as I step out of the car. I help Evie out of the front seat, and she takes my hand as I look up at her family’s home. It’s a gorgeous log cabin style ranch, and it’s huge. I figured it would be large, having to house her parents and f
ive kids, but I hadn’t anticipated is being this nice. I guess I’d assumed it would be a traditional looking farmhouse. This looks like it belongs in the mountains.

  We climb the three stone steps to the porch, which has a similar stone floor, and then around to the side of the house.

  “We always enter through the kitchen. Only company uses the front door,” Evie tells me.

  “Why?” I wonder, since the front door is nearest to the driveway.

  She laughs softly. “I’m not sure. Just always have. Maybe because the garage is this way.” She points over to a detached building, about twenty feet behind the house. It looks like a warehouse. “It had to be large enough to fit all our vehicles,” she says, catching my wide-eyed expression.

  “That fits seven cars?” I ask.

  She nods. “And a few ATVs.”

  “Sweet. Can we go for a ride later?”

  She squeezes my hand. “Of course.”

  “Is that my girl?” A woman’s voice calls from the other side of the screen door ahead of us.

  “Yes, Momma,” Evie calls back.

  The door crashes open just as we approach it, and a petite woman comes flying out, wrapping her arms around Evie. Man, Evie’s mom looks just like an older version of Evie. They’re practically identical, except her mother’s hair is slightly longer.

  “Look at you,” she says, stepping back from Evie and holding her hands out. “You look fantastic. Being on the road agrees with you.” Her mother is smiling wide and so is Evie; you can feel the affection they share for one another.

  “Momma, I saw you a little more than a week ago.” Evie rolls her eyes, but she’s still smiling.

  “You hush; I can dote on my only daughter if I want to.” She turns to me. “Now, who’s this?”

  Evie leans into my side and smiles up at me. “Momma, this is Joey.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Carson,” I say, holding my hand out.

  She pushes my hand away and gives me a hug, surprising me. “None of that ‘Mrs. Carson’ stuff. You call me Marie or Momma Carson. You’re family now.”