Jett
When Luna comes out of Jaxson’s bathroom, my jaw drops. “Wow.”
She glances down to the blue, floral print dress she and my mom bought for the wedding, and smiles with a shyness she’s never had before now. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I nod, walking to her. She lets me spin her around. “What is this?”
“Chiffon, I think? That’s what she called it. I like that my huge tits aren’t on display.”
Laughing at her bluntness, I agree, “You look really elegant, baby. Lovely. No, fuck that, you’re a stunner.” Yelling to my brother as he walks in from checking on his ripening tomato garden, I warn him, “Don’t look, Jaxson, she’s all mine!”
He grins and grabs his coat. “You look great, Luna. But I’m more into you right now, Jett. Haven’t seen you in a suit since Grandpa’s funeral.”
Spinning around I ask my woman, “Clean up pretty nice, don’t I?”
She adjusts the strap on her heels and rises up to kiss me. “You’re so fucking hot I can’t even think.”
Laughing, I pull her closer and kiss her deeper. “You go on without us, Jax.”
“Nice try,” he calls back. “Come on.”
As I go, Luna slaps my ass, hard. I grab her hand and kiss her fingers before entwining them with mine.
We ride over in Jaxson’s Jeep, talking easily about his farm. Luna declined milking the cows this morning, but she asks my brother a lot of questions and keeps him occupied. As we get closer I feel tension hit. Soon they both feel it and a quiet takes over the remainder of the ride. No one among us is the talk-when-you’re-uncomfortable type.
The street is jammed with parked cars by the time we arrive. A valet station with four drivers running around is set right in front of the house. There are lavender and white flower petals all over the lawn, and the door is wide open as well-dressed people walk in, most of the faces familiar.
“Here goes nothin,’” I say as we all climb out.
While Jaxson gives his keys over to a valet, Luna tells me in a low voice, “If you want to leave early, we can.”
I squeeze her hand and shake my head.
That ain’t gonna happen.
I don’t run away from anything.
And I’m invited here.
My dad doesn’t matter today.
It’s all about Jake.
I’m a member of this family, goddammit.
Inside is crowded with guests. People I haven’t seen in years greet me. Aunt Anna and Uncle Dave, my cousins, and friends of the family we’ve known since we were born. Everyone’s happy to see me, and the feeling is mutual. Luna says little as I introduce her over and over. She just smiles and accepts the handshakes and compliments. “She’s so lovely!” we hear a lot.
At one point as some people walk away, I whisper in her ear, “Little do they know you could kick their asses.”
She grins. “I so could.”
Under it all is a feeling of unease as I look for my dad around every corner, not wanting to be surprised.
There he is.
He’s outside.
Just saw him chatting with a big smile on his face, to a couple of people I don’t remember the names of. I know they’re friends of my parents’ from church.
My brothers are out there, too. I want them to meet Luna before the ceremony starts. “Baby, come on outside.”
“I’m here with you,” she whispers, squeezing my hand, spotting my father, too.
“I’m good. It’s all good.”
As soon as we walk onto the wide back porch that leads to the lawn by way of a few stairs, Jason and Justin spot me. “JETT!” they yell out over the conversations, so loudly that most of the people look over. Michael Cocker, too. Dad and I lock eyes as my brothers make their way through the crowd. Jason’s in a grey suit, Justin in navy blue.
“Come on, baby.” I lead Luna down the stairs to meet them. They spot her, see us holding hands and at the confusion on their identical faces, I remember I’d never told them about her. “Guys, this is the love of my life.”
“WHAT?!”
“SINCE WHEN?”
Luna blushes, staring back at them and realizing they have no idea who she is.
Justin, the bastard rakes an appreciative look over her and says, “Holy shit.”
I smack his chest hard with my free hand. “Hey!”
Grabbing where I hit him, he laughs. “I couldn’t help it. What is the deal here?”
“It’s a long story,” I grin. “Luna, this asshole is Justin. That’s how you can tell them apart. He’s the dick.”
“Hey!”
“And this is Jason. He’s—”
“Got terrible taste in music,” she finishes for me.