Ruckus (Sinners of Saint #2)(51)
Dean waltzed in ten minutes late, accompanied by Jaime and his family-Melody and their daughter, Daria-and Trent Rexroth. Against my best intentions, my eyes clung to Dean desperately before scanning the rest. Trent looked busy with his phone, and Dean's eyes scanned the room-looking for me, I assumed, and also foolishly hoped-so when he finally found me, my heart tumbled and stopped.
I looked away.
He turned around and greeted a man I didn't know.
The spell was gone.
A hostess showed him to his seat, grinning way too wide for my liking and checking his left hand for a wedding band.
Since Dean sat at the far end of the table, I had to concentrate on not glancing his way all the time. Luckily, Gladys and Sydney sat opposite from me. Sydney filled me in on what happened in Todos Santos while Millie and I were gone and Gladys told us her favorite L.A. tales. We were two starters and one entrée in when the event coordinator had decided to have us start making toasts.
Daddy made the first toast to the happy couple. He raised his champagne glass to his eye level and talked about what an amazing couple Millie and Vicious were, leaving out the part where he couldn't stand his soon-to-be son-in-law up until the moment the latter slipped a ring with a diamond the size of his mansion on his daughter's finger. Then Vicious raised a toast, followed by the leading best man-Jaime-who toasted the bride. When it was my time to toast the groom, I stood and smiled, clutching the champagne glass in a death grip. My knuckles were snow-white.
"Don't mess it up," Mama gritted through a toothy smile. My grin didn't falter, but something snapped inside me. Another petal fell down in my heart. Millie's eyes shone as she looked at me, and my heart picked up speed.
Screw them. This is for Millie. I will not let her down.
"Those of you who know me know that I'm a huge fan of my sister. She's my rock, my soul mate, and the reason that I'm still standing here, alive and well. When her heart beats for someone, mine falls in line and thumps for them too. Baron, there's one thing I cannot take from you-you make her happy. Glowing, even." I scanned his face for a reaction, but there was none. Maybe my sister wasn't pregnant. Maybe I was losing my goddamn mind. "Some loves are old, and sure, others are new and frantic. Yours is both, and that's what made your feelings toward one another outsoar everything. Even the past." I swallowed, realizing that I, too, wanted to erase my past with a brand new future. "I wish you joy, freedom, health, and wealth, though I think you're all covered with the last one," I trailed off, and the room burst out laughing. A few people clapped. I suppressed a desperate cough before I continued. "So I guess I would like to make a toast to two of my favorite people. To the woman I love more than life itself, and to the man who spends his life making her happy. Baron and Millie, you don't need my words to make it work. You have this thing covered. But just in case, I wish you everything you wish for yourself and more. Now down these glasses and have some fun."
Taking a sip from my drink, my eyes wandered to Dean for reassurance. Some people cheered me on, but it was Dean I wanted to impress. He raised his glass to his lips, staring at me from across the room, and I shook my head, the gesture almost invisible. No drinking.
He put his drink down and licked his lower lip, his eyes saying, but yes to fucking.
I was going to take care of him. The thought was as irrational as the idea itself. Why would I want to, and why would he let me? But at the same time, I couldn't see him throw his health away like this. Not when I truly knew what health meant.
Sitting back down, Mama flung an arm over my shoulder and squeezed me into her chest in half-a-hug I was quick to return. I was melting back into my former, happy self before she whispered into my ear, "Thank you for not ruining this, sweetheart. Daddy and I were worried."
Pale, I sank into the silky chair, my throat paper-dry. My phone flashed with a text, and I grabbed it like it was my lifeline.
Dean
I need to kiss you again.
Rosie
You can't kiss me again.
Dean
It's all I fucking think about.
It's all I think about too, I wanted to scream.
Rosie
Tell me something interesting. Something about stars.
Dean
Mars is covered with rust, and your tits will soon be covered with my cum. Tell me something about music.
Rosie
Slash once auditioned for the band Poison but didn't want to join them because they wanted him to wear makeup.
Dean
This game sucks. I still want to kiss you.
Dammit, my heart. I don't think it was equipped to deal with a guy like him.
I looked up and watched him. His phone was by his side, but he was engaged in a casual conversation with a beautiful brunette. My chest tightened. At the same time, I reminded myself that Dean could do whatever the hell he wanted.