Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Inside the winery, I find Ben and Noah sitting at the bar. I saddle up to them and order whatever Noah’s drinking.
“You doing okay?” I ask Ben.
He nods but looks pale as shit.
“Dude, you’re already married to my sister. Why do you look like you’re going to puke?”
Noah laughs and takes a drink of his beer.
“I have no clue,” Ben says as he dabs sweat from his forehead.
“Seriously, are you feeling okay?” I would hate to think he’s having cancer-related issues. I put my hand on his shoulder and give him a squeeze.
“Just nervous, and I don’t know why,” he says. “We’re already husband and wife, we have a dog, and now we have a baby on the way. This should be a walk in the park for me.”
“Maybe because you’re doing all of this in front of friends and family?” Noah asks. “An all-eyes-on-you moment.”
“Possibly.”
“Well, I think I speak for my entire family when I say you’ve got nothing to worry about. My sister will be walking down the aisle and into your hands shortly.”
“Thank God,” he mutters and then downs a glass of water.
A glass breaks, catching our attention. I look at the bartender, whose mouth is hanging open. Following her gaze, I roll my eyes when I see my dad and Liam walking toward us, both in tuxedos with their collars and first couple of buttons undone and their hands in their pockets. Of course, the sun casts them in some sex symbol glow.
I look at Noah and smirk. “It’s as if we aren’t famous.”
Noah cackles. “At least we’re not old.”
The bartender seems to snap out of her sudden stupor. She shakes her head as my dad and Liam approach us.
“Holy shit,” she mutters as she walks away.
“Why must you ruin everything?” Noah asks them.
“What did we ruin?” Liam asks, only I suspect he knows exactly what Noah’s talking about.
“We can’t help it if we look good,” my dad adds. “Hot men in tuxes. Your mom definitely agrees.”
“Gross.”
My dad laughs. “Funny, your sister said the same thing.”
I don’t even need to know which sister. As long as one of them agrees with me, I’m solid.
Unfortunately for our egos, the bartender returns and very painstakingly asks the dads—soon to be grandfathers—what they want to drink. I’m not sure how she can function with her shaking fingers.
“Can you just offer to take a selfie with her so she can get back to work,” I say to the dads. “Clearly, you’ve flustered her.”
My dad asks for her phone, and she shakingly hands it over. Liam rests against the bar while my dad stands at an angle and holds the phone out to take a photo of the three of them.
“My friends are going to flip,” she says as she looks at her phone. “Thank you.”
“What about us?” Noah points to the both of us.
She stares, and it’s like you can see the wheels turning in her mind, trying to place us.
“Ouch,” I mutter and then look at my dad. “I guess being your son carries no weight.”
“Ah, someday you’ll win a Grammy, and everyone will know who you are.”
Noah and I roll our eyes.
“Well, I’m getting married today,” Ben says, breaking up the macho talk.
We laugh.
“Just so you know, no refunds or exchanges,” Dad says to Ben.
“Who would he exchange for?” Noah asks. “I’ve locked the other sister up tight!”
“All right, enough antics,” Liam says. “This is Ben’s day. What are you drinking?”
“Water.”
Liam nods, as if now remembering Ben doesn’t drink. “Well, I’d like to propose a toast.”
We all raise our drinks.
“Ben, you’ve been part of our family for as long as I can remember. And I think I speak for all of us when I say we’re happy to have you. May your days be filled with nothing but happiness, and your nights be filled with nothing but love.”
“Here, here,” Dad says as he raises his bottle. “Damn happy to have you as my son-in-law.”
Ben’s eyes fill with tears. Noah and I aren’t having any of it though and begin jostling him to let him know everything is okay. No, it’s more than okay. Everything’s perfect.
The wedding planner comes to let us know it’s time to take our places. Ben sighs heavily and stands, adjusts the lapels of his tux, and strides forward, leaving us standing there.
“Well, he’s ready,” Noah says as he follows him out.
We’re somewhat shrouded by the grapevines. People have filled the seats and are eagerly waiting. Every member of Sinful Distraction, including Chandler and Evelyn, as well as Plum and Talking Til Dawn, are here, as well as some of our friends from Beaumont.
Something hard nudges my leg. I look down to find Beau and Mack. “Hey,” I say as I bend to pet my sister’s dog. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Yep. My dad and Amelia are here too!”