Page 81 of Hear Me Roar

“Shhh.” She set a polished finger to my lips. “I know, I was pressing your buttons. And for the record, you look perfect, Mr. Carr. Handsome, dapper,sexy…”

That last one rolled off her tongue, her eyes gleaming and darkening all in one shot. I didn't miss the little smirk that curled her deep maroon lipseither.

Tease.

“Walk” – I tapped her ass – “before I decide later should be now, and we keep everyone waiting longer than Karley wouldappreciate.”

The St. Regiswas literally a seven-minute drive to St. Patrick's Cathedral. Some of the guests decided to walk, but Hazel and Maya were in sky-high heels and I knew that wouldn’t fare well as we crossed the busy streets, so we took a taxi. Manny rode up front with the cabby while I squished in the back with the girls, watching the parade of elegance strolling the sidewalks en route to our destination. When we pulled up in front of the cathedral, both Manny and I stepped out first to usher the girlsout.

Hazel flashed me a wicked grin as she took my hand and collected the train of her gown in the other. “Why, thank you, kindsir.”

“Enjoy it while you can,” I warned, setting a hand at the small of her back as we made our way around the cab, “because kind is last thing I’ll be when we make it back into ourroom.”

“Behave,” shechided.

“Youbehave.”

“Group pic,” Maya announced in excitement as the taxi sped off. “I brought my selfiestick.”

“You did not,” Hazel said in amused disbelief to which Maya nodded with a gleamingsmile.

“Oh yes, I totallydid.”

“I could just hold the phone, you know,” I added. “I mean my arms are longenough.”

“Zip it, Carr, andsmile.”

Poking my tongue out at her, the four of us huddled together with the cathedral as our backdrop. Maya clicked the button on her ridiculous selfie stick and just like that, the image was captured forever, four bright smiles at the start of a specialnight.

“This pic is lacking, big time,” she said, tilting her phone so Hazel could take alook.

“What’s wrong with it?” Mannyasked.

“It’s missing Rey, Liv, andLuis.”

My heart sunk a little at the reminder. They were all supposed to be here, but Luis was still in the hospital and Reyna refused to come without him. As much as I wished they were here to witness Karley’s big day, I was not about to let their absence dampen ournight.

“I know it is, but think about it...Luis wouldn't have been able to enjoy himself in a wheelchair. You know him, he would've been down and out the entireevening.”

“Is that my handsome son I see?” My mom’s light voice resounded from behind us, breaking up the forlornmoment.

We all spun around in time to catch them walking up, Mom latched on Dad’s arm. She nearly jumped on me as she wound her arms around myneck.

“I’ve missed you,” I admitted, melting into herembrace.

“I missed you too, baby. You look veryhandsome.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’d say you’re looking pretty beautiful yourself. That color suitsyou.”

“I told her the same thing when she walked out of the room,” my dad said, putting his arms around the two ofus.

“Dad…” Ismiled.

“How’ve you been,son?”

“Good, working toomuch.”

“Slow it down. Time goes by too quickly, trust me,” he advised, shaking me to his side just as my mom swallowed Hazelwhole.

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