Page 10 of Merry Little Wedding

“Is that a surprise?” asks Rora. “It’s almost Christmas.” She isn’t scared of anything, is she? Not afraid to look for answers. Not even afraid to challenge Mom, like so many are. I can’t know for sure, yet, but I bet she is amazing at her job.

Mom shoots her a look. “Boone hasn’t come home for Christmas in years.”

“I’m here now,” I remind Mom.

“Do you know how stressful it’s been?” Mom’s eyes shoot daggers. She’s half my size, craning her neck almost all the way back to stare up at my face, arms folded tightly. Looking every bit the stern, unwavering CEO she’s had to step up to be. “Planning a wedding. PlanningChristmas. All the while filling in foryourmindless absence.”

I feel Aurora tense in my arms, and I hold her closer. More securely.

“I didn’t tell Misty to get married on Christmas Eve,” I point out.

“Christmas Eve Eve,” Misty’s voice corrects me. The fuck? Shouldn’t she still be taking pictures? Only my sister would care less about her own wedding photos than she would seizing the opportunity to admonish me. “Thanks for showing, I guess. Are you going to stick around this time and actually do yourfuckingjob?”

Aurora stands shock still, staring at the two crazy-ass women like a deer in headlights. My family, ladies and gentlemen.

“Thought about it but, I can’t,” I inform them. I gaze down at Aurora, lifting my hand from the small of her back to tenderly run it from the crown of her head to the ends of her hair. God, I need her. This isn’t fake. Ineedthis woman. Need her if I ever want to breathe. “I can’t leave my girl.”

“Right.” Misty rolls her eyes toward Mom. “Boone’s inlove,” she says, but it sounds more like a hiss through her clenched teeth.

Mom casts a judgy look at Aurora. I watch her eyes fall to the hand that’s curled protectively into Rora’s dress. “You’re not even engaged, dear.”

“Why hasn’t he put a ring on your hand, if he’s so in love?” Misty directs to Rora, lifting her hand palm inward to show off her own blindingly bright diamond ring.

I hear Rora’s breathing hitch, and on impulse I reach up to feel around my inside jacket pocket. My jaw tenses. Irritation burning a hole through my guts. Dammit I really don’t want to steal my sister’s thunder. It is her wedding day after all— No you know what, fuck that.

“Actually…” I let go of Aurora only to turn slightly, my gaze fastening to hers as I lower onto one knee. “I was just about to.” Aurora is speechless, one hand going over her mouth, the other she lets me hold in my hand. This is over the fucking top, I know, but just look at her eyes—Aurora’s eyes are growing, sparkling with mischief and excitement. I was planning on warning her but the surprise on her face—you can’t fake that kind of surprise.

It’s perfect.

“The next wedding we’re at will be ours,” I tell Aurora, and kiss her hand. I stand up, shoving my fingers into her hair, kissing her face. “And there will be cake.”

“Boone, oh my god. I didn’t expect this,” Rora says breathlessly. She lifts her hand, turning it this way and that, enamored by the sight of those diamonds catching the light. My god how she plays along. Only I’m not playing. I don’t plan on ever taking that ring off her finger. I chose it for her. It’s hers. “It fits perfectly!” Aurora squeals. My own smile overtakes my face.

She’s crazy as me.

Now it’s Mom and Misty’s turn to be deer in headlights. Then Misty’s brows slash together. My sister stuns even me, the way she turns the whole thing around. “I guess we should be blamingyoufor this, then,” she balks at Aurora.

“What?”

“This is all your fault,” Mom adds, her voice toneless, emotionless. Death. Rora’s eyes brim with tears. She cuts them toward me.

“I can’t do this. I… I just…have to go.” She spins out of my arms, and clenching fistfuls of her dress, races out of the ballroom. I watch her go. Helpless. Irritation becomes anger slithering around my stomach like oily snakes. They think I’m the worst son on Earth? Fine. Fine! Then that’s who I’ll be.

“Fuck you two,” I say through gritted teeth. “Fuck this stupid, pretentious party.” And I go get my girl.

I find her in the lobby, looking torn between taking the elevator up to our room, or just leaving completely.

“Rora.”

“You…” She whirls on her heel. Her cheeks are ruddy, her lips extra plump from crying. Eyes red-rimmed. “You made me your scapegoat.”

“That’s true,” I admit. “I didn’t mean to—”

“You aresofucked up! All of you.”

“That’s also true,” I say sorrowfully. I reach out to catch the tears that fall. As if I could. Aurora smacks my hand away. Taking a step back, she peels the ring off her finger, pushing it hard into my chest, lets go of it. I catch it on its way to the floor.

God I need her to not hurt. I need her to never, ever hurt.

---