Page 240 of Gathered Sparkle

“Nothing?”Koen wasn’t having it. He’d folded his arms, his jaw set in that stubborn way of his.“You’re married to Sylus, and the rest of us, what? Just stay your boyfriends? Not happening.”

“Told you guys I’m her main.”Sylus chuckled, being as unhelpful as possible.

“Koen, it’s not real,”I’d tried to argue, but he wasn’t listening.

“It doesn’t matter.”He was already reaching for his phone.“We’re fixing this.”

“Fixing what?”

“Fixing the fact that you married Sylus and not us. This disbalance is unacceptable.”And just like that, he was calling the pilot and chartering a jet.

And then he called Levi and Ezra, who live in their own villa a hill away from ours, dragging them into this.“We’re getting married. Pack a bag. You’re coming.”

Levi didn’t even question it.“Obviously.”

So here we are.

Leaving a cemetery and getting into a car that is going to take us to that damn auto-wed machine that we don’t even know for sure is still there.

Vegas rolls past the window as we go, glimmering with neon and nostalgia. This place holds so much of my past, a strange mix of old and new, and tonight, it’s like I’m revisiting a memory while rewriting it at the same time.

Sylus’s hand is warm in mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles absentmindedly. I glance at him, catching the small, secretive smile tugging at his lips, the kind of smile that’s reserved only for me. He lifts our joined hands and presses a kiss to my fingers. I mirror the gesture, pressing my lips to the back of his hand, and linger long enough to catch the tiny sparkle tattoo on his ring finger.

I can still picture it clearly, him leaning casually against the counter at the tattoo parlor three years ago as I admired the new rose tattoos blooming over the scar on my shoulder. He’d wandered over when his session was done, holding out his hand to show me.

When I asked why he got it, he just winked, that devilish grin lighting up his face, and said, “Because sparkles are eternal. Just like you and me.”

Well, the guys could’ve noticed sooner, I guess. Sylus wasn’t exactly stealthy about it. But as my lips brush over his version of a wedding ring now, I can’t help but feel the truth of his words.

My gaze drifts down to my shoulder, where my tattoo peeks from beneath the strapless white dress Koen insisted was “absolutely perfect for a wedding.” The roses cover the scar completely, and I run my fingers lightly over them.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Sylus’s voice pulls me back.

“Just thinking about the tattoo shop,” I answer honestly, watching the corner of his mouth twitch into a bigger grin.

“Good times.” He winks, making me laugh.

The car slows, and I look up, catching sight of the pink auto-wed machine.

Thank fuck it’s still here.

I have no idea where Koen would have dragged me to fix this ’fuckup,’ as he called it, though now I see that it was unfair and agree that we have to fix it. And if I’m honest, I want to have this memory with all of them too.

The car pulls to a stop, and I spot Annabelle waiting outside with her husband, Michael. She’s bouncing on her toes despite the clear swell of her baby bump.

“You’re going to pop if you keep that up,” I tease her the moment I slip out of the car, then squeak out, “Don’t you dare!” as she runs toward me. I catch her in a hug with a laugh before pulling back and eyeing her bump. “Babe, calm down! You’ve got precious cargo in there!”

“I couldn’t help it!” Annabelle gushes, pulling me into another tight hug. “I’m just so happy you’re here!” She pulls back to take me in this time, her eyes sparkling as they sweep over me. “And look at this dress. God, you’re gorgeous!”

“Don’t even start, girl,” Levi huffs as he climbs out of the car, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeves like he’s affronted. “I wanted her to wear somethingappropriatefor her big day, but she insisted on this no-name summer dress.”

I roll my eyes. “We decided yesterday to do this, Dove. Where exactly would you have arranged a dress overnight?”

“I have my ways.” He sniffs indignantly.

“He does,” Annabelle agrees with a smirk, shooting Levi a knowing look. “And you somehow managed to conjure up a bridesmaid overnight too.”

I grin at her. “I’m so glad I did. It’s been way too fucking long.”

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