Page 139 of Roses in Summer

“Your caveman. Now go, didn’t you mention that you’d be late?”

He steps back, a smile on his face as I push past him with an exasperated chuckle. “You’re ridiculous.”

“See you at the altar, ciern.”

I roll my eyes and push the door to the closet open, surprised to find Bianca on the opposite side of the door. “Oh.”

“What are you doing in a closet?” she asks, her voice confused by my sudden appearance.

“I, uh, well. See, the thing is—”

“Hey, B,” Lincoln calls from behind me, and I hold up my hand, flipping him off behind my back.

Realization dawns on her face, her mouth parting in a snort. “One day. You people couldn’t wait one day.” She shakes her head, walking toward the suite where all the women are getting ready. “I was supposed to go find you and drag you into hair and makeup. Consider yourself found,” she calls over her shoulder.

“See you soon, ciern.”

“Shut up, Lincoln.”

Lincoln:

“Fucking gorgeous, ciern.” I sigh into her hair, breathing the familiar citrus scent in as we watch Ava and Grey share their first dance. Seraphina’s petite frame is wrapped in a green dress, the shade suspiciously close to my eye color, and drapes so expertly around her body that I can see every small curve and line of her figure through the fabric.

I want to build a shrine to this dress.

I want to burn it.

I want to rip the eyes out of every man who stares at her in this dress. In general, too, but mostly in this dress since I know she’s wearing it for me.

My hands skate over her hips, bringing her back to my chest and pressing my cock against her.

“Behave,” she hisses, turning her head to glare over her shoulder.

“Blame the dress.”

She shakes her head, and I don’t miss the eye roll.

“We’re next, ciern,” I murmur, staring at the dance floor as other couples join Ava and Grey. Celeste and Dante sway, her small bump cradled protectively between them. They told us the news—that they were expecting again, this time planned—last month. I felt for my friend. I remember how they fell apart after their loss and know that this baby is the final step in their healing.

I also know that Celeste is scarier than fucking ever now that she’s visibly knocked up and in mama-bear mode.

Serena and Wolf twirl around them, the big-ass tattooist surprisingly graceful on his club-sized feet. I hold Seraphina tighter against me as I watch the brainiac and the brawler put on a ballroom display, both their size differences and their grace earning more than a handful of looks. Wolf’s added to my tattoo collection, hiding roses and thorns in every new piece he gives me since they all circle back to the girl in front of me.

“We are not next.” She sways, moving her hips against my upper thighs.

“We are.” I don’t tell her about the ring in my toiletry bag, the fact I asked her father for permission, or how he offered to make me a suit afterward—something that makes me shudder at the knowledge I’ll probably be stabbed by a tiny Italian man with a needle.

Tonight is about Grey and Ava, their wedding in the Tuscan countryside, and the way life has worked out for us.

Tomorrow, though, it’s about us.

53

Epilogue

Olivia

4 months earlier

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